The Hong Kong Academy of Finance (AoF) and the Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance (Tsinghua PBCSF) signed a MoU to establish a framework for collaboration on research, knowledge exchange and financial leadership development. The agreement covers potential cooperation between the AoF, including its research arm, the Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research, and Tsinghua PBCSF. Planned initiatives include faculty and scholar exchanges, joint seminars and academic conferences, collaborative research projects, and support for efforts aligned with reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre. Enoch Fung, CEO of the AoF, said the institutions had previously worked…

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) have signed a MoU to enhance strategic cooperation. The areas of focus include global financial markets, data and analytics, cross-border RMB, sustainable finance, and financial innovation. The agreement builds on the long-standing partnership between the two institutions. It establishes a framework for collaboration in capital markets, trading, clearing, data, RMB business, and emerging technologies. Fiona Bassett, CEO of FTSE Russell, an LSEG business, said: “By combining ICBC’s scale and influence with LSEG’s global data, trading and post-trade capabilities, we will be creating new opportunities for issuers, investors…

South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups has announced the launch of the 2026 ‘Unicorn Bridge Project’ and will begin recruiting participating companies from the 30th. The Unicorn Bridge Project, launched this year, aims to achieve the national goal of fostering unicorn companies. According to The Chosun Daily, it targets enterprises with high growth potential and provides a total of 1.6 billion Korean won in government funding, alongside special guarantees of up to 20 billion Korean won over two years in stages. The 50 companies selected will receive 600 million Korean won in government support and special guarantees of up…

You may be most familiar with their ATMs across international airports but Euronet is much more. They move US$ 200 Billion anually and provide connectivity for over 4 billion bank accounts around the world. In this episode, Fintech News Network Chief Editor Vincent Fong sits down with Himanshu, MD of APAC at Euronet, to uncover the massive infrastructure powering the region’s fintech revolution. From national payment switches to traditional and digital banks, Euronet provides the plumbing that enables seamless transfers both domestically and cross-border. We dive deep into Euronet’s US$249M acquisition of CoreCard the engine behind the Apple Card’s seamless…

OSL Group announced an equity financing of US$200 million (approximately HK$1.56 billion). The company intends to use the funding to strengthen its financial position, pursue global growth opportunities, and accelerate its strategic expansion in stablecoin trading and payment services. Under the plan, the company will allocate the net proceeds to make strategic acquisitions, expand international operations across payments and stablecoins, develop product and technology infrastructure, and cover general working capital. Following its strategic and brand developments in 2025, OSL Group has focused on building a compliant stablecoin trading and payment ecosystem. Key initiatives last year included the acquisition of Banxa,…

Tencent and Bupa Hong Kong have introduced a palm verification check-in service across 20 Bupa clinics, including flagship centres in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Admiralty, offering customers a contactless check-in option. The service, powered by Tencent PalmAI, uses AI-driven biometric technology to capture both palm prints and vein patterns. This dual biometric approach allows document-free verification at check-in kiosks, without the need to remove masks or interact physically with staff. For additional flexibility, QR code check-in is available at other clinics. “By leveraging Tencent’s advanced PalmAI technology, which integrates dual biometric identification using both palm print and palm vein…

The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) concluded on 27 January after two days of discussions and knowledge sharing. Over 4,000 business leaders and officials from more than 60 countries and regions took part. Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the forum focused on “Co-creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape” and featured more than 150 speakers. A new Global Business Summit on the second day explored the role of finance in supporting business growth. It examined how Hong Kong can help Chinese Mainland enterprises expand internationally and…

The Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) is considering investments in fintech, aerospace and AI, as geopolitical shifts reshape capital flows and talent mobility, its Chief Executive said. Speaking at the Asia Private Equity Forum, CEO Clara Chan Ka-chai said the city’s wholly owned investment vehicle would expand into new sectors that align with Hong Kong’s strengths, while continuing to seek long-term returns and enhance the city’s competitiveness, according to the South China Morning Post. “As a long-term investor, you actually see through the cyclical challenges; you see great opportunities like valuations for you to go in,” Chan said, referring to…

OSL Pay is embedding USD access into its platform through an infrastructure integration with StraitsX. The payments arm of OSL Group has adopted StraitsX’s DVA/+ dedicated virtual account infrastructure, part of its stablecoin-native settlement layer, enabling users to fund accounts and manage USD liquidity directly within OSL Pay. The integration allows USD flows to operate as part of the platform experience rather than through separate or manual processes. “We’re seeing a clear shift in how digital asset platforms approach fiat connectivity. Rather than building bespoke solutions, platforms like OSL Pay are adopting mature infrastructure that allows them to deliver familiar,…

The South Korean government plans to spend up to 2.4 trillion won (US$1.67 billion) this year to support AI adoption across public sectors, including defence and agriculture. The initiative, announced at a meeting of science-related ministers chaired by Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, will see the funds distributed to 33 government agencies, Yonhap reported. The figure represents a fivefold increase compared with last year. As part of the plan, Seoul will establish a cross-government AI collaboration framework, providing graphics processing units (GPUs), AI models and data, as well as consulting programmes, to encourage the use of AI in the public sector.…

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) announced new measures to strengthen cooperation in combatting fraud and preventing the misuse of personal data. Fraud continues to grow in scale and complexity. During the first ten months of 2025, 35,831 deception cases were reported in Hong Kong, resulting in total losses of HK$6.4 billion. To address this, the HKMA has introduced several measures since April 2025, including expanded use of Scameter data, amendments to the Banking Ordinance to facilitate information sharing among banks, thematic reviews of anti-fraud measures, sharing of good…

WeLab Bank has partnered with Mastercard to launch the WeLab Global Wallet Debit Card, becoming the first digital bank in Hong Kong to offer a multi-currency debit card. The card allows customers to exchange up to 11 major currencies through the WeLab Bank App at cost price, with zero mark-up or hidden fees. Customers can also lock in their preferred foreign exchange (FX) rates. Customers using the card at Mastercard merchants worldwide can spend in ten major foreign currencies. They do not have to pay the standard 1.95% foreign currency transaction fee. A 0.4% cash rebate applies to all global…

Mox Bank, led by Standard Chartered and jointly established by PCCW, HKT and Trip.com, has launched a cryptocurrency trading service. The service currently supports Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). Transactions are limited to US dollars. Market sources said HashKey is the bank’s virtual asset trading partner. According to HKET, Mox Bank recently upgraded its Type 1 license. This allows the bank to offer virtual asset trading through its integrated account platform. The virtual asset trading platform partner is HashKey Exchange. Digital asset custody services are provided by HashKey Custody. Mox Invest operates a four-tier membership structure. Virtual asset trading commissions…

Chief Executive of Hong Kong John Lee addressed the 19th Asian Financial Forum, highlighting the city’s financial and business developments. He outlined measures to maintain and enhance Hong Kong’s role as an international financial hub. Lee highlighted three main areas of focus. First, reinforcing Hong Kong’s strengths. This includes deepening the equity and bond markets, advancing asset and wealth management, and expanding cross-boundary Renminbi initiatives. Measures include the Technology Enterprises Channel for fundraising, optimisation of Main Board listing rules, and proposals to enable electronic securities trading and shorten settlement cycles. Second, developing new growth areas. Plans include establishing Hong Kong…

Fraud in the Asia Pacific is growing at an explosive pace and scale, forcing financial institutions to rethink where and how they detect risk. This threat has evolved from a consumer issue into a trillion-dollar cybercrime economy that legacy controls can no longer withstand. Regulators are responding with stronger action, with Singapore introducing the Scam Bill and Malaysia rolling out a National Fraud Portal to drive earlier intervention. As criminals increasingly exploit the earliest stages of the customer journey, financial institutions now need smarter ways to detect high-risk users before onboarding even begins. Getting a snapshot of current fraud trends…

Japan could see its first exchange-traded funds (ETFs) investing in cryptocurrencies as early as 2028, providing retail investors with easier access to bitcoin and other digital tokens already held by major institutions. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) plans to add cryptocurrencies to the list of specified assets eligible for ETFs, while proposing stronger safeguards to protect investors, Nikkei has reported. Nomura Holdings and SBI Holdings are among the financial groups preparing to launch Japan’s first crypto ETFs, which would require approval from the Tokyo Stock Exchange before listing. Cryptocurrencies have emerged as a significant alternative asset class, but entry barriers…

Japanese insurer Tokio Marine has invested US$5 million for a minority stake in Singapore-based insurtech startup Igloo, according to a regulatory filing. The investment gives Tokio Marine a 1.65% stake in Igloo, formerly Axinan, confirming a report by DealStreetAsia. Filings with Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) show that the insurer acquired 493,984 shares at US$10.12 each. The investment adds Tokio Marine to Igloo’s cap table alongside Openspace Ventures, Cathay Innovations, Blue Orchard and FinnFund. Sources previously told DealStreetAsia that Tokio Marine views Indonesia as a priority market. The insurer is seeking to scale its retail insurance business in…

China is home to one of the world’s largest fintech markets and some of its most influential companies, including Ant Group, Tencent, and Lufax. The country has developed a highly advanced fintech ecosystem, characterized by widespread adoption of mobile payments, digital banking, and integrated credit solutions that are deeply embedded in everyday life. As innovation continues to accelerate, a number of major fintech events are scheduled across Mainland China in the months ahead. Among these conferences, the following five stand out as some of the most significant in 2026, and are expected to bring together leading decision-makers, regulators, and innovators…

Thunes has launched instant money transfer services to China’s mainland following a deeper collaboration with UnionPay International. The partnership introduces a direct technical connection between Thunes’ Direct Global Network and UnionPay’s infrastructure, expanding support for the UnionPay MoneyExpress remittance service. The integration allows Thunes’ members, including banks, digital banks, e-wallets, super apps, gig economy platforms and money transfer operators, to send funds directly to UnionPay debit cards issued by 79 major Chinese banks. This includes ICBC, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications and China Merchants Bank. Cross-border transfers to China have traditionally involved…

Hong Kong’s stablecoin issuer regime has been in effect since 1 August 2025, and the first approvals are now expected to follow in early 2026. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in Davos that the city aims to grant an initial batch of stablecoin licences in the first quarter of 2026, Decrypt reported. The framework places the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) in charge of licensing and sets out requirements covering backing assets, redemption mechanisms, safeguards for customer funds, and financial crime controls. Regulators have not named the companies likely to receive approval. However, local media previously reported that 36 institutions…