Tagged: southeast asia

February 19, 2021 @ 8:29 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital banking challenger BigPay has confirmed that it will be expanding its suite of financial services with the introduction of cash top up at all 7-Eleven stores based in Malaysia. BigPay’s management noted that more than 1.3 million of the firm’s Malaysian clients may now… Read More

February 19, 2021 @ 7:51 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Southeast Asia-based Funding Societies, a digital financing platform, has revealed that it has made S$2 billion (appr. $1.5 billion) in disbursals of business financing to SMEs across the region as the company enters its sixth year of offering loans. Funding Societies’ management noted that the… Read More

February 17, 2021 @ 10:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain startup Lightnet has teamed up with MoneyGram, a leading provider of cross-border peer to peer payments and money transfer services. MoneyGram will be integrating Lightnet’s technology with its fund transfer services so that customers can access a wide range of payout services across the… Read More

February 17, 2021 @ 10:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital banking platform Revolut has launched a financial app that has been developed specifically for kids. The Fintech app is controlled by the child’s parent or their legal guardian so that they are able to monitor how the tools are being used. This new app… Read More

February 12, 2021 @ 8:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

During a recently-held online press conference, Bank Negara Malaysia Governor, Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus stated that more than 40 parties have formally expressed their interest with the reserve bank to acquire a digital banking license (by submitting an online application). Malaysia’s virtual banking framework… Read More

February 11, 2021 @ 10:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The 2021 Lunar New Year is approaching and authorities in Southeast Asia are now encouraging locals to turn to virtual red packets and online transactions, instead of using paper currency notes (in order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19). Asian residents are also being… Read More

February 10, 2021 @ 11:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

SCB 10X, a subsidiary of Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank or SCB (BKK: SCB), has launched a $50 million VC fund that will make strategic investments in early and growth stage startups globally. SCB is looking for initiatives that are focused on blockchain, decentralized finance (DeFi),… Read More

February 9, 2021 @ 11:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

US-based SAS, a multinational developer of analytics software, has revealed that the Bank of Singapore, which is a member of the OCBC Group, will be using its AI-enhanced communications surveillance analytics software in their training and monitoring of customer representatives’ performance. SAS’ Trade and Communications… Read More

February 9, 2021 @ 9:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Leong Bank Berhad (MYX:5819), a major public listed banking group in Malaysia, has revealed that it’s launching a digital commerce platform that will offer an official store on Shopee Mall. This should allow HLB’s clients to sign up for various banking products and services… Read More

February 6, 2021 @ 5:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Singapore-headquartered Insurtech firm CXA Group has reportedly decided to restructure its operations by selling off its brokerage division so that it can focus on the development and global expansion of its enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. CXA stated that it will be selling its brokerage business… Read More

February 6, 2021 @ 4:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

SME or small business crowdfunding platform Siam Validus has reportedly received a debenture crowdfunding license from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (SEC). Siam Validus is a joint initiative between Singapore’s SME financing platform Validus and SCG Distribution, a Thailand-based firm that specializes in… Read More

February 5, 2021 @ 8:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Singapore-based remittance firm TranSwap has reportedly decided to make a move into the United Kingdom with plans to establish an Edinburgh research and development (R&D) center that will employ over 50 professionals. Currently operating in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia, TranSwap’s management noted that the… Read More

February 4, 2021 @ 11:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Indonesian digital wallet provider OVO has teamed up with Manulife Aset Manajemen Indonesia (MAMI) and its partner Bareksa in order to introduce an instant redemption mutual fund. OVO stated that the new offering is the first of its kind in the Southeast Asian country. The… Read More

February 4, 2021 @ 9:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Malaysia-based Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd, a financial services company that offers investment banking, stockbroking and investment management services, has reportedly acquired i-VCAP Management Sdn Bhd through its wholly-owned subsidiary Kenanga Investors Bhd (KIB). The acquisition was made after obtaining approval from the Securities Commission of… Read More

February 4, 2021 @ 8:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Multinational corporation Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ:ZBRA) has reportedly launched new head offices in Singapore in order to expand its business operations in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The official launch of Zebra’s APAC headquarters has come as Singapore gets ready to begin its third phase of… Read More

February 4, 2021 @ 8:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the nation’s central bank and financial regulator, and the Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) have asked the general public to be on alert to the potential risks that may be involved in trading in securities incited by online discussion… Read More

February 3, 2021 @ 11:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Switzerland-based Sygnum Bank, a licensed digital asset bank founded on “Swiss and Singapore heritage” operating globally, and Fine Wine Capital, a privately-held specialist trading firm with a special focus on the fine wine market, have reportedly tokenized a range of premium investible wines. This initiative… Read More

February 2, 2021 @ 8:43 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Southeast Asian Fintech firm Grab has decided to upsize its term loan facility to $2 billion due to  growing interest from new investors. Grab, which is one of Southeast Asia’s largest “Super App” providers, confirmed the successful closing of its first senior secured term loan… Read More

February 1, 2021 @ 10:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Singapore-based ECXX Global, an asset-based digital securities exchange, has revealed that it will be working with regional brokerage UOB Kay Hian in order to bring in deep tech startups to their network and give them the chance to list through Securitized Token Offerings (STOs) so… Read More

February 1, 2021 @ 8:30 am By Omar Faridi  |  

We recently connected with Dr. Amrit Kumar, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Zilliqa, an enterprise-grade blockchain development platform. Many of the more popular iterations of blockchain are not sufficiently robust to handle the high transaction rates needed today – not to mention what businesses… Read More