January 8, 2025 @ 7:39 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia-based private equity firm Creador has acquired a controlling stake in Indonesia-based B2B hospitality marketplace MG Group from Indonesia Northstar and other shareholders, marking its entry into the global travel industry. The acquisition highlights Creador’s focus on Southeast Asia’s rapidly recovering travel sector, driven by… Read More

January 7, 2025 @ 5:06 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Mashreq Pakistan, a subsidiary of the UAE’s Mashreq Bank, has secured a restricted license from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to commence pilot operations as a digital retail bank in the country. The approval marks a significant milestone in Mashreq’s expansion and highlights its… Read More

January 6, 2025 @ 8:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

United International Holding Co. has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Fintech firm NowPay Corp. to establish a specialized wage processing company in Saudi Arabia, according to a company announcement. The non-binding agreement, effective for two months with an option to extend, outlines… Read More

January 5, 2025 @ 7:05 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia’s communications regulator has granted operating licenses to two prominent technology firms, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to tighten oversight of internet messaging and social media platforms. According to a statement issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), WeChat, owned… Read More

January 4, 2025 @ 9:28 am By Michael Wong  |  

Infinant, a Charlotte-based provider of bank platforms, has raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by FINTOP Capital and its partner JAM FINTOP BankTech. The round also included participation from Raido Capital Partners, Woodforest Financial Group, and Bankers Helping Bankers, according to… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 9:38 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd announced that it has invested in the Malaysia-based private equity Cambrian Fund and U.S.-based artificial intelligence firm Syntiant Corp, in a move aimed at boosting Malaysia’s position in advanced manufacturing and semiconductor technologies. In a statement, Khazanah said… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 6:13 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Fintech firm Alif has announced securing a $20 million debt investment from Accial Capital, a U.S.-based impact private credit fund manager, to strengthen its Nasiya installment service and expand financial inclusion in Uzbekistan. The transaction was facilitated with advisory support from Nairang Capital and TMT… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 5:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) has finalized its $2 billion investment in KeyCorp, acquiring approximately 14.9% of the U.S.-based bank’s common stock. The transaction, announced in August 2024, received Federal Reserve approval on December 12, 2024, and marks the completion of Scotiabank’s strategic minority… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 1:44 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Bybit Technology Limited, formerly Bybit Fintech Limited, and its Chief Executive Officer Ben Zhou (Yuchen Zhou), have been reprimanded by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) for running a digital asset exchange (DAX) without registration. The SC said in a statement that both Bybit and Zhou… Read More

December 28, 2024 @ 11:31 am By Michael Wong  |  

Vancouver-based bookkeeping service Bench Accounting has announced its sudden closure, potentially putting hundreds of staff out of work. The company, once billed as North America’s largest small-business bookkeeping service, posted a “notice of closure” on Friday stating the platform is “no longer accessible.” Bench acknowledges… Read More

December 26, 2024 @ 8:21 am By Michael Wong  |  

Allo.xyz, a platform specializing in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and lending, has secured a landmark $100 million Bitcoin-backed credit facility, further expanding its footprint in the burgeoning crypto lending market. The financing round, facilitated by a consortium of lenders that includes Greengage and a long-standing… Read More

December 24, 2024 @ 5:34 pm By Michael Wong  |  

German fintech company Cleversoft has entered discussions to acquire Istanbul-based Fineksus, a move aimed at expanding its global service network. The Munich-headquartered firm specializes in financial asset management platforms and systems for fraud prevention. Founded in 2004 by Florian Clever, Cleversoft has grown into a… Read More

December 24, 2024 @ 5:26 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Brooklyn Artificial Intelligence Research (Brooklyn) has finalized a strategic funding round led by Atypical Ventures, with backing from S&P Global Ventures, the CEO of the Hantz Group, and several asset and wealth management executives, according to an announcement. The company plans to use this new… Read More

December 23, 2024 @ 10:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has introduced extensive rules governing crypto-assets, covering disclosures, public offerings, trading, and marketing activities. The regulations aim to enhance investor protection and promote transparency in the burgeoning digital asset market. Under the new guidelines, crypto-asset offerings must submit… Read More

December 23, 2024 @ 9:15 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Malaysia retained its position as Southeast Asia’s top data center hub in 2024, attracting $23 billion in investments and solidifying its status as a leading digital hub, Knight Frank said Monday. The global property consultant, in its Data Centre Research Report 2024, noted Malaysia ranked… Read More

December 23, 2024 @ 4:00 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Crypto casino platform Winna.com has raised $15 million in a seed funding round, according to Crunchbase. The funds will fuel the platform’s growth and expansion, aiming to revolutionize online gambling through crypto. Since its launch in mid-2024, Winna.com has attracted over 10,000 active players, signaling… Read More

December 22, 2024 @ 5:22 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Global alternative investment firm Arcapita and financial infrastructure technology provider Dgpays have acquired a majority stake in NEOPAY, a UAE-based financial institution, in a deal valued at $385 million, according to an announcement. Mashreq Bank, NEOPAY’s founding entity, retains a substantial minority stake, signaling its… Read More

December 22, 2024 @ 10:05 am By Michael Wong  |  

Israeli Fintech company Morning is set to be acquired by Italian software firm TeamSystem for an estimated $150 million, according to sources cited by CTech. The sale represents a major milestone for Morning, which is best known for its “Green Invoice” SaaS platform offering invoicing… Read More

December 21, 2024 @ 2:58 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Crypto derivatives platform Binance Futures has introduced the CGPT/USDT Perpetual Contract, highlighting the rising prominence of AI-focused cryptocurrencies in the digital asset landscape. The new offering allows traders to leverage ChainGPT token (CGPT) transactions up to 75x, with USDT as the settlement currency, adding to… Read More

December 21, 2024 @ 6:57 am By Michael Wong  |  

Google has announced new advertising policies for cryptocurrency-related products in the United Kingdom, requiring advertisers to register with the country’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) starting January 15, 2025. The update aims to ensure compliance with local regulations amid increased scrutiny of crypto promotions globally. The… Read More