HSBC Singapore has announced two senior appointments aimed at strengthening its China corridor proposition, as it seeks to support Chinese businesses and entrepreneurs expanding into Singapore and across ASEAN. Singapore continues to serve as a strategic entry point into Southeast Asia and a hub for companies pursuing broader international expansion. The bank said the appointments reflect its focus on facilitating cross-border banking, trade and wealth needs linked to China-ASEAN flows. Wong Kee Joo, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Singapore, said: “As the region’s leading trade and business hub, Singapore is uniquely positioned to support Chinese companies as they expand into…

Statrys, a Hong Kong-based fintech company providing integrated accounting, business accounts, and company creation solutions, has introduced a transaction-based accounting pricing model on 2 March 2026. It is tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, and entrepreneurs seeking greater flexibility and cost transparency. The new model aligns accounting fees with the number of transactions processed each month. This approach is designed to better support early-stage companies and seasonal businesses whose transaction volumes may fluctuate, so clients can select a tier that reflects what they actually do in a given month. Clients will benefit from a transparent pricing structure that…

Startale Group and SBI Holdings have launched JPYSC, a trust bank-backed Japanese yen stablecoin for institutional and cross-border use. The initiative advances Japan’s regulated digital currency infrastructure as global stablecoin competition grows. Japan’s clear legal framework allows financial institutions to issue compliant stablecoins with defined roles and oversight. JPYSC will be the first trust-based stablecoin issued by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank under these regulations. The stablecoin will operate across traditional financial systems and blockchain networks. SBI VC Trade will handle primary distribution, and Startale Group will manage technical development. The project targets a Q2 2026 launch, pending regulatory approval. Financial…

ZA Bank and Nasdaq have announced a collaboration aimed at enhancing digital wealth management in Hong Kong and internationally. The partnership includes the integration of Nasdaq Basic, a real-time US market data solution, into ZA Bank’s trading platform, providing users with access to Best Bid and Offer and Last Sale information for all US exchange-listed stocks. The collaboration also includes initiatives to promote financial literacy and support informed investing, with both parties working on educational programmes for investors of varying experience levels. ZA Bank, which surpassed one million users and achieved profitability in the first half of last year, provides…

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) CMU OmniClear and the Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX) are set to begin a study on establishing a one‑stop, multi‑asset class post‑trade securities infrastructure. It will cover both mainland and Hong Kong equity and debt securities, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo‑po announced in the Budget Speech on Wednesday. According to The Standard, Chan said the initiative aims to facilitate cross‑product and cross‑border collateral connectivity. He added it will improve market liquidity and enhance risk management. The Central Moneymarkets Units (CMU) will also activate linkages with SIX of Switzerland. They will launch equity post‑trade services for…

Hong Kong will issue its first licenses for fiat-referenced stablecoin issuers in March and introduce new legislation later this year covering crypto asset dealers and custodians, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said. In his 2026-27 budget speech on Wednesday (25 February), Chan said a licensing regime for stablecoin issuers is already in place and that regulators will “continue facilitating licensed issuers in Hong Kong to explore different application scenarios in a compliant and risk-controlled manner.” The first approvals are expected next month. The budget also confirmed plans to table a bill this year to establish licensing regimes for digital asset dealers…

MSIG USA and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI Japan), together referred to as MSIG, have joined a new insurance-backed credit facility with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The facility aims to expand access to finance in emerging markets. Under the arrangement, MSIG provides credit insurance to support IFC’s increased lending to banks and financial institutions in emerging economies. The facility focuses on improving access to credit for SMEs and other growth-oriented sectors. The credit insurance policy forms part of IFC’s Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program. The programme seeks to mobilise private-sector capacity for development finance. By transferring part of the credit risk…

McKinsey estimates the stablecoin market will hit $2 trillion by 2028. But according to Sam Lin, COO of dtcpay, even that massive number might be an underestimate. In this video, we dive into why the “train cannot be stopped.” From Visa embracing stablecoins to transactions that are faster and cheaper than SWIFT, the infrastructure of money is changing fundamentally behind the scenes. Key Topics: Why the $2 Trillion forecast might be conservative Stablecoins vs. SWIFT: Speed and Cost Why Visa is entering the game The next 5-10 years of digital finance

RedotPay is reportedly exploring an IPO in the US that could raise more than US$1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The firm has been working with JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Jefferies Financial Group on a potential New York listing that could take place as early as this year and might seek a valuation in excess of US$4 billion. Considerations are ongoing and details such as the size and timing may change, and other banks could join the process, the sources told Bloomberg. RedotPay raised US$194 million in 2025, including through a Series B round in December, and has said it…

South Korea’s central bank has reiterated that regulators should initially permit only licensed commercial banks to issue won-denominated stablecoins, citing concerns over money laundering and risks to financial stability. The renewed caution from the Bank of Korea follows a loss of confidence in the country’s digital-asset sector this month. Crypto exchange Bithumb mistakenly transferred US$40 billion worth of so-called “ghost” Bitcoin to clients, according to Bloomberg. The incident has intensified scrutiny of a crypto market that has at times surpassed equities in retail participation. “It would be desirable to allow stablecoins primarily within the banking sector first,” the Bank of…

AI adoption during the 2026 Chinese New Year drove a sharp rise in usage across Ant Group’s consumer platforms, with both Alipay AI Pay and the AI health app AQ surpassing 100 million users. Ant Group said Alipay AI Pay crossed the 100 million user mark on 23 February, becoming the first AI-native payment product to reach this scale. Usage increased as consumers used the service for everyday transactions such as food orders, drinks and cinema tickets during the holiday period. Between 5 and 11 February, the product processed more than 120 million transactions. Launched in 2025, Alipay AI Pay…

At the DAT Summit Hong Kong, EDENA Capital Partners launched the Autonomic Financial OS. The company describes it as an AI-driven system that automates the issuance, verification, and settlement of sovereign and state-linked assets. The summit gathered about 300 participants from government, finance, and blockchain infrastructure. Attendees included Nico Barito, Special Envoy of the President of Seychelles for ASEAN and Founder of Blue Institute; Sultan Najamuddin, Speaker of the Senate of Indonesia; and Charles Ng, Senior Advisor at Invest Hong Kong. Industry participants included Philip Kaddaj, CEO and Co-founder of Cantor8; Alex Gluchowski, CEO and Co-founder of Matter Labs; and…

Naver has announced measures following an incident in which around 15,000 users’ activity histories on Knowledge iN were exposed due to an error in its People Information Service. According to industry sources cited by The Chosun Daily, the issue arose when a Knowledge iN profile link was incorrectly connected to Naver’s People Information Service. This error led to the public exposure of 15,067 users’ activity records from 3 p.m. on 3 February. Naver disabled the feature at 10:20 p.m. on 4 February and notified all affected users by text and email. Users were also able to check whether their information…

SoftBank’s digital payments unit, PayPay, has filed publicly for a US IPO. The listing could be the largest by a Japanese company on a US exchange. PayPay may list as early as March. PayPay is seeking a valuation above US$10 billion. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is pushing for as much as US$20 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported. The company reported a profit of ¥103.3 billion on revenue of ¥278.5 billion for the nine months ended December. A year earlier, it posted a profit of ¥28.96 billion on ¥220.4 billion in revenue. The filing said PayPay…

Inference Research, an AI-native quantitative trading firm based in Hong Kong, has announced its launch and the expected closing of a US$20 million Seed funding round. The round was led by Avenir Group, an investment group originating from Li Lin’s family office and a major institutional investor in Asia. Founded by Luke Li, former Co-founder and Head of Trading at Amber Group, Inference Research aims to combine AI infrastructure with institutional trading practices. The firm plans to address challenges in modern markets, including asset pricing and liquidity provision, as global finance adapts to AI and blockchain technologies. Avenir Group’s investment…

London-based fintech company Unlimit, which provides a broad range of financial technology services, has appointed Michele Fung as Head of APAC. Based in Hong Kong, Fung will oversee the company’s strategy across the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on market expansion and growth. In her role, Fung will identify new market opportunities, build strategic partnerships, and work with merchants, financial institutions, and ecosystem partners in the region. Fung has over a decade of experience in global market entry, cross-border payments, and partnership development. She previously held senior roles at fintech companies including LianLian Global, where she helped develop the Global Payout service…

SoFi Securities (Hong Kong) (SoFi Hong Kong) and OSL Group have announced a partnership to offer digital asset trading to Hong Kong investors. Under the arrangement, SoFi Hong Kong members can trade a selected range of supported digital assets directly through the SoFi Hong Kong app. This marks SoFi’s first expansion of its digital asset business outside the US. The service is supported by OSL’s Omnibus Pro, an institutional-grade solution designed for brokers and banks. Trade execution, custody, and wallet management are provided through OSL’s Hong Kong–licensed subsidiary, OSL Digital Securities Limited. SoFi Hong Kong integrates this infrastructure while maintaining…

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) held their third meeting in Abu Dhabi. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, and Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, chaired the meeting. It aimed to strengthen collaboration and connectivity between the financial sectors of both jurisdictions. The meeting built on progress from their second meeting in Hong Kong in December 2024. Officials discussed cross-border debt capital market connectivity, developments in digital assets, tokenisation, central bank digital currencies, stablecoin regulations, and supply chain financing. Senior representatives from both institutions attended, highlighting their commitment to…

The US$2.5 trillion SME credit gap in the Asia Pacific remains a significant challenge for traditional banks. Joe Udomdejwatana of Axe Finance joins us to discuss how the Axe Credit Portal (ACP) is transforming lending infrastructure. Key Highlights Composable architecture avoids high-risk “rip and replace” projects. Tools like Axe Studio and Axe BPM empower compliance officers to manage regulatory shifts. Predictive scoring with explainability models replaces “black box” AI with a transparent “glass box” approach. Lending 3.0 focuses on “intelligent adaptability” to process data in real time.

Alipay announced that its AI Pay, a payment solution using AI agents, processed over 120 million transactions in the past week. This reflects the growing adoption of agentic commerce in China. Launched in 2025, AI Pay is used in apps and mini programmes for retailers such as Luckin Coffee. It is also available on AI smart glasses like Rokid. In December 2025, Alipay partnered with Rokid to allow developers to integrate AI payment into agents built on Rokid’s Lingzhu platform. Using the MCP model, developers can deploy AI payment on smart devices through natural language instead of coding. This creates…