https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/324813/feed Stories about how technology is used to enhance financial services, covering banking and securities en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Alice Li Alice Li Two Chinese state-owned banks and Ant International have trialled cross-border digital yuan transfers worth hundreds of millions of yuan, marking the latest step in Beijing’s efforts to streamline settlements and promote wider international use of the digital yuan. The Shanghai branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) facilitated its first digital yuan transfer for Ant International to ICBC Asia, its Hong Kong subsidiary. The transaction from Shanghai to Hong Kong was completed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368476/chinese-banks-ant-international-push-instant-cross-border-digital-yuan-transfers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368476/chinese-banks-ant-international-push-instant-cross-border-digital-yuan-transfers Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:11:18 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu Competition between mainland China and Hong Kong for hi-tech initial public offerings presents emerging technology firms with a dual-track strategic choice rather than a zero-sum battle, according to an executive at a national cross-border innovation platform. “There is naturally a degree of competition,” Lu Peng, general manager of Beijing-based Zhongguancun International, said in an interview on Thursday, referring to how tech firms select their primary listing venue. “However, the two markets... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3368029/chinas-hi-tech-ipos-its-hong-kong-vs-mainland-how-much-does-it-matter https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3368029/chinas-hi-tech-ipos-its-hong-kong-vs-mainland-how-much-does-it-matter Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:00:11 +0000 Zoe SL Chan Zoe SL Chan Hong Kong’s younger generation of tycoons is becoming increasingly active in the city’s initial public offering market through family offices and private investments. But their investments extend beyond the property and traditional financial sectors associated with their predecessors, into technology and digital finance. Prominent business leaders Cheng Chi-heng of New World Development and Peter Lee Ka-kit of Henderson Land participated as cornerstone investors in Shenzhen Forms Syntron... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3367464/forms-syntron-draws-hong-kongs-next-gen-tycoons-hk940-million-ipo https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3367464/forms-syntron-draws-hong-kongs-next-gen-tycoons-hk940-million-ipo Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:51:21 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Digital bank ZA Bank is taking 45,000 square feet (4,181 square metres) across four upper floors at Hysan Development’s Lee Garden Eight for its new headquarters, adding to a wave of financial and technology companies reshaping Causeway Bay’s commercial landscape. The move comes as landlords across the district grapple with a changing property market marked by excess office space. The bank is scheduled to move into Tower 3 in 2027, coinciding with Hysan and partner Chinachem Group completing the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3366941/hysan-courts-fintech-office-portfolio-za-bank-commits-new-causeway-bay-headquarters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3366941/hysan-courts-fintech-office-portfolio-za-bank-commits-new-causeway-bay-headquarters Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:57:21 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Singapore will commit S$220 million (US$173 million) over three years to boost its fintech sector, including co-funding at least 1,000 internships in a strong push to build talent for AI and other emerging technologies. The funds come under the latest iteration of the Financial Sector Technology and Innovation Scheme (FSTI), which aims to strengthen the country’s fintech space and accelerate innovation and technology adoption in the financial sector. The industry currently has more than 1,800... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3365855/singapore-invest-us173m-over-3-years-boost-fintech-innovation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3365855/singapore-invest-us173m-over-3-years-boost-fintech-innovation Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:03:46 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu Macau has unveiled a sweeping five-year strategic blueprint to break its long-standing dependence on casino revenues by pivoting towards modern financial services, digital currency adoption and deeper economic integration with mainland China. Under its third five-year plan for economic and social development, released on Tuesday, the gambling hub aims to boost the added value of non-gaming industries to about 60 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030, up from 56.7 per cent in 2024. Gaming... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3364531/macau-bets-financial-services-fintech-drive-economic-diversification https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3364531/macau-bets-financial-services-fintech-drive-economic-diversification Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:00:18 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. In late June, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) confirmed that Hong Kong’s laws are ready for tokenised bonds. What sounds like a legal technicality is a springboard for the financial markets of the future. Bonds, a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3363839/hong-kong-mustnt-fall-behind-recognising-overseas-stablecoins https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3363839/hong-kong-mustnt-fall-behind-recognising-overseas-stablecoins Fri, 14 Aug 2026 03:30:05 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Denise Tsang Lam Ka-sing,Denise Tsang What will a stronger international financial centre look like for Hong Kong? Doubling down on yuan internationalisation is a key focus, experts say in this second of our five-part series on the city’s first five-year blueprint. Read part one here. With a symbolic press of a button, top officials and securities regulators from Hong Kong and mainland China earlier this month marked a historic moment for the city’s financial markets. The August 3 launch of the first offshore Chinese government... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3363826/what-comes-next-hong-kong-global-financial-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3363826/what-comes-next-hong-kong-global-financial-hub Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is setting its sights on tokenised payments and digital settlement systems, tapping into Hong Kong’s growing digital finance ecosystem as part of a broader push to modernise its capital market operations, according to a senior official at the bank. “That is a sector that we are exploring with interest,” Domenico Nardelli, the AIIB’s treasurer and acting chief financial officer, told the South China Morning Post in an interview last week,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3362580/aiib-explores-digital-payments-eyes-hong-kong-hub-it-raises-record-funds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3362580/aiib-explores-digital-payments-eyes-hong-kong-hub-it-raises-record-funds Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Howard Liu Howard Liu The three independent spin-offs of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group are accelerating their capital-raising efforts, forging distinct financial paths after gaining operational autonomy in 2024. Ant Digital Technologies is preparing a financing round ahead of its initial public offering, according to Chinese financial news outlet STAR Market Daily, marking the latest strategic move from one of the units that it spun off. Details regarding the round’s valuation, target size, timeline or planned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3362420/ant-group-spin-offs-pursue-independent-growth-strategic-capital-moves https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3362420/ant-group-spin-offs-pursue-independent-growth-strategic-capital-moves Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:39:36 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Hong Kong’s banking sector is still in the early stages of preparing for cybersecurity risks posed by quantum computing, the city’s de facto central bank said on Monday as it unveiled a new benchmark to track the industry’s readiness. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) launched its first Quantum Preparedness Index (QPI), which gave the sector a score of 2.3 out of 10, indicating that most banks are still building the foundations for a transition to the quantum era. The index, based on a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3362033/hong-kong-banks-early-stages-preparing-quantum-computing-threats-hkma-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3362033/hong-kong-banks-early-stages-preparing-quantum-computing-threats-hkma-says Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:50:35 +0000 Howard Liu,Coco Feng Howard Liu,Coco Feng Ant International, the affiliate of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, has raised about US$1.2 billion in a Series A funding round to fuel its global expansion, the company said on Tuesday. Existing backers Ant Group and Alibaba Group Holding joined the equity financing alongside several international institutional investors, whose identities were not disclosed. The fresh capital would be used to accelerate the firm’s international growth and drive innovation in merchant payments, account... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3361287/fintech-firm-ant-international-raises-us12b-fuel-global-growth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3361287/fintech-firm-ant-international-raises-us12b-fuel-global-growth Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:23:52 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu In the latest move to bypass Western-dominated financial systems and step up the internationalisation of the yuan, China is linking its retail payment networks with the United Arab Emirates. Users will soon be able to use domestic mobile apps to scan QR codes and make payments in either country, under a recent agreement between state-owned Bank of China (BOC), UnionPay International, and the UAE central bank’s subsidiary Al Etihad Payments. “The partnership would help expand the scope of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3360913/china-and-uae-cross-border-qr-payment-link-boost-global-yuan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3360913/china-and-uae-cross-border-qr-payment-link-boost-global-yuan Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:00:54 +0000 Zoe SL Chan Zoe SL Chan With its multi-currency advantages and regulatory clarity, Hong Kong has become a critical gateway connecting stablecoins – cryptocurrencies pegged to a stable asset like the US dollar – with traditional finance. Executives said this would help businesses cut costs, lower risks and support expansion into emerging markets. The city’s unique positioning stemmed from its century-long role as a gateway for international business, said Arjun Sethi, Co-CEO of Payward, the parent company of Kraken – a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3360137/why-payward-building-its-asian-stablecoin-gateway-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3360137/why-payward-building-its-asian-stablecoin-gateway-hong-kong Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:08:52 +0000 Richard Chen Richard Chen Ant International, the Singapore-based affiliate of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, has partnered with Mexico’s Clip to launch an electronic wallet, hoping to disrupt cash dominance in Latin America’s second-largest economy. Backed by Ant International’s artificial intelligence technology and Mastercard’s global network, the Mi Clip electronic wallet will offer users access to financial services, credit solutions and the ability to pay for everyday goods and services, and may help users build a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3356639/ant-international-powers-new-e-wallet-cash-heavy-mexico-fintech-giant-clip https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3356639/ant-international-powers-new-e-wallet-cash-heavy-mexico-fintech-giant-clip Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Jun Yu Chan Jun Yu Chan Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po recently said the city could rise to become the world’s No 2 financial centre in 10-15 years. That is the right kind of ambition. In a world being reshaped by geopolitical fragmentation, China’s growing global weight and rapid technological change, Hong Kong must think beyond remaining internationally competitive to exercising global leadership. But ambition alone is not enough. Hong Kong has spent decades proving it can operate at the world’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351042/be-world-no-2-financial-centre-hong-kong-must-be-rule-maker https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351042/be-world-no-2-financial-centre-hong-kong-must-be-rule-maker Sat, 25 Apr 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu For Hong Kong’s 3.3 million PayMe users, everyday transactions such as buying coffee or splitting bills with friends could soon involve stablecoins, with HSBC preparing to introduce the digital currency in the second half of this year. That comes after HSBC Holdings, together with a Standard Chartered-led joint venture, became the first to obtain a stablecoin issuer licence from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Friday, marking a breakthrough in the city’s digital finance development. HSBC,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3350089/how-paymes-33-million-users-and-hong-kong-firms-could-start-using-stablecoins https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3350089/how-paymes-33-million-users-and-hong-kong-firms-could-start-using-stablecoins Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:37 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu HSBC and a joint venture led by Standard Chartered have been awarded Hong Kong’s first stablecoin issuer licences, marking the city’s latest step towards embracing cryptocurrency’s most-traded cash substitute in its bid to become a global digital asset hub. Eight months after Hong Kong’s Stablecoin Ordinance, one of the world’s first such laws, took effect, HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial, the Standard Chartered-led group, received the green light from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/cryptocurrency/article/3349644/hong-kong-awards-stablecoin-licences-hsbc-stanchart-led-group-long-awaited-roll-out https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/cryptocurrency/article/3349644/hong-kong-awards-stablecoin-licences-hsbc-stanchart-led-group-long-awaited-roll-out Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:09:55 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang HSBC and a joint venture led by Standard Chartered are expected to be among the first companies to obtain Hong Kong’s stablecoin licences within two weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. The number of licences and timetable had yet to be finalised and remained subject to change, but sources said a possible date was March 24. The two banks declined to comment. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) last month revealed that a small number of stablecoin licences would be granted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/cryptocurrency/article/3346311/hong-kong-poised-grant-first-stablecoin-licences-hsbc-standard-chartered-sources https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/cryptocurrency/article/3346311/hong-kong-poised-grant-first-stablecoin-licences-hsbc-standard-chartered-sources Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong and Shanghai have signed an accord deepening their collaboration in promoting digitised cargo trade finance and strengthening mainland China’s connection to the global data ecosystem. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Shanghai Data Bureau and the National Technology Innovation Centre for Blockchain, according to a statement from Hong Kong’s de facto central bank. “This marks an important milestone in the collaboration... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3345160/hong-kong-shanghai-sign-pact-digital-trade-finance-cross-border-data-link https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3345160/hong-kong-shanghai-sign-pact-digital-trade-finance-cross-border-data-link Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:55:30 +0000 Aileen Chuang,Emily Hung Aileen Chuang,Emily Hung Hong Kong is aiming to sharpen its competitive edge as an offshore yuan hub, an asset and wealth management base, and a digital-asset front runner under Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s budget released on Wednesday. Market participants largely welcomed Hong Kong’s renewed push to strengthen its position as an international financial centre, after Chan highlighted the city’s unique role in driving the yuan’s internationalisation and capital account opening. The initiative comes as Beijing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3344634/hong-kong-seeks-hone-edge-offshore-yuan-hub-digital-asset-front-runner https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3344634/hong-kong-seeks-hone-edge-offshore-yuan-hub-digital-asset-front-runner Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:23:24 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Deeper regulatory ties and a shared push for new growth sectors are expected to give fresh impetus to cross-border investment flows between China and the Middle East, according to industry players and a United Arab Emirates (UAE) regulator. Hong Kong would benefit from the increased China-Middle East cooperation as the city develops into “a key hub for Middle Eastern capital to deploy in Asia and an important gateway for Chinese capital to go global to the Middle East,” said Linda Cai, inbound... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3344127/hong-kong-uae-solidify-financial-links-deeper-regulatory-ties-digital-assets-focus https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3344127/hong-kong-uae-solidify-financial-links-deeper-regulatory-ties-digital-assets-focus Sun, 22 Feb 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang This Lunar New Year, Hongkongers can gift friends and family digital gold tokens, a new way of blending the city’s tradition of giving gold for good wishes with the convenience of blockchain technology. HSBC added this new transfer feature earlier this month to its retail gold token, which represents fractional ownership of physical gold stored in a secure vault and is the only retail-focused gold token approved by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission. The bank’s enhancement to its gold... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/cryptocurrency/article/3343695/what-tokenised-gold-and-why-are-financial-institutions-and-investors-looking-it https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/cryptocurrency/article/3343695/what-tokenised-gold-and-why-are-financial-institutions-and-investors-looking-it Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:00:17 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Kandy Wong Ralph Jennings,Kandy Wong Indonesia, home to one of the world’s largest unbanked and underbanked populations, is pushing to enhance financial inclusion. “In Indonesia, the role of digitalisation is essential,” said Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, chairman of the board and president commissioner at PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia, at the China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday. PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia is the oldest bank in the country and has made expanding financial inclusion in the Southeast Asian nation a top... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3343090/indonesia-turns-digital-finance-reach-unbanked-population https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3343090/indonesia-turns-digital-finance-reach-unbanked-population Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:44:27 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Hong Kong’s banking regulator has unveiled four flagship projects, including a quantum computing readiness index, to help the city’s lenders stay competitive and secure in the artificial intelligence era. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said the initiatives formed part of its new Fintech Promotion Blueprint, aimed at guiding responsible innovation and preparing the city’s banking sector for rapid technological change. The blueprint was announced on Tuesday in response to industry... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3342268/hkma-launches-quantum-readiness-and-cybersecurity-projects-banks-ai-era https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3342268/hkma-launches-quantum-readiness-and-cybersecurity-projects-banks-ai-era Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:31:41 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang China has emerged as the world’s second most competitive country for artificial intelligence in finance, ranking behind the US but well ahead of the rest of Asia, according to a global index. China scored 83.41 in the Global AI Competitiveness Index, trailing the US at 98.84 and ahead of the UK at 78.26, a report released on Wednesday by think tank Deep Knowledge Group showed. Switzerland ranked fourth, followed by Singapore, Germany, Saudi Arabia and India. The world’s second-largest economy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3341439/china-second-only-us-global-ai-finance-index-hong-kong-third-city-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3341439/china-second-only-us-global-ai-finance-index-hong-kong-third-city-hub Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:30:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial To stay competitive in an increasingly complex global landscape, Hong Kong must continue to develop and adapt to new technologies and trends. Nowhere is this more needed than in trade and finance, the lifeblood of the city’s economy. While we are lucky to have the world’s second-largest economy as our financial backbone, maintaining our position as a key hub requires consistent upgrading and improvement with a robust, globally connected digital trade infrastructure. The city has emerged as a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3340992/trade-finance-hong-kong-set-competitive-tech-upgrade https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3340992/trade-finance-hong-kong-set-competitive-tech-upgrade Sun, 25 Jan 2026 22:45:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The challenges facing Hong Kong have never been greater in a fast-changing world that is being reshaped by new technology and shifting economic and political orders. But there are also enormous opportunities, given our unique role as China’s most open and internationalised economy. The Hong Kong government should continue to unite different sectors to play to their strengths under “one country, two systems” and develop in a way mutually beneficial to the country and the city. A top forum... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3340148/greater-bay-area-collaboration-can-help-hong-kong-rise-challenges-ahead https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3340148/greater-bay-area-collaboration-can-help-hong-kong-rise-challenges-ahead Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Hong Kong and Shenzhen are establishing a white list for data transfers as part of an overarching effort to forge closer cross-border ties, which policymakers and business leaders see as essential to unlocking opportunities in artificial intelligence and fintech in the region. “If you have a white list to facilitate the movement of sensitive data, biological data and samples between Hong Kong and [mainland] China, it would ensure trust between [parties sending and receiving information] because... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3340022/hong-kong-shenzhen-push-secure-data-corridor-unlock-ai-and-fintech-opportunities https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3340022/hong-kong-shenzhen-push-secure-data-corridor-unlock-ai-and-fintech-opportunities Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:00:49 +0000 Zhou Xin Zhou Xin Hong Kong and Shenzhen can work closely to empower finance with artificial intelligence, delegates said on Thursday at the China Conference: Greater Bay Area, an event hosted by the South China Morning Post. Joseph Chan Ho-lim, undersecretary for Financial Services and the Treasury in the Hong Kong government, said Hong Kong and Shenzhen were seeking deeper cooperation between finance and technology. Chan said at the event in Qianhai, a bonded zone in Shenzhen, that Hong Kong, as a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3339943/hong-kong-and-shenzhen-forge-close-ties-finance-and-ai-build-world-class-fintech-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3339943/hong-kong-and-shenzhen-forge-close-ties-finance-and-ai-build-world-class-fintech-hub Thu, 15 Jan 2026 02:13:48 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) expects to work with other financial regulators to promote artificial intelligence adoption in various sectors over the next five years and further advance fintech development, according to the head of the city’s de facto central bank. Under the five-year plan called Fintech 2030 that starts this year, the HKMA would expand the scope of the city’s generative AI sandbox to include more industries as a step towards enhancing risk management, fraud detection... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3338531/hkma-talks-sfc-insurance-authority-promote-fintech-over-next-5-years https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3338531/hkma-talks-sfc-insurance-authority-promote-fintech-over-next-5-years Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:30:16 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Digital finance has moved into the mainstream as regulated stablecoins and tokenised assets scale up, but industry experts say 2026 will be defined by success in developing interoperable, regulated, use-case-driven rails rather than more digital silos. As more than 130 jurisdictions explore central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), alongside dozens of stablecoin initiatives and a growing array of tokenisation platforms, day-to-day payments and finance are undergoing a rapid structural... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/cryptocurrency/article/3338656/digital-finance-2026-what-expect-pilot-schemes-move-real-world-use https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/cryptocurrency/article/3338656/digital-finance-2026-what-expect-pilot-schemes-move-real-world-use Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:30:15 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong is emerging as a neutral hub bridging the technological strengths of East and West while leveraging its robust education and financial systems to drive the next wave of artificial intelligence transformation in businesses, according to PwC executives. As companies worldwide pushed to move AI from isolated experiments to capabilities deployed at scale, not just to solve problems but to unlock new revenue opportunities, Hong Kong was “well‑positioned” to harness the technology’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3337571/hong-kong-emerging-worlds-ai-crossroads-between-east-and-west-pwc https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3337571/hong-kong-emerging-worlds-ai-crossroads-between-east-and-west-pwc Fri, 26 Dec 2025 06:30:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The success of the government’s Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) in establishing an ecosystem for start-ups to raise funds has put a damper on the Christmas plans for employees of some local venture capital (VC) firms. “After partnering with the HKIC, the number of deals we are working on this year has tripled compared to last year,” said David Chang, founder and CEO of leading VC firm MindWorks. He added that 2025 was one of the busiest years for the firm since its establishment 11 years... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3337374/hkic-ends-year-high-note-hong-kong-cost-living-drawback-attracting-talent https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3337374/hkic-ends-year-high-note-hong-kong-cost-living-drawback-attracting-talent Tue, 23 Dec 2025 02:30:13 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu One of Hong Kong’s oldest lenders is stepping up its push into digital finance, teaming up with newly listed digital asset exchange HashKey Exchange to launch a co-branded credit card in the first half of next year. Shanghai Commercial Bank (SCB), which marked its 75th anniversary this year, will partner with HashKey Exchange to issue a Visa credit card exclusively for investors trading on the digital asset platform, according to chief executive Wallace Lam Wing-ted. HashKey, one of 11 licensed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3337332/old-lender-new-twist-shanghai-commercial-bank-teams-hashkey-credit-card https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3337332/old-lender-new-twist-shanghai-commercial-bank-teams-hashkey-credit-card Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:30:08 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Shares of HashKey Holdings, operator of Hong Kong’s largest licensed cryptocurrency exchange, were flat on their trading debut, as investors shunned risk amid a downturn in the digital asset market. Trading under the stock code 3887, HashKey shares first changed hands on Wednesday at HK$6.70, or 0.3 per cent above the offer price of HK$6.68 a share. The stock fluctuated between gains of up to 6.6 per cent and losses of as much as 8.4 per cent before closing 0.2 per cent lower at HK$6.67. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3336692/hashkeys-lukewarm-debut-tests-hong-kongs-ambitions-digital-asset-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3336692/hashkeys-lukewarm-debut-tests-hong-kongs-ambitions-digital-asset-hub Wed, 17 Dec 2025 01:41:22 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is rapidly cementing its position as a global leader in the digital asset sector on the back of its regulatory infrastructure and the institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies, according to industry insiders at the fourth edition of Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW). Speaking at ADFW, the largest financial and investment gathering in the Middle East and North Africa, Binance co-CEO Richard Teng said the UAE had been at the industry’s forefront, as capital city Abu... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3336083/coins-sand-how-uae-draws-global-crypto-community https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3336083/coins-sand-how-uae-draws-global-crypto-community Fri, 12 Dec 2025 01:00:25 +0000 Reuters Reuters Cryptocurrencies tumbled on Thursday and bitcoin fell back below the US$90,000 threshold in a renewed signal of market jitters, as fresh concerns about artificial intelligence profits weighed on technology stocks. Risk sentiment turned sour after US cloud firm Oracle’s profit and revenue outlook missed forecasts and executives flagged higher spending – a sign that AI infrastructure outlays are not turning profits as quickly as investors had hoped. Bitcoin was last down 2.5 per cent at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3336042/bitcoin-drops-below-us90000-ai-worries-sour-risk-appetite https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3336042/bitcoin-drops-below-us90000-ai-worries-sour-risk-appetite Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:03:27 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Ant International, the Singapore-based affiliate of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, has named US basketball star Sabrina Ionescu as its global brand ambassador in a fresh partnership between sports and tech. The four-time all-star in the US Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was chosen as part of an effort to expand access to financial tools via innovative technology, the digital payments provider said on Tuesday. The 28-year-old point guard – an Olympic gold medallist and the top... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3335649/ant-international-signs-wnba-star-sabrina-ionescu-brand-ambassador https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3335649/ant-international-signs-wnba-star-sabrina-ionescu-brand-ambassador Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:01:07 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The rapid rise of tokenisation risks repeating China’s earlier boom-and-bust cycle in peer-to-peer lending unless clear industry standards are established to ensure discipline and innovation, according to a senior Chinese asset manager. Some multilevel marketing companies in mainland China have already started holding meetings discussing real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation projects over the past year, raising “genuine concerns” that the nascent industry might be heading towards a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3334658/tokenisation-trend-risks-repeat-chinas-p2p-lending-crisis-asset-manager-warns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3334658/tokenisation-trend-risks-repeat-chinas-p2p-lending-crisis-asset-manager-warns Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:30:12 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu When Alvin Kwock, co-founder of digital insurer OneDegree, took part in the inaugural Hong Kong FinTech Week in November 2016, it was held at a venue suitable for only a few hundred people. “As it was the first ever fintech event in Hong Kong, only fintech start-ups were interested, no big financial institutions paid attention,” Kwock said. “People did not have a clear idea of fintech as it was still in an exploratory stage.” In the years since, fintech in Hong Kong has gone through a sea... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3334469/work-progress-hong-kong-reaps-fruits-fintech-seeds-sown-nearly-10-years-ago https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3334469/work-progress-hong-kong-reaps-fruits-fintech-seeds-sown-nearly-10-years-ago Sat, 29 Nov 2025 02:00:10 +0000 Richard Lord Richard Lord One of the most exciting uses of the blockchain is the tokenisation of real world assets – the ability to represent traditional financial assets as digital units. In theory, you can tokenise anything: funds, stocks, bonds, commodities, real estate, private equity – even artworks. There are a number of compelling advantages to doing so, especially as institutions are already seeing benefits all the way up to the retail level. China Asset Management (Hong Kong), for instance, launched digital... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/special-reports/topics/wealth-alternative-investments/article/3332738/tokenisation-can-hong-kong-unlock-real-world-asset-potential https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/special-reports/topics/wealth-alternative-investments/article/3332738/tokenisation-can-hong-kong-unlock-real-world-asset-potential Thu, 27 Nov 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Olga Wong,Enoch Yiu Olga Wong,Enoch Yiu One of Europe’s most prominent fintech companies, UK-based digital bank Revolut, plans to set up operations in Hong Kong, the Post has learned, after executives met the city’s financial chief in London. The news emerged on Tuesday as Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po commenced his visit to the British capital, where he also met representatives from family offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Chan on Tuesday also attended a dinner hosted by Hong Kong’s Trade Development Council,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3334174/fintech-firm-revolut-plans-set-hong-kong-paul-chan-touts-citys-strengths-uk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3334174/fintech-firm-revolut-plans-set-hong-kong-paul-chan-touts-citys-strengths-uk Wed, 26 Nov 2025 04:12:47 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong-based Tykhe Capital Group and Malaysia’s Skyvast Digital have launched a US$150 million tokenised fund that offers investors exposure to artificial intelligence infrastructure, using an innovative arrangement designed to share project revenues and boost liquidity. SKYD Token was “the world’s first global-grade AI infrastructure tokenised fund”, Tykhe’s subsidiary, Pioneer Asset Management, and AI infrastructure developer Skyvast said in a press release on Monday. The fund will provide... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3333957/hong-kong-and-malaysian-firms-roll-out-us150-million-tokenised-ai-infrastructure-fund https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3333957/hong-kong-and-malaysian-firms-roll-out-us150-million-tokenised-ai-infrastructure-fund Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:30:10 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong’s push to establish a tokenised financial system is poised to attract more companies to set up treasury centres in the city, which would give investors broader options while reducing transaction costs, according to market players. Both corporations and individuals stood to benefit from increased tokenisation of money and assets, which could make financial services faster and more efficient and accessible, said representatives from Standard Chartered, China Asset Management (Hong Kong)... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3333790/hong-kongs-tokenisation-drive-set-boost-treasury-centres-and-investments https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3333790/hong-kongs-tokenisation-drive-set-boost-treasury-centres-and-investments Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:30:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The cryptocurrency market extended a more than month-long retreat during Asia trading on Friday. Market bellwether bitcoin dropped as much as 2.1 per cent to reach below US$86,000 for the first time since April, as the market struggled to find new buyers and the momentum that had supported prices earlier this year evaporated. The pullback comes after weeks of unwinding among fast-moving traders and lingering positioning from October’s record run-up, which has left the market more vulnerable to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3333668/cryptocurrency-market-extends-slide-bitcoin-falls-below-us86000 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3333668/cryptocurrency-market-extends-slide-bitcoin-falls-below-us86000 Fri, 21 Nov 2025 07:29:34 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Some of China’s cryptocurrency heavyweights have called off a US$500 million ether digital asset treasury (DAT) project, as the broader crypto market remains in a slump, according to people familiar with the matter. The project was initiated earlier this year by Huobi founder Leon Li Lin, HashKey Group chairman and CEO Xiao Feng, Meitu co-founder Mike Cai Wensheng and Fenbushi Capital founder Bo Shen, who aimed to raise US$500 million to launch a DAT firm that would invest in the world’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3333429/chinese-crypto-founders-shelve-us500-million-ether-digital-asset-treasury-project https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3333429/chinese-crypto-founders-shelve-us500-million-ether-digital-asset-treasury-project Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Aileen Chuang,Danielle Popov Aileen Chuang,Danielle Popov China has cemented its position as a global leader in artificial intelligence, while Hong Kong is carving out a niche as a specialised innovation hub, underpinned by the country’s strong governance and regulatory competitiveness, according to a global index. Technology breakthroughs such as the low-cost, highly efficient AI models introduced by start-up DeepSeek, combined with national support, propelled China to the forefront of the global AI race, alongside the US, the European Union and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3333433/china-cements-global-ai-leadership-hong-kong-builds-niche-innovation-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3333433/china-cements-global-ai-leadership-hong-kong-builds-niche-innovation-hub Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:15:04 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Alibaba Group Holding founder Jack Ma on Tuesday made a low-key visit to the Hangzhou campus of Ant Group that coincided with the Chinese fintech giant’s launch of LingGuang, a next-generation multimodal artificial intelligence assistant. Ma, who had relinquished his control of the fintech company and resigned from all corporate roles at Alibaba, was seen accompanied by Ant Group chairman Eric Jing Xiandong and CEO Cyril Han Xinyi during his tour of the campus. Ant Group is an affiliate of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3333403/alibaba-founder-jack-ma-visits-ant-group-campus-fintech-giant-ramps-ai-efforts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3333403/alibaba-founder-jack-ma-visits-ant-group-campus-fintech-giant-ramps-ai-efforts Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:00:50 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The bitcoin rally that welcomed a wave of new investors through easy-to-access exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has officially gone underwater. Investors in US ETFs that offer direct access to the cryptocurrency are now sitting on collective losses. The average cost basis across all ETF inflows sits at approximately US$89,600 – a level bitcoin breached on Tuesday, according to Sean Rose at market intelligence firm Glassnode. That figure reflects the flow-weighted average price of all ETF inflows... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3333243/faded-glory-bitcoin-etf-investors-red-after-cryptos-us89600-level-breaks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/blockchain/article/3333243/faded-glory-bitcoin-etf-investors-red-after-cryptos-us89600-level-breaks Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:38:51 +0000