Microsoft is rolling out its new enterprise AI suite in Hong Kong as organisations move from pilot projects to broader deployment of AI in core operations. The company announced the regional launch during the Microsoft AI Tour in Hong Kong, positioning the update as part of its “Frontier Success” approach to scaling agentic AI with governance and security built in. Microsoft will deliver the capabilities through Microsoft 365 E7 (Frontier Suite), which will reach general availability in Hong Kong on 1 May 2026. The suite combines Microsoft 365 Copilot, Work IQ and Agent 365, alongside enterprise security, identity and governance…

Hong Kong virtual lender Airstar Bank has officially rebranded to EleBank, signalling a strategic shift towards wealth management and integrated financial services. The rebranding follows a major ownership change. Online brokerage Futu recently became the controlling shareholder of the digital bank after a HK$500 million capital injection. The company announced the transition alongside a new brand proposition focused on investing. The shift reflects a broader push to combine existing digital banking infrastructure with new wealth management capabilities. Following the rebrand, the digital lender is rolling out an updated suite of services. This expansion covers financing, payments, lending, and insurance to…

Banma Intelligence and Alipay have launched an AI cockpit solution that introduces in-car voice payments to smart vehicles at the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. The system integrates Alipay AI Pay, allowing drivers to complete transactions using voice commands without needing a smartphone. The initial rollout covers entertainment and travel services, enabling users to purchase movie tickets, book hotels, and order food while driving. “With large models onboard, vehicles can understand user intent and make recommendations,” said Ming Cai, Chief Product Officer at Banma Intelligence. “By integrating Alipay AI Pay into our AI cockpit solution, we are removing the last…

Vietnam and South Korea have launched cross-border QR payments that allow Korean users to pay merchants in Vietnam through participating e-wallets and banking apps. The service was introduced by the Vietnam National Payment Corporation (NAPAS), GLN International, BIDV and Hana Bank, following a cooperation agreement signed at the Vietnam-Korea Economic Forum in August 2025. The service allows more than 115 million users in the GLN International network, including Korean tourists and Koreans living in Vietnam, to scan VIETQRGlobal codes at hundreds of thousands of acceptance points nationwide. Transactions are processed in real time, with direct settlement between the Korean won…

WeChat Pay has integrated its service with national QR code networks in five Asian countries, simplifying cross-border WeChat Pay payments for outbound travellers. The integration covers South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, as reported by Xinhua. Users can now scan standard local payment QR codes directly, eliminating the need to seek out specific WeChat merchant codes. A WeChat Pay official stated that this development represents full interoperability with local payment infrastructures, rather than a collection of individual merchant agreements. The move allows tourists to bypass downloading local apps or exchanging currency manually. This expansion coincides with a sustained…

The global transition finance ecosystem is gaining momentum. According to new research by the Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research (HKIMR), the research arm of the Hong Kong Academy of Finance (AoF), 60% of financial services stakeholders are already active in or exploring transition finance developments, and Asia-Pacific (APAC) among the most engaged. The findings are based on a survey conducted in December 2025 and January 2026, involving more than 1,000 respondents from banks, insurers, asset wealth management firms, and other major global stakeholders. It also incorporates individual and focus group interviews with 110 global market participants to…

Global payments bank Banking Circle will now handle cross-border transactions and settlement flows for South Korean payment service provider PayGate. The Banking Circle and PayGate partnership provides the South Korean firm with virtual accounts and access to major currency payment rails, including USD, EUR, and GBP. PayGate currently processes collections and disbursements for global payment providers and manages transactions for over 3,000 South Korean merchants. The South Korean won is a restricted currency, which creates structural friction for providers managing cross-border flows. Firms often face limited offshore settlement capabilities, fragmented treasury operations, and high administrative costs. The integration addresses these…

Digital infrastructure company Equinix is partnering with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to launch the Equinix AI Discovery Hub in Hong Kong. The facility targets enterprises and financial institutions that need secure infrastructure for regulated AI workloads. Scheduled to open in the second half of 2026, the testing environment combines HPE hardware with NVIDIA software. The setup helps businesses move enterprise AI projects from the pilot phase into production while reducing data silos, latency issues and compliance bottlenecks. For the financial sector, moving sensitive data to public clouds often presents regulatory challenges. The hub allows banks and insurers to build and…

Chinese tech giants Tencent and Alibaba are in discussions to invest in AI startup DeepSeek, The Information reported, citing four people familiar with the matter. Owned by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer Capital Management, DeepSeek is seeking to raise funding at a valuation exceeding US$20 billion, as early talks with prospective investors have generated strong interest, according to one of the sources. Alibaba’s US-listed shares rose 1.3% in premarket trading, according to The Information. Reuters previously reported that DeepSeek had begun discussions to raise external capital for the first time, targeting at least US$300 million at a valuation of no less…

Well Link Bank and FWD Macau have launched a bancassurance partnership in Macau, allowing the bank to distribute FWD’s insurance products across its local branch network. The collaboration targets local residents and visitors, with a specific focus on high-net-worth individuals seeking wealth management and legacy planning services. The arrangement combines Well Link Bank’s established customer base with FWD’s tech-enabled insurance distribution approach. Huang Ruisheng, Executive Director and CEO, Well Link Bank, said: “Looking ahead, Well Link Bank will continue to harness innovation and professional expertise to contribute to Macau’s diversified economic growth and the prosperity of its financial market.” Ken…

Digital asset platform OSL Group has partnered with Circle to expand access to the USDC stablecoin across its international platforms. The OSL Circle partnership aims to deepen digital dollar liquidity and provide compliant settlement rails for institutional clients in Hong Kong and globally. Through OSL Global, the company’s international trading venue, users can now convert between USD and USDC on a 1:1 basis. The platform has introduced a dedicated USDC trading zone featuring an orderbook function. This zone supports five major trading pairs: BTC, ETH, SOL, USD, and USDT. To improve capital efficiency and trading flexibility, OSL has designated USDC…

London-based 9fin is launching its AI-powered debt market intelligence platform in the APAC region. The company is establishing teams in Hong Kong, Singapore, and India to offer real-time bond and loan data to local financial institutions. The 9fin APAC launch follows a US$170 million Series C funding round in March 2026. The platform uses AI to analyse legal documents and track credit signals, allowing users to navigate public and private debt markets. The expansion comes as the region sees an increasing divergence between public and private debt. Primary bond issuance in Asia excluding Japan reached US$42 billion in January before…

Hang Seng Bank has launched an end-to-end digital application process for the 80% Guarantee Product under Hong Kong’s SME Financing Guarantee Scheme (SFGS), offering approval-in-principle in as fast as 10 seconds. The new Hang Seng digital SME loan service allows SME customers to apply online for facilities up to HK$8 million. The process includes digital ID verification and electronic signatures for loan document execution. Separately, Hang Seng is changing how it assesses unsecured SME Business Loans. The bank is allowing retail and food and beverage customers to opt into credit assessments based on alternative data. Through partnerships with electronic payment…

Global insurtech bolttech has appointed Kohei Watanabe as General Manager for Japan, with responsibility for the country’s business, including profit and loss oversight across both domestic and international operations. Watanabe brings extensive experience across insurance, underwriting and technology. He spent 17 years at Tokio Marine in senior leadership roles in Japan and the UK, including at Tokio Marine Kiln, and later oversaw product planning for corporate underwriting in Tokyo. He then moved to Singapore to help build Liberty Mutual’s Japanese business across the Asia-Pacific region. Most recently, he led go-to-market strategy and sales expansion across Asia for ICEYE, a Finland-based…

Hang Seng Investment and HSBC have launched a tokenised unlisted class of the Hang Seng Gold ETF in Hong Kong. The blockchain-based product allows retail and institutional investors to gain exposure to physical gold through digital asset platforms. Trading under the code HSGLD, the tokenised unlisted class uses HSBC tokenisation services and is initially available on HashKey Exchange. HSBC acts as the tokenisation agent, gold dealer, custodian, trustee, and transfer agent for the fund. For investors seeking a tokenised gold ETF, Hong Kong now offers a fully compliant route through this collaboration. “We are extending access beyond traditional channels to…

Singapore-headquartered payment and treasury management platform SUNRATE has signed an agreement with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) to become a strategic enterprise in Hong Kong. The move is designed to support the broader SUNRATE Web3 expansion, allowing the company to use the city as an innovation centre to deepen its fintech capabilities alongside its core cross-border payment operations. Hong Kong’s regulatory framework for virtual assets and its proximity to the Greater Bay Area make it a strategic gateway for the firm to connect Mainland China with global markets. Working with the government office, SUNRATE will receive policy support…

Alipay has launched a service that lets OpenClaw-type AI agents make purchases and complete payments with user approval. The feature builds on Alipay AI Pay, a payment tool for AI-driven transactions introduced in 2025. Users can install Alipay AI Pay into a compatible AI agent, enable the payment function and complete identity verification. Once activated, the agent can handle tasks such as renewing a membership, while the user still confirms the order and authorises the payment. Alipay AI Pay is now pre-installed on Alibaba Cloud’s JVS Claw and has also been rolled out on DTClaw, developed by Ant Group Digital…

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) launched a new regulatory framework to pilot the secondary trading of tokenised SFC-authorised investment products (tokenised products) in Hong Kong. This particular move aims to boost trading activity in the city’s expanding digital asset ecosystem over time. The framework primarily covers secondary trading of tokenised SFC-authorised open-ended funds on SFC-licensed virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs), including broadening regulated trading access to retail investors. The SFC may also consider over-the-counter arrangements on a case-by-case basis. As of March 2026, 13 tokenised products were offered to the Hong Kong public, with assets under management in their…

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Futian District People’s Government of Shenzhen have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cross-border economic and financial collaboration. The ADGM Shenzhen partnership establishes a framework to elevate cooperation across priority sectors such as financial services, innovation, and talent development. The agreement also supports broader economic, cultural, and educational exchanges between the two jurisdictions. ADGM and Futian District will work together to promote mutual development opportunities and enable better engagement between their respective business and financial communities. The collaboration aims to focus on advancing dialogue and knowledge in areas such as financial…

Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is in talks with investors to raise at least US$300 million at a valuation of US$10 billion, according to a report by The Information cited by Reuters. Reuters attributed the Deepseek funding round information to two people familiar with the matter. The potential DeepSeek funding round would mark a departure for a company that has, according to the report, previously turned down multiple offers from China’s top VC firms and technology giants. As it is a Chinese startup, the report added that US venture capitalists may be hesitant to invest in DeepSeek. Reuters said it…