Digitalisation

Philippines’ fintech GCash's wallet app is teaming up with Google Play for payments; the method uses biometric verification.

Zand AED is the country’s first regulated, multi-chain AED-backed stablecoin on public blockchains.

Several banks are exploring token transfers between systems and tackling interoperability concerns, including through Project Ensemble which is entering a new phase in 2026.

Brazil’s Banco Inter and Chainlink have completed a blockchain-based cross-border settlement pilot that many in trade finance have discussed for years.

Bangladesh’s workplace safety, particularly in apparel factories, is again under question, after several major fire incidents in October, including at Dhaka airport, which have injured and killed many workers, and resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of damage.

Corporate treasurers across Asia Pacific are fast-tracking their shift toward real-time, data-driven operations as they brace for heightened market volatility, HSBC’s latest survey shows.

Treasurers look to TMS that can cooperate with existing company systems when considering transformation.

CT recently caught up with Manoj Dugar and Yvonne Yiu, HSBC’s Apac regional co-heads, global payments solutions, about how payments are being impacted by tariffs, AI, cost pressures, differing systems, and the desire for speed and interoperability.

Fintech working capital firm Riverchain has completed a $5m series A funding, and is eyeing expansion in SEA to support subcontractors’ liquidity management beyond Hong Kong.

Ripple said it will support blockchain-based fund management and money movement capabilities through GTreasury, combining traditional treasury practices with digital asset solutions.

Humayun Habib, former Apac director of finance at Cargill, spoke about his experience on the production lines, which later helped him succeed in finance transformation. Habib has moved to a new role at Malaysia’s Premium Vegetable Oils.

The markets in Asia added are: Japan, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam and Nepal; the UAE in the Middle East has also been added.