FinTech

Innovating for FinTech inclusion: Ant International’s plans for the next billion users

At the #SingaporeFinTechFestival 2023, we learn how innovations are rewriting the narrative of financial empowerment, enabling a future where everyone, regardless of their geographical or socio-economic background, will have access to essential financial tools and services.

Singapore’s StraitsX gets approval to issue single-currency pegged stablecoins

Singapore-based digital asset platform StraitsX has received in-principle approval (IPA) from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as major oayment institutions licensed for digital payment token services, for the purpose of issuing XSGD and XUSD respectively.

Singapore skyline SGX SPAC

MAS partners financial industry to expand asset tokenization initiatives

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has on Wednesday announced that it is working with the financial industry to expand asset tokenization initiatives and develop foundational capabilities to scale tokenized markets. These developments under Project Guardian will catalyze the institutional adoption of digital assets, with the aim of freeing up…

Ant Group Digital Technologies says its international business operation increases 300% in the past year

Ant Group Digital Technologies announced that its revenue from its international business operation has increased by 300 percent in the past year, with key markets including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and other emerging economies.

MAS, Temasek Trust collaborate to accelerate growth of FinTech and impact ecosystem

Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Temasek Trust have collaborated to accelerate growth of FinTech and impact ecosystem. Temasek Trust has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the MAS to explore a common FinTech and impact investment roadmap, and an interoperable technology framework to facilitate cross-platform collaborations between open…

Singapore’s Wind.App raises $3.8M funding from Global Founders Capital, Spartan Group

Singapore fintech firm Wind.App has announced a successful $3.8 million pre-seed funding round. The round was co-led by Global Founders Capital and Spartan Group, and saw participation from prominent investors, including Saison Capital, Alumni Ventures and Tiny VC.

Malaysia’s SME Corp allocates $1.27M to Bumiputera youth entrepreneurs

SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp. Malaysia), an agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (MECD) and Funding Societies, an unified SME digital finance platform in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, have allocated an initial fund of MYR 6 million ($1.27 milion) for Bumiputera youth entrepreneurs.

Grab-backed GXBank unveils beta bank app

GX Bank Berhad (GXBank), the Grab-backed Malaysian digital bank, is officially rolling out its beta app to selected 20,000 Malaysians users effective November 14, 2023. This comes after successfully testing the beta app amongst employees of the bank and partners.

The trifecta effect: Fostering consequential conversations at the intersection of policy, technology, and finance

To drive the global fintech industry in the #Web3 era, there is a pressing need to foster a more timely and synergistic dialogue between policymakers, technologists, and financial service experts — three industry stakeholders that have historically operated in siloes. For instance, in Southeast Asia, less than half of industry leaders believe regulators…

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The promising and challenging terrain of embedded finance in Southeast Asia

In the rapidly evolving world of financial technology, few themes resonate as powerfully as embedded finance. It stands as a beacon that enables truly seamless and frictionless financial services for diverse industries, from #ecommerce and marketplaces to #remittance providers and smaller and medium-sized banks. Enterprises across these sectors are well…