Tagged: hong kong

March 24, 2020 @ 7:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

Hong Kong initiated a process in 2019 to facilitate digital-only banks. The move was indicative of the realization that digital banking, or virtual banks, is the future of banking and not the brick and mortar types. ZA Bank, an offshoot of ZhongAn Technologies International Group,… Read More

March 24, 2020 @ 2:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

James Lloyd, associate partner at Big Four auditing firm Ernst and Young (EY) and Asia-Pacific Fintech leader, claims that financial technology growth and adoption is surging in the Asia-Pacific region. He notes: “[Fintech development in Asia is] driven by consumers’ desire for more attractive fees… Read More

March 22, 2020 @ 5:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

HSBC, a British multinational bank and financial services holding company with over $2.5 trillion in total assets, has teamed up with Cainiao, a China-based logistics company, in order to provide faster trade finance loans to merchants via Alibaba’s Tmall platform in Hong Kong. HSBC will… Read More

March 19, 2020 @ 8:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

There are many outstanding or unanswered regulatory questions, after the recent guidelines provided by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. They require virtual asset fund managers to work with licensed custodians as they are tasked with controlling or managing assets both on-chain, and on… Read More

March 18, 2020 @ 7:56 am By Omar Faridi  |  

AMTD Digital, the digital finance division of AMTD Group, has revealed that it will be acquiring a controlling stake in PolicyPal, a firm that’s licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). PolicyPal is notably the first graduate of MAS’s Fintech regulatory sandbox program. The… Read More

March 10, 2020 @ 7:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Standard Chartered, a British multinational banking and financial services company with over $700 billion in total assets, has revealed the new brand name, brand identity, and official website for Mox, the institution’s newly developed digital bank. Digital bank Mox’s brand name aims to reflect a… Read More

March 8, 2020 @ 7:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong-headquartered EMQ, a globally accessible financial settlement network, recently revealed that it’s planning to connect to Singapore’s Fast and Secure Transfers (FAST) network and also offer services in other Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia. EMQ’s solution will allow businesses to easily make digital… Read More

March 1, 2020 @ 6:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Macau Pass S.A., the developer of a contactless smartcard (previously called Transmac IC Card), first launched the Transmac over 20 years back (in 1999). The card may be used to conveniently pay for bus fares, everyday shopping, and dining with many more retailers expected to… Read More

February 21, 2020 @ 10:11 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Fidelity International, a spin-off from the U.S. financial services brand Fidelity Investments, has reportedly invested $14 million in BC Group (stock code: 863 HK), the Hong Kong-based operator of crypto exchange OSL. Founded in 2018, OSL claims to be the Hong Kong region’s most comprehensive… Read More

February 16, 2020 @ 6:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong-headquartered Blue Cross, a major insurance services provider, is set to introduce its Travel Smart MultiTrip Insurance Package, which will allow clients to customize their travel insurance plans. The company has also introduced the Flight Delay Cash Allowance Extension, which reportedly comes with an… Read More

January 27, 2020 @ 4:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Chinese e-commerce company Zall Smart Commerce Group will establish operations in Singapore’s evolving financial industry. Zall’s management noted that the firm is part of a consortium that’s applying for a digital wholesale banking license in Singapore. Global eTrade Services, a CrimsonLogic Pte division, and Marubeni… Read More

January 21, 2020 @ 3:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Kristal.AI, a Singapore-headquartered digital wealth management firm, has secured $6 million in capital via a Series A round, which was led by Chiratae Ventures (previously known as IDG Ventures). The Desai Family Office and several others including high-net-worth-individuals (HNWIs) also took part in the round…. Read More

January 20, 2020 @ 10:43 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Hong Kong-based fintech Liquefy announced on Monday it has appointed former COO of Turner Sports, Matt Hong, as the inaugural member of its new advisory board. The company reported it will “tap” Hong to bring his experience in the sports industry to advise the fintech… Read More

January 16, 2020 @ 10:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

We recently caught up with Shaun Djie, co-founder and chief operating officer at Digix, one of the first “smart-asset” companies leveraging blockchain tech to account for the authentication and provenance of 99.99% investment-grade gold bullions. Shaun currently serves as a board member for Singapore’s IT… Read More

January 13, 2020 @ 8:13 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The first of Hong Kong’s upcoming group of virtual banks has confirmed its launch with a 6% special introductory rate on all deposits. ZA Bank Ltd., which is notably one of eight companies planning to establish digital-only banking services in Hong Kong, has launched a… Read More

January 12, 2020 @ 8:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Thailand is currently laying the groundwork for standalone or independently-functioning online banks as the Southeast Asian nation tries to catch up with other nearby markets that have been upgrading their banking infrastructure. Veerathai Santiprabhob, governor of the Bank of Thailand, noted during a recent interview:… Read More

January 9, 2020 @ 7:34 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency platform Crypto.com announced on Thursday it has appointed Mariana Gospodinova as its new European general manager. Crypto.com reported that Gospodinova joins its team from Binance, where she headed the operations in Europe and looked after the launch of the crypto to fiat… Read More

January 7, 2020 @ 9:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

POSTPONED In light of the current situation relating to the coronavirus, WHub, Invest Hong Kong and other key partners of the StartmeupHK Festival 2020 have agreed to postpone the festival. With this, Startup Impact Summit #SIS20 will be postponed from February 14th to possibly July 2020. Exact… Read More

January 6, 2020 @ 11:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

AngelHub says it continues to launch new securities offerings after the successful funding of its first two issuers. AngelHub is the only investment crowdfunding platform to receive regulatory approval from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong. Last spring, AngelHub was approved for… Read More

January 4, 2020 @ 8:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) has onboarded six digital banks as corporate members according to a note published by the association. The HKIB is a non-profit organization that offers training and certification programs to Hong Kong-based financial institutions. The virtual banks that have… Read More