Asia

August 28, 2023 @ 10:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the central bank of Viet Nam, has officially joined the Regional Payment Connectivity (RPC) initiative. This recent development is “an expansion of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Regional Payment Connectivity (MOU RPC) that was initiated by the… Read More

August 27, 2023 @ 4:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Binance, which is being sued by US regulators for a wide range of issues, is pleased have collaborated with Taiwan’s New Taipei District Prosecutors Office on “a workshop focused on combating cybercrime within the virtual assets space.” Conducted on August 24, the workshop is part… Read More

August 27, 2023 @ 1:28 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Publicly traded banking and financial institution Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad has announced its partnership with software house and IT services provider Comarch to launch a digital wealth platform. The Comarch Wealth Management system will allow the bank’s customers to view their financial information, including their… Read More

August 26, 2023 @ 7:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Maybank introduced the myimpact credit card, in efforts “to empower its customers towards making better sustainable life choices which will impact the next generation.” The credit card, which is “made from bio-sourced polylactic acid, features a ground-breaking initiative deemed first-of-its-kind in the country, provides mechanisms… Read More

August 26, 2023 @ 10:50 am By Michael Wong  |  

CGS-CIMB Securities (CGS-CIMB), an integrated financial services provider in Asia, has raised about S$35 million ($25.8 million) for its first Vietnam-focused ETF — CGS Fullgoal Vietnam 30 Sector Cap ETF — launched Friday on Singapore Exchange (SGX). The ETF, which comprises the largest and most… Read More

August 25, 2023 @ 10:13 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE:RSKD) has established a Global Centre for Advanced AI and Cyber Technology in Dubai. The UAE’s Artificial intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office and Mastercard signed a Memorandum of Understanding “to increase Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities and readiness in the region.” An… Read More

August 25, 2023 @ 12:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Pi-xcels, an innovative leader in digital receipt solutions, has successfully completed its Seed funding round, raising US$1.7 million. The investment round was “led by Wavemaker Partners, with participation from other prominent venture capital firms such as Hustle Fund, Amand Ventures, and Black Kite Capital, as… Read More

August 25, 2023 @ 11:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

International card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and Discover Global Network, are launching a major campaign with Alipay, the digital payment and lifestyle service platform in China, “to further enhance international visitors’ mobile payment and travel experience in the country on the 30-day countdown to… Read More

August 24, 2023 @ 10:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE:RSKD), a global technology company, is partnering with UAE-founded spend management fintech company Qashio in order “to launch corporate credit cards, while enabling them with virtual issuance capabilities across the region.” The strategic partnership aims “to make the future of expense management cashless, transparent… Read More

August 24, 2023 @ 10:05 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is pleased to announce today (Wednesday) the appointment of John Hsu as Managing Director and Group Chief Technology Officer. He succeeds Richard Leung, who will become Group Chief Information Officer. Reporting to Mr Leung, Mr Hsu will reportedly… Read More

August 23, 2023 @ 10:29 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Komainu, a regulated digital asset custody service provider built by institutions for institutions, announced that it has been granted the operating license by the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai after securing its MVP license last November. Achieving this final step in VARA’s licensing… Read More

August 23, 2023 @ 9:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Cashfree Payments, India’s payments and API banking solutions company, has launched ‘Vendor Payments’, a comprehensive platform that empowers businesses to streamline and manage their purchase-to-pay cycle, improving efficiency and reducing processing time. ‘ Vendor Payments’ simplifies not only vendor payments, but “other account payables including… Read More

August 21, 2023 @ 9:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Colt Technology Services, the digital infrastructure company, announced a new partnership with AsiaNext. The partnership will see AsiaNext “benefit from a suite of Colt’s secure, high performance digital infrastructure solutions – including Multicast Market Data in the Cloud and PrizmNet – to facilitate high frequency… Read More

August 21, 2023 @ 6:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The latest Bank Financing Supply and Demand Survey conducted by Bank Indonesia in July 2023 reportedly “indicates limited growth of corporate financing, as reflected by a relatively stable Weighted Net Balance (WNB) of 17.6% compared to 17.8% in June 2023. Corporate financing was primarily sourced… Read More

August 20, 2023 @ 10:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Philippines’ First Neobank Tonik Digital Bank is pleased to announce the launch of its Shop Installment Loan to FC Home Center stores. The partnership pushes to “enhance the shopping experience of customers in the consumer durables market.” Customers will now have “access to 15-minute… Read More

August 20, 2023 @ 9:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Atome Financial has announced that it has renewed and expanded its partnership with HSBC Singapore to include the Philippine market to its US$100m debt facility. At the moment, Atome has reportedly “disbursed more than US$4b in loans.” Atome Financial and HSBC Singapore had “entered into… Read More

August 20, 2023 @ 9:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

DBS (SGX:D05) and international certification body, TÜV SÜD, announced a year-long partnership to provide comprehensive training, testing, verification, and validation activities “for sustainability assurance and certifications to mid-cap firms as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs).” Both parties will also “conduct joint outreach activities… Read More

August 19, 2023 @ 10:43 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The new virtual asset platform M2 has been officially granted a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and is now “approved to operate a multilateral trading facility and offer custody services to… Read More

August 19, 2023 @ 6:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Param, which claims to be Turkey’s biggest FinTech, is entering the European market with the acquisition of leading CEE Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) provider Twisto. Setting the scene for wider global expansion, Param is “introducing its technology and integrated embedded finance products and services… Read More

August 19, 2023 @ 6:51 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Antler announces the expansion of its presence to MENAP with Dr. Jonathan Doerr and Romain Assunção as Partners. The firm aims to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem “by backing exceptional founders at the earliest stage with co-founder matching, personalized coaching, access to a local and… Read More