by Anaya Jhaveri -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Paywatch, Visa to Expand Early Access to Wages, Payment Services in Asia

Paywatch, a Malaysia-based provider of earlier access to salaries in East and Southeast Asia, recently entered an agreement with US-based financial technology firm Visa to expand its geographic range as well as the range of payment services it provides to people in Asia – particularly Southeast Asia – who otherwise

by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Futu Expanding Digital Investment, Financial Education Platform to Malaysia

The Hong Kong-based wealth management company Futu Holdings is adding Malaysia to the list of countries whose residents can access its investment platform Moomoo, following the firm’s local subsidiary receiving preliminary regulatory approval for the service. Moomoo allows

by Bradley Shulman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Securities Commission Malaysia, UNCDF Accepting Applications Through June 30 for Fikra Islamic Fintech Accelerator

Securities Commission (SC) Malaysia, the regulator of capital markets in the country, in collaboration with the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), which promotes access to finance in countries with the lowest incomes, recently began taking applications for the Fikra Islamic Fintech Accelerator Programme, which is intended to develop Islamic capital markets in Malaysia by supporting the development of financial technology (fintech) firms. The accelerator will take participants “through the entire value chain from

by Bradley Shulman -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Helping Low- and Moderate-income Malaysians Save: Insights from UNCDF’s Work With GoGet and Pod,” Published by UNCDF

Data from Bank Negara Malaysia, the country’s central bank, illustrate a downward trend in household savings from 2018 through the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest data available indicate that “two thirds of self-employed respondents have savings equivalent to one month’s expenses, while 83 percent

by Nathan Kiplagat -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Mastercard Partner on E-money, Payment Cards, Islamic Fintech, Mentoring, Technology Training for Girls

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), a government-controlled entity, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Mastercard, a US-based payments company, to “facilitate the rollout of Mastercard payments and business technologies” in Malaysia. The goals of the agreement include to: