Binance Pay has partnered with TBCASoft to enable QR code payments through the HIVEX Network, starting with a planned rollout in Japan. The integration will initially extend HIVEX-enabled payment rails to approximately 48 million Binance Pay users, allowing eligible users to make purchases across millions of merchant locations without requiring separate bilateral integrations with individual merchant networks. Planned for launch in the third quarter of 2026, the service connects digital payment ecosystems with local merchant acceptance infrastructure. It supports both customer-present and merchant-present QR code payments at endpoints operated by HIVEX acceptance partners. The partnership will scale payment acceptance across…

OSL Group has launched AgentPay, a stablecoin payment infrastructure designed to enable AI agents to execute autonomous payment flows. The platform targets the emerging agentic commerce market by providing infrastructure for high-frequency, micro-value settlements. AgentPay supports stablecoins such as USDT, USDC, and OSL’s enterprise token, USDGO. The system is compatible with open payment protocols like x402, AP2, and MPP.Developers can integrate the service via API. This platform includes zero gas fee capability, alongside multi-asset routing and nano-payment support. Developers only need to define payment intent, including the amount, asset, and payee, while AgentPay handles routing, signing, and settlement. OSL will…

HSBC has sold its Tokyo headquarters building to a unit of Mitsubishi HC Capital, according to Bloomberg. The sale comes as Group Chief Executive Georges Elhedery accelerates a global restructuring of the bank focused on simplifying operations through asset disposals. Registration records show the Nihonbashi district property changed hands in March. HSBC is leasing space in the building until it relocates to a new mixed-use development in Tokyo’s Yaesu district. The bank plans to move into the new office, located opposite Tokyo Station, in 2029. The location will place the London-based lender next to one of Japan’s busiest transport hubs,…

China CITIC Bank International (CNCBI) has appointed Wang Junwei as its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, subject to regulatory approval. He will succeed Shen Qiang, who has resigned from the roles due to work arrangements but will remain on the bank’s board as a Non-Executive Director. Pending regulatory approval, Jeffery Bai, Executive Director, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of the Wholesale Banking Group, will assume the Chief Executive Officer’s responsibilities on an interim basis. Wang joins the role after a long career at CNCBI’s parent company, China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited, most recently serving as President of its…

Binance-affiliated companies have filed a lawsuit against RedotPay in a Hong Kong court, accusing the crypto payments firm of diverting more than 470,000 users away from Binance Card in breach of a partnership agreement, Moneyweb reported. The petition names Binance-linked entities Nest Trading, DistributedTechnologies and Chaintecs Consulting Singapore as plaintiffs. It targets RedotPay co-founders Gao Zhangpeng, Chan Wa Choi and Yao Chao, seeking close to US$473 million in damages. Binance’s filing describes the alleged conduct as a “fraudulent scheme.” Dispute centres on Binance Pay and card funding arrangements Binance’s filing states that RedotPay allowed customers to fund its payment cards…

Bitget is ending its cryptocurrency trading services for residents of Japan, citing efforts to comply with the country’s evolving regulatory framework. The move follows legislation approved by Japan’s parliament in July that reclassifies cryptocurrencies as financial instruments, as reported by CoinDesk. The exchange stopped accepting new registrations from Japanese residents on Sunday (2 August). Existing users who believe Bitget has incorrectly identified them as Japanese residents must complete a Level-2 identity verification process, including proof of address, by 1 November. Any account that fails to complete this verification will be treated as belonging to a Japanese resident. Bitget will place…

Digital Prosperity Asia and Oxford Economics have released a study on the financial impact of digital regulations on startups in South Korea. The research reveals that 86% of local startups face operational constraints due to compliance requirements, which are increasingly diverting funds away from research and development. The study highlights how compliance obligations are becoming a structural cost rather than a one-time adjustment. According to the report, 76% of startups in South Korea allocate more than 5% of their operating budgets to compliance. Among this group, 44% spend over 15% of their operating costs on meeting regulatory requirements. To manage…

In the past decade, the market for retail digital payments has witnessed heightened competition across various economies, which the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) attributes to rapid digitalization, the emergence of cutting-edge technologies, and the entry of new players. In a new paper released in July, the organization analyzes the market’s evolution over the last ten years and assesses the current competitive landscape. The report underscores the profound transformation that has occurred in the retail digital payment market. This market is now characterized by intensified competition in both the user-facing front as well as in the back end. The retail…

OSL Group has secured a dedicated SWIFT Business Identifier Code (BIC), strengthening its connectivity with the global banking infrastructure. The SFC-licensed platform said the milestone reflects growing integration between institutional digital asset services and traditional financial networks. The dedicated SWIFT identity allows OSL to enhance its fiat processing capabilities, including USD virtual accounts provided with global financial partners. OSL can now identify itself under its own name within SWIFT’s messaging network, improving transparency and efficiency in cross-border settlement processes. The dedicated SWIFT identity helps OSL reduce intermediary friction when institutional clients move funds between digital assets, fiat currencies, and stablecoins,…

For the first time, more than half of TNG Digital’s revenue comes from outside payments. So what is Malaysia’s largest e-wallet actually turning into? Alan Ni joined FNN to answer that. He was employee number three at TNG Digital and now runs it as CEO, growing the business from a toll-and-parking wallet into a platform with more than 26 million verified users. In 2025 the company delivered its first full year of profit and became Malaysia’s first fintech unicorn. We got into how the business changed, where the growth is really coming from, and a few things that surprised us.…

The bank of 2030 will not be built around branches, fragmented services or siloed channels. It will need to fit into how people actually live, spend, save and make financial decisions. The decisions leaders make today will shape whether their banks stay relevant by the end of the decade. This session looks at what leading banks are building now, and what needs to change. This webinar will bring together thought leaders to explore: What will customers expect by 2030, and where do banks still fall short? Where can AI make banking more personal and responsive when customers need it most?…

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is exploring tokenised payments and digital settlement systems as part of efforts to modernise its capital market operations. The multilateral development bank is assessing whether emerging financial technologies could have applications in its treasury activities while expanding its global fundraising capabilities, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. Domenico Nardelli, AIIB’s Treasurer and acting Chief Financial Officer, said the bank is interested in emerging financial technologies such as digital payments and tokenised settlement. “That is a sector that we are exploring with interest,” Nardelli said. “We wanted to understand if there…

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) have introduced new measures to deepen cooperation between Hong Kong and Mainland China’s capital markets. Their joint framework focuses on expanding financial products, supporting cross-boundary fundraising and listings, and enhancing regulatory coordination. Among the initiatives are a fast-track registration mechanism for conventional equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and support for ETF products linked to both markets and China’s modern industrial system. Both regulators will also deepen cooperation in the futures market to support a wider range of renminbi-denominated and settled futures products in Hong Kong. To improve fundraising…

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has announced that the Faster Payment System (FPS) will be unavailable for 10 hours on 9 August 2026. The scheduled downtime will affect real-time fund transfers and digital payments across the city to allow for system enhancements. The Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited, which operates the network, will conduct the maintenance between 1:00 am and 11:00 am local time. During this period, all related network services will be completely unavailable to retail and corporate users. Regulators have instructed banks and stored value facility operators to notify their customers in advance of the disruption. Several…

China has tested faster cross-border settlement with Malaysia using a 43,000 yuan (US$6,360) digital yuan payment for a fresh durian shipment, according to the South China Morning Post. The transaction settled in about 30 minutes. China Construction Bank’s Xiamen and Labuan branches processed the payment. The channel allows recipients to convert e-CNY directly into Malaysian ringgit without additional intermediary fees. China and Malaysia had previously tested an inbound e-CNY transaction in January. The mechanism enables direct settlement without routing payments through multiple intermediary banks. In June, 26 financial institutions signed agreements to participate directly in Cross-border e-CNY Transfer Services, or…

A 50-year-old insurance professional in Hong Kong reportedly lost around US$3.3 million after an online romantic partner allegedly directed her to a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platform, crypto.news reported. Hong Kong police recorded 25 investment fraud cases involving online romantic relationships during the week ending July 30, with reported losses totaling nearly HK$70 million, according to Binance. In the case involving the insurance professional, the alleged scammer presented himself as a car dealer before persuading her to invest in virtual currencies through an unfamiliar platform. She continued transferring funds after the platform displayed rising account balances and claimed her portfolio had…

NTT Data has launched its Adaptis payment service in India. The Japanese technology group is expanding its payments footprint following its acquisition of Malaysian payment processing company GHL Systems, as reported by Nikkei Asia. Adaptis is already operational in Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Takeo Ueno, CEO of NTT Data’s Indian subsidiary, said the service in India will match the quality provided in Japan. NTT Data initially entered the Indian payments sector in 2019 through the acquisition of Atom Technologies. That entity now operates as NTT Data Payment Services India and serves several million merchants. The company plans to…

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued a restriction notice to Futu Securities International (Hong Kong) Limited, restricting dealings in up to HK$125.247 million of client assets. The regulator said an entity suspected of involvement in a fraudulent scheme to create a false or artificial appearance of demand for shares in an IPO holds the accounts. SFC clarified that Futu itself is not the subject of the ongoing investigation and that the restriction notice does not affect the brokerage or its other clients. Under the restriction notice, Futu cannot deal with, process, or assist in the disposal of the…

HashKey is seeking to acquire APEX to expand its institutional trading and clearing operations in Singapore. Its wholly owned subsidiary, HKDAG (Singapore), has signed a non-binding framework agreement with Asia Pacific Exchange and its major shareholder for the potential purchase of the entire company. APEX holds an Approved Exchange licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, while its group company, Asia Pacific Clear, holds an Approved Clearing House licence. Together, the licences allow the group to operate trading, clearing and settlement infrastructure in Singapore. The acquisition would strengthen HashKey’s institutional capabilities across trading, custody, payments, clearing and settlement while expanding…

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has launched a direct linkage between the city’s Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU) and Switzerland’s SIX. The linkage gives CMU members direct access to securities in the Swiss and Spanish markets, expanding Hong Kong’s cross-border investment infrastructure. The development coincides with the debut of equity post-trade services by CMU OmniClear, the entity established in 2024 to internationalise and commercialise CMU’s operations on behalf of the regulator. This is the first time CMU OmniClear has offered equity post-trade capabilities, enabling investors to manage diversified asset portfolios more efficiently. “This represents a significant step forward in CMU’s…