Industry News

Finloop Finance Technology Holding Limited, a global Web5 wealth technology platform, and 1exchange, a regulated exchange for Real-World Assets (RWA) security tokens, have announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to advance the issuance, listing, secondary market trading, and liquidity management of RWA security tokens and private market assets. By integrating Finloop’s tokenisation technology with 1exchange’s expertise in compliant listings, the partnership seeks to provide comprehensive solutions that enhance market access and unlock new liquidity channels.

The partnership addresses the challenges posed by cross-border legal disparities and compliance requirements in the RWA sector. By embedding compliance throughout the RWA lifecycle—from tokenisation to secondary market trading—Finloop and 1exchange aim to set a new industry benchmark. Cai Hua, CEO of Finloop, stated, “We are thrilled to establish this deep collaboration with 1exchange,” highlighting the synergy between Finloop’s blockchain infrastructure and 1exchange’s trading expertise.

Sheena Lim, CEO of 1exchange, added, “Partnering with Finloop marks a significant milestone in expanding our tokenised assets offering.” The collaboration will focus on optimising RWA product structures and strengthening cross-border compliance in line with Hong Kong and Singapore’s regulatory frameworks.

As the Web3.0 industry evolves, this partnership is poised to drive the standardised development of a compliant and innovative RWA liquidity ecosystem in Asia, fostering new growth pathways in the digital economy.

Hilton is set to enhance its luxury presence in Asia Pacific with a series of high-profile hotel openings in 2025 and 2026. The hospitality giant will introduce new properties under its Waldorf Astoria, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts brands, alongside the debut of the NoMad brand in the region. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Hilton’s luxury portfolio.

The Waldorf Astoria brand will see new additions in Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur. The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and Cheng Chung Design, offers 204 rooms with stunning riverfront views. Meanwhile, the Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur, opening in late 2026, will feature 272 suites and over 4,250 square metres of event space in the city’s Golden Triangle.

In Bengaluru, The Den Bengaluru, LXR Hotels & Resorts, is set to open in Q2 2026. Located in the city’s tech district, it will provide a blend of heritage and modernity, catering to both business and leisure travellers.

Conrad Hotels & Resorts will make its Malaysian debut with Conrad Kuala Lumpur in mid-2026, offering 481 rooms in the Golden Triangle District. Additionally, Conrad Nagoya in Japan will open in 2026, showcasing local artistry and culture in a 170-room hotel.

Hilton will also introduce the NoMad brand to Asia Pacific with NoMad Singapore. Situated on Orchard Road, the 173-room hotel will offer sophisticated design and cultural programming, enhancing Singapore’s luxury hospitality landscape.

These developments underscore Hilton’s commitment to redefining luxury travel in Asia Pacific, providing guests with unparalleled experiences in key cities across the region.

Asia Pacific is leading the charge in global retail innovation, according to Colliers’ latest report, “Global Retail: 2025 Trends & 2026 Outlook”. Despite geopolitical uncertainties and tariff risks, the region is at the forefront of omnichannel, social commerce, and tech-enabled retail, driven by Gen Z and a burgeoning middle class. The report reveals a 5% real retail spending growth in Asia Pacific, outpacing Europe, the US, and Canada, which show gains of 2–3%.

The report underscores the region’s dominance in integrating digital and physical retail, with store-based sales projected to grow by 20.4% and non-store sales by 43.4% by 2028. Kathy Lee, Head of Research and Retail Consultancy, noted, “Hong Kong’s retail market is showing cautious optimism as consumer confidence stabilises and tourism recovers.”

Key findings include the significant influence of Gen Z, which constitutes 47% of the global population in this demographic, driving mobile-first and influencer-led retail. The social commerce boom is particularly notable in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, with platforms like TikTok Shop thriving.

The report also highlights the expansion of the middle class, with over 332 million new households added in the past decade and 352 million more expected by 2034. Retail real estate remains stable, attracting renewed investor interest, with retail accounting for 40% of Asia Pacific cross-border capital flows.

Looking ahead, retail sales in Asia Pacific are expected to remain steady into 2026, supported by stimulus measures in China, increased tourist spending in Japan and Singapore, and population growth in Australia. Despite challenges, the region’s retail sector is poised for continued momentum.

Morgan Stanley Research has revealed that South East Asia, which possesses up to 20% of the world’s rare earth reserves, accounted for 3% of global production in 2024. The region’s strategic position in the critical minerals and rare earth value chain is set to be bolstered by recent US trade agreements aimed at reducing bottlenecks in processing infrastructure and lowering natural gas and power costs.

The report highlights that Myanmar and Laos were responsible for 21% of rare earth elements mined in 2024, although their refined market share remains small. Meanwhile, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam are seeing increased investments in rare earth production, driven by favourable policies and export restrictions. These nations are tapping into over 20 million tonnes of reserves, with governments encouraging investment in liquefied natural gas (LNG), biofuels, and the electric vehicle (EV) value chain.

The US has signed new trade agreements with South East Asian countries to enhance energy supply and rare-earth sourcing. These agreements aim to deepen critical-mineral supply chains to the US and encourage investment in rare-earth-processing capabilities. Notably, Indonesia has agreed to eliminate export restrictions on critical minerals, whilst Malaysia maintains its export ban on raw rare earths, focusing on in-country processing.

The agreements also cover a range of products, including coal and agricultural commodities, potentially leading to trade flows exceeding $10b annually. As Malaysia plans to import LNG equivalent to 14% of its domestic natural gas needs, these developments underscore the region’s growing significance in global energy and materials markets.

Mastercard and Thunes have announced a strategic collaboration at the Singapore FinTech Festival to facilitate near real-time payouts to stablecoin wallets. This partnership aims to bridge the gap between traditional and digital finance by integrating Thunes’ Direct Global Network with Mastercard Move, allowing banks, payment service providers, and end-users to send and receive funds with greater flexibility.

The collaboration introduces several key benefits, including 24/7 availability for near real-time payouts to stablecoin wallets, expanding the options for banks and payment providers. This move is expected to unlock new business models and corridors, whilst also promoting financial inclusion by reducing currency friction in underserved markets.

Pratik Khowala, Global Head of Transfer Solutions at Mastercard, stated, “As digital currencies become a bigger part of global money movement, this collaboration with Thunes reinforces our role as a trusted bridge between traditional and digital finance.” Mastercard Move, which already supports transfers in 150 currencies to over 10 billion endpoints, will now include stablecoin wallets, providing end-users with more choices.

Chloe Mayenobe, President and Chief Operating Officer at Thunes, added, “Collaborating with Mastercard Move to enable stablecoin payouts is another step forward in our mission to enable the next billion end users to take part in the global economy.”

This initiative marks a significant milestone in Mastercard Move’s commitment to facilitating stablecoin flows globally, addressing the growing demand for instant, stable digital currency payouts. The integration of Thunes’ Pay-to-Stablecoin-Wallets solution into Mastercard’s network is expected to enhance payment options for individuals and businesses worldwide.

Evercomm, a leader in digital sustainability solutions, and CTBC Bank, Taiwan’s largest privately-owned bank, have announced the full operational deployment of their AI-powered transition finance engine, PATHMATCH. This innovative tool aims to help banks assess the decarbonisation impact of loans, manage Scope 3 financed emissions, and track portfolio transition performance in real time.

PATHMATCH is built on the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) framework and integrates global standards like PCAF and IFRS S2 into actionable systems. The engine uses Evercomm’s proprietary AI simulation, developed through a S$187m research initiative, to provide accurate emissions forecasts and tailored decarbonisation roadmaps. This allows banks to automate Scope 3 reporting and reduce manual data processing significantly.

Ted Chen, CEO of Evercomm, highlighted the importance of the engine’s adaptability, stating, “We designed our engine to evolve with the market, integrating new data and technologies as they emerge.” This adaptability ensures that banks like CTBC can lower emissions and finance transitions confidently.

Rachael Kao, President of CTBC Financial Holding, emphasised the bank’s commitment to sustainable finance, noting that PATHMATCH simplifies PCAF implementation and strengthens compliance. “We will be able to strengthen compliance, manage risks, and accelerate sustainable financing with confidence,” she added.

By embedding scientific rigour into financial decision-making, Evercomm and CTBC Bank are setting a new benchmark for transition finance. The PATHMATCH engine empowers businesses to align with global climate standards, enabling banks to operationalise transition finance with transparency and accountability. As Southeast Asia continues to balance industrial growth with climate responsibility, Evercomm’s digital infrastructure offers a crucial bridge.

ASEAN’s Financial Technology (FinTech) sector is navigating a challenging landscape in 2025, with funding hitting its lowest since 2016. Despite this, mature FinTechs are securing larger deals, according to the “FinTech in ASEAN 2025: Navigating the New Realities” report by UOB, PwC Singapore, and the Singapore FinTech Association. The report highlights a 36% drop in total funding to approximately $835m and a 60% decrease in the number of deals to 53 in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the previous year.

Singapore remains the region’s FinTech powerhouse, attracting 87% of total funding, amounting to over $725m. This is a significant increase from 57% in the same period last year. The city-state accounted for more than half of ASEAN’s 53 deals, primarily in blockchain and investment technology. Janet Young from UOB noted, “The rise in average deal size and strong performance of late-stage companies underscore investor confidence in the region’s long-term potential.”

The report also reveals a shift in investor focus towards late-stage FinTechs, which captured 67% of ASEAN’s total funding, a 24 percentage point increase year-on-year. The average funding per late-stage deal rose by 40% to around $112m, driven by three mega deals totalling nearly $450m. Wong Wanyi of PwC Singapore stated, “Despite slower funding and lower valuations, investor confidence persists, fuelled by sophisticated FinTechs that have successfully adapted to market shifts.”

Outside Singapore, other ASEAN markets faced tougher conditions. Indonesia’s funding share fell from 20% to 4%, whilst the Philippines tied with Indonesia for second place with five deals. Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam collectively accounted for less than 10% of total funding. Despite these challenges, the sector’s focus on operational excellence and sustainable growth is seen as a foundation for a more mature ecosystem.

Maybank and XTransfer have announced a strategic partnership to enhance cross-border payment solutions, including Shariah-compliant services, across ASEAN. The collaboration was formalised during the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, where senior representatives from both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

XTransfer, a leading B2B cross-border trade payment platform headquartered in Shanghai, will work with Maybank to deliver comprehensive financial solutions. These will include domestic and cross-border payments and foreign exchange (FX) conversion, targeting key markets in ASEAN, as well as Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The partnership will leverage innovative technologies such as APIs, digital platforms, and virtual accounts to facilitate automated, real-time FX conversion and transaction processing. This aims to improve the efficiency and reliability of cross-border financial services.

Recognising the increasing demand for Islamic finance-compliant services in the region, the partnership will also focus on developing Shariah-compliant FX and payment offerings. This move is expected to broaden financial inclusion and meet the evolving needs of businesses seeking such solutions.

Bill Deng, CEO of XTransfer, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating, “This collaboration with Maybank marks a significant step in elevating our services across ASEAN.” Dato’ Sri Khairussaleh Ramli, President and Group CEO of Maybank, added, “Together with XTransfer, we can enable more seamless cross-border payments and collections with competitive forex rates for merchants engaged in ASEAN-China trade.”

The partnership is set to deepen XTransfer’s presence in Southeast Asia and support Maybank’s strategy to strengthen its regional franchise and ecosystem connectivity.

TenPay Global, Tencent’s cross-border payment platform, is expanding its integration of international wallets with Weixin Pay through China’s Cross-Border Interconnection Payment Gateway (CPG). This move allows users from over 40 wallets in more than 10 countries to connect with tens of millions of merchants across the Chinese mainland.

The CPG, approved by the People’s Bank of China, facilitates cross-border QR payment collaborations by providing a unified technical interface and transaction monitoring. As a designated inaugural foreign institution partner of CPG, TenPay Global enables international visitors to make payments in China using their home wallets by simply scanning a Weixin Pay QR code or presenting their own wallet QR code.

Several digital wallets, including Singapore’s DBS PayLah, Southeast Asia’s GrabPay, and the US’s PayPal and Venmo, have already been integrated. Digital banking platforms like Bank of China Singapore and Laos’s BCEL One App are also part of this initiative. Wenhui Yang, CEO of TenPay Global, stated, “By seamlessly connecting international wallets with the Weixin Pay ecosystem, we are building a more open and inclusive global payments network.”

This integration aims to enhance global connectivity and facilitate easier transactions for international visitors, allowing them to enjoy seamless payments without needing to download WeChat or complete additional setup. The initiative marks a significant step in promoting cross-border financial exchanges and improving the travel experience for global users.

Ant International has announced the integration of iris authentication into its Alipay+ GlassPay, marking a global first in smart glasses payment solutions. This new feature, alongside existing voiceprint authentication, aims to enhance consumer checkout experiences and improve merchant payment success rates. The solution, developed in collaboration with smart glasses manufacturers Xiaomi and Meizu, leverages AI and AR technologies to offer a seamless and secure payment process.

The introduction of iris authentication is a significant advancement, offering superior security compared to other biometric methods. It uses over 260 biometric feature points for verification, providing robust protection against fraud. This technology is resistant to spoofing, making it a reliable choice for secure transactions.

Alipay+ GlassPay’s multi-modal security framework is powered by Ant’s gPass, enabling manufacturers to build secure AI digital services. This framework supports various applications, enhancing the utility of smart glasses for consumers. The solution also integrates an end-to-end security suite for e-wallets, ensuring compliance with market-specific security requirements.

Ant International’s CEO, Peng Yang, highlighted the company’s commitment to advancing payment technologies, stating, “Seamless, real-time, around-the-clock secure global payment will be a main engine for global resilience and growth in a time of great change.”

The enhanced Alipay+ GlassPay solution will be introduced to manufacturers, service providers, and developers in the Asia Pacific, expanding the horizons of augmented-reality commerce. As smart glasses adoption is expected to grow significantly, this innovation positions Ant International at the forefront of payment technology advancements.