Finextra Research: Latest fintech news, analysis, interviews, features and opinion by industry experts

Ant tussles with Beijing on sharing customer data - FT

Ant Group is resisting pressure from China's government to hand over more customer data to the country's central bank, according to the Financial Times.

03 March 2021

News/regulation

Ant Group to become financial holding company under deal with Chinese regulators

Ant Group has agreed on a restructuring plan with China’s regulators that will turn the fintech giant into a financial holding company subject to capital requirements similar to those for banks, Bloomberg News reported.

03 February 2021

News/predictions

Dimon 'scared shitless' by fintechs; calls out Plaid

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says incumbent banks should be "scared shitless" by fintech rivals, adding that some - including Plaid - are competing unfairly.

18 January 2021

News/payments

Trump signs executive order banning the use of Chinese payments apps

Outgoing US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning transactions with ten Chinese apps, including behemoths Alipay and WeChat Pay.

06 January 2021

News/regulation

China hints more fintech regulation to come

Some of China's largest fintech companies may face more regulation following comments made by the top banking regulator.

08 December 2020

News/regulation

Singapore doles out four digital bank licences

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has awarded full virtual banking licences to a Grab-Singtel consortium and tech giant Sea, and digital wholesale bank licences to Ant Group and a coalition comprising Greenland Financial Holdings Group, Linklogis Hong Kong, and Beijing Co-operative Equity Investment Fund Management.

04 December 2020

News/regulation

Shanghai Stock Exchange suspends Ant Group IPO

The Shanghai Stock Exchange has suspended Ant Group’s blockbuster IPO over regulatory concerns.

03 November 2020

News/markets

Ant Group sets IPO pricing

Chinese fintech giant Ant Group has set the price for its upcoming initial public offering, which is expected to raise a record $34 billion.

26 October 2020

News/retail

Ant Group unveils blockchain-based copyright protection network

Ant Group has unveiled a blockchain-based digital copyright service for content creators.

22 October 2020

News/payments

Ant launches blockchain-based cross-border trade platform

Chinese fintech giant Ant Group has unveiled Trusple, a blockchain-powered global trade and financial services platform.

25 September 2020

News/retail

Ant files for IPO

Chinese fintech giant Ant Group made a $3.2 billion profit in the first half of 2020, according to paperwork filed to list its shares in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

25 August 2020

News/retail

Ant Group plans consumer finance firm

Fintech giant Ant Group is planning to set up a consumer finance company that will offer Chinese people online loans, according to reports.

18 August 2020

News/payments

Alipay and WeChat Pay could face antitrust investigation - Reuters

China's antitrust agency is pondering an investigation into Alipay and WeChat Pay after the country's central bank raised concerns about the mobile payment behemoths, according to Reuters.

03 August 2020

News/retail

Ant Group creates new blockchain-based technology unit

Chinese giant Ant Group has unveiled AntChain, a new technology brand for the financial firm's blockchain platform that also aggregates other digital technologies including AI, Internet of Things (IoT) and secure computation.

23 July 2020

News/inclusion

Ant Financial plans IPO in Shanghai and Hong Kong

Ant Financial has kicked off an IPO set to value the company at $200 billion, with a concurrent listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Star board and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong

20 July 2020

Company announcement/wholesale

MYbank unveils five-year plan to reach more SMEs across China via supply chain finance

MYbank, a leading online private commercial bank under Ant Group, today announced a five-year plan to reach more small and micro enterprises (SMEs) across China via supply chain finance and rural lending.

30 June 2020

News/regulation

Ant drops 'Financial' from name - WSJ

Ant Financial Services Group has been given the green light by Chinese regulators to change its name in a move that could help it avoid scrutiny from the country's financial watchdogs.

23 June 2020

Company announcement/payments

Ant Financial-backed fund invests in B2B FX engine Wallex

Wallex Technologies, a fintech startup headquartered in Singapore focused on serving FX and cross border payment needs of SMEs, announced that it closed its Series A funding led by BAce Capital, SMDV and Skystar Capital.

10 June 2020

Company announcement/payments

Alipay mini programmes gain traction with Chinese service providers

Alipay, the world’s leading open digital lifestyle platform operated by Ant Group, today unveiled data showing how China’s service industry is embracing the power of digital technology as it continues to recover from the impact of COVID-19 and prepare for the future.

20 May 2020

News/inclusion

Ant Financial injects $73.5 million into Myanmar's Wave Money

Ant Financial is to pour $73.5 million into mobile financial services provider Wave Money as part of an initiative to promote financial inclusion for the unbanked in Myanmar.

18 May 2020