February 16, 2026 @ 12:15 am By Michael Wong  |  

AlloyX, a digital-asset infrastructure firm owned by Nasdaq-listed Solowin Holdings, has entered into a partnership with Bahrain FinTech Bay as it moves closer to launching a regulated stablecoin in the Gulf state, positioning itself to tap growing institutional interest in compliant blockchain-based payments. The collaboration… Read More

February 15, 2026 @ 10:12 pm By Michael Wong  |  

OPAQUE, a startup building infrastructure to secure sensitive data used in artificial intelligence systems, has raised $24 million in a Series B funding round led by Walden Catalyst, the company said. Returning investors Intel Capital, Race Capital, Storm Ventures and Thomvest participated in the round,… Read More

February 15, 2026 @ 1:18 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore will set up a new National AI Council chaired by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to steer policy, align government agencies and push the city-state’s next phase of artificial intelligence adoption, Wong said in his Budget 2026 statement. Wong said the government would “review regulations… Read More

February 15, 2026 @ 8:15 am By Michael Wong  |  

The central banks of the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong agreed to deepen cooperation on cross-border debt market links, digital assets and stablecoin regulation. The move comes as the UAE central bank formally joined Hong Kong’s Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU). The two sides said… Read More

February 15, 2026 @ 1:11 am By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia’s securities regulator has appointed LC Wakaful Digital Sdn Bhd (LCWD) as the first operator of a new “Social Exchange Platform”, a move aimed at bringing capital-markets-style governance and transparency to donation-based funding for social projects. The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) said the appointment is… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 12:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Omnispay, a UAE-based fintech focused on payments and cash-flow tools for small and medium-sized enterprises, has raised $2 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Infinity Value Capital Group, the company said. The fresh capital will fund product development and expansion as omnispay shifts… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 9:17 am By Michael Wong  |  

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb’s chief executive apologised to users after a recent Bitcoin overpayment incident, as the platform moved to compensate customers and strengthen internal controls. CEO Lee Jae-won said the company “sincerely apologizes for the concern and inconvenience caused,” adding that Bithumb would… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 1:20 am By Michael Wong  |  

Card payments in Spain are on track to top $550 billion dollars by 2029, as near-universal access to bank accounts, broad merchant acceptance and the continued shift to contactless transactions accelerate the move toward electronic payments, data provider GlobalData forecast. The value of card payments… Read More

February 8, 2026 @ 4:01 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed a 0.1% tax on turnover for each crypto-asset transfer conducted through platforms operated by licensed service providers, under a draft circular released for public consultation, The Hanoi Times reported. Under the draft framework, crypto-asset transfers and trading would be… Read More

February 8, 2026 @ 11:59 am By Michael Wong  |  

South Korea and Indonesia plan to launch a cross-border QR-code payment service in April, allowing visitors to pay at merchants in either country using their domestic QR payment apps, Indonesia’s central bank said. The planned linkage underscores how central banks are increasingly treating retail payments… Read More

February 6, 2026 @ 10:23 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Electric scooter maker SLEEK EV said it has secured an $8.5 million first close in its Series A funding round, led by KYMCO Capital and backed by more than 20 supply-chain partners from Taiwan and mainland China, as it looks to expand production and charging… Read More

February 5, 2026 @ 3:35 am By Michael Wong  |  

Cross-border payments in Southeast Asia are shifting from pure remittances to “everyday” obligations, like social security contributions, where compliance and local rails are as important as speed. A new Malaysia–Philippines partnership is betting that overseas Filipinos will be an early driver of that interoperable-payments push…. Read More

February 4, 2026 @ 1:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

Snout, a pet healthcare financing platform, said it has secured more than $110 million in total capital to expand access to affordable, prevention-first veterinary care across the United States, betting that simpler monthly payment plans can lift routine care uptake while reducing administrative friction for… Read More

February 2, 2026 @ 7:41 pm By Michael Wong  |  

In a year when capital is moving faster than diplomacy, two of the world’s most discreet financial hubs chose a quieter venue to compare notes: a closed-door meeting room in Switzerland’s capital. Hong Kong and Switzerland held the eighth Hong Kong–Switzerland Financial Dialogue in Bern… Read More

February 2, 2026 @ 4:02 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Asia-based stablecoin trading and payment platform OSL Group said it has raised $200 million (HK$1.56 billion) in equity financing, as the company looks to expand globally and consolidate its position in regulated digital payments and stablecoin infrastructure. OSL said the net proceeds will be used… Read More

February 2, 2026 @ 12:39 am By Michael Wong  |  

For six days ahead of Bangladesh’s national election, the country’s most common political “campaign tool” may not be a rally or a poster, but a throttled digital wallet. Bangladesh Bank is preparing to cap mobile financial service (MFS) transfers at 10,000 taka (about $82) per… Read More

February 1, 2026 @ 6:03 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The European Commission has stepped up enforcement of its crypto-asset regulatory framework, opening infringement procedures against 13 member states over failures to implement or comply with new European Union rules governing crypto-asset taxation and markets. In its latest package of infringement decisions, the European Commission… Read More

February 1, 2026 @ 5:02 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Sovereign wealth funds typically spread capital across global markets. The Philippines’ newest one says it is narrowing its focus instead. The Maharlika Investment Corporation, the Philippines’ sovereign wealth fund, said it will deploy capital in fiscal year 2026 across four strategic pillars — energy, logistics,… Read More

February 1, 2026 @ 10:26 am By Michael Wong  |  

Card payments in Singapore are forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.2% between 2025 and 2029 to reach S$209.2 billion ($158.3 billion) by the end of the period, supported by near-universal access to banking services, wide merchant acceptance and rising use… Read More

January 31, 2026 @ 11:50 am By Michael Wong  |  

Dealroom.co, a global data platform focused on startups, high-growth companies and venture capital, has raised $7 million in a new investment round led by Indico Capital Partners, with participation from Rabobank and existing investors Beringea, Shoe Investments, and Knight Capital, the company said. Founded in… Read More