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EBANX secures In-Principle Approval for Major Payment Institution license from Monetary Authority of Singapore, amplifying global payments reach

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The Payment Service Provider strengthens its global operations and accelerates APAC expansion after obtaining In-Principle Approval for a Singapore Major Payment Institution license. The APAC region represents 39% of the fintech’s total processed volume.

SINGAPORE, Feb. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EBANX, a leading global Payment Service Provider (PSP) specializing in emerging markets, today announced that EBANX Pte. Ltd. has been granted In-Principle Approval for a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). This license supports two types of payment services in Singapore (namely, cross-border money transfers and merchant acquisition services), enabling EBANX to strengthen its offerings within its global settlement hub, benefiting its network of over 500 global enterprise merchants.

The MPI license will also further reinforce EBANX’s strong footprint in the Asia-Pacific region. EBANX serves leading enterprise merchants from APAC, with 39% of its total processed volume in 2024 coming from the region. EBANX maintains offices in Shanghai, China, and Singapore, and has recently established payment operations in India.

“Receiving In-Principle Approval for an MPI license in Singapore, one of the most robust ecosystems for international payments, is a testament to EBANX’s priority to meet the highest regulatory standards and provide exceptional value to our clients globally, who will now have even more capabilities enabled within our payments services,” said João Del Valle, CEO and Co-founder of EBANX, who was in Singapore last week.

EBANX’s story in Asia-Pacific dates back to the company’s foundation in 2012: The fintech’s operational hub has always been in Singapore, and when obtained, the MPI license would replace the current authorisation provided by the MAS for the company’s cross-border operations in the country. The In-Principle Approval follows a series of strategic moves by EBANX in Asia, including the partnership with YES BANK and the appointment of a Country Director for its operations in India. 

“EBANX has been the payments partner of choice for APAC merchants in emerging economies for 12 years now, supporting their growth through various generations of the Asian e-commerce industry, across multiple markets in Latin America and Africa,” said Del Valle. The successful partnerships continued, going beyond China and beyond online retail. EBANX serves multiple verticals from different Asian countries, and adding new industries to the portfolio: Australian Canva (SaaS), South Korean Gravity Game Vision (gaming), besides the Chinese giants XTransfer (financial services) and Alibaba (B2B trade) are some examples.  Forbes China has also recognized EBANX as one of the 30 pioneering brands in international expansion.

“This moment marks another chapter of EBANX’s successful story in the APAC region and a significant step forward in our global expansion strategy. It will build upon our powerful operations in LatAm, Africa, and India and solidify our position as a trusted partner for businesses operating in emerging markets,” Del Valle added.

EBANX office in Singapore

To further drive strategic growth initiatives in APAC, EBANX is pleased to announce the relocation of Fernanda De Fino, Global Director of Risk and Compliance, to Singapore. In addition to her current global responsibilities, De Fino will also serve as the Executive Director of EBANX in Singapore. This appointment strengthens EBANX’s physical footprint in the APAC region, which includes a multi-functional team of 25 in Shanghai.

“Singapore’s robust regulatory framework and strategic location make it the ideal hub to connect EBANX’s global operations in 29 countries. We are excited to contribute to its leading fintech ecosystem,” said De Fino. The office in Singapore and the executive relocation are statements of EBANX’s commitment to APAC, as the company plans to continue expanding its team across the region.

About the IPA from MAS

An In-Principle Approval (IPA) reflects MAS’ view that a license may be issued to the applicant upon the fulfilment of specified conditions and provided there are no material adverse developments affecting the applicant. An IPA does not constitute a license at this juncture. MAS reserves the right to rescind the IPA in circumstances where it considers appropriate.

About EBANX

EBANX is the leading payments platform connecting global businesses to the world’s fastest-growing digital markets. Founded in 2012 in Brazil, EBANX was built with a mission to expand access to international digital commerce. Leveraging proprietary technology, deep market expertise, and robust infrastructure, EBANX enables global companies to offer hundreds of local payment methods across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. More than just payments, EBANX drives growth, enhances sales, and delivers seamless purchase experiences for businesses and consumers alike.

For further information, please visit:
Website: https://www.ebanx.com/en/    
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebanx    

Media Contact:
Shan Huang
shan.huang@ahgstrategies.com 

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SOURCE EBANX PTE. Ltd.

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ASTRI Establishes Advisory Board for Smart Mobility Technology Alliance

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Bringing Together Industry, Academia and Research to Drive Mobility Innovation

HONG KONG, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) announced the establishment of an Advisory Board for the Smart Mobility Technology Alliance (SMTA), an industry-leading initiative designed to accelerate the adoption and scaling of next-generation smart mobility technologies across the Greater Bay Area and beyond. The SMTA aims to address critical challenges and foster a commercially-driven ecosystem for innovation in the smart mobility sector.

The newly-formed Advisory Board comprises distinguished leaders from infrastructure, transport, telecommunications, and academia, offering a wide-ranging blend of industry expertise, market intelligence and policy insight. Drawing on their extensive network and experience across the public and private sectors, the Advisory Board will shape the SMTA’s strategic priorities, identify emerging opportunities, and provide guidance on the evolving mobility landscape.

“The formation of the SMTA Advisory Board underscores ASTRI’s commitment to advancing Hong Kong as a regional leader in technology-driven mobility,” said Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI. “By uniting industry, government, academia and research around a shared vision, this strategic alliance will unlock commercial opportunities and deliver transformative solutions that redefine the future of mobility,” he added.

The Advisory Board provides strategic guidance on SMTA’s vision and research and development priorities, helping to align its initiatives with market needs and commercialisation opportunities. It supports ecosystem development by fostering partnerships across industry, academia and the public sector, while facilitating pilot projects and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. The Board also offers insights on policy and standards, and promotes engagement with key stakeholders and international partners to advance future mobility innovation.

Members of the Advisory Board for Smart Mobility Technology Alliance include:

Chairman

Dr Ying Huang, Chief Technology Officer, ASTRI

Deputy Chairman

Mr Dominic Chow, Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation, HKSAR Government

Secretary

Dr Ivan Sham, Chief Director, Technical Solutions Business Development, ASTRI

Members (by alphabetical order in surname)

Mr Lawrence Fong, Director, Digital and IT, Cathay Pacific Airways LimitedMr William Ho, Executive Director, Corporate Development, Airport Authority Hong KongIr Dr John Hui, Deputy Executive Director, Vocational Training CouncilMr Ryan Ip, Vice President of Our Hong Kong FoundationProf Mei-po Kwan, Director, Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong KongDr Gabriel Leung, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Solutions, Hong Kong Broadband Network LimitedMr Roger Ma, General Manager (Operations), Citybus LimitedMr Steve Ng, Managing Director, Commercial Group, HKT LimitedMs Sylvia Ng, Deputy Director, Corporate Development, MTR Corporation LimitedMr BY Sim, General Manager (Hong Kong SAR), Thales Solutions and Services Hong Kong LimitedMr Alex Wong, Deputy CEO, Corporate Affairs, Hong Kong Representative Office, Huawei International Co LimitedDr Rosana Wong, Deputy Chair and Executive Director, Yau Lee Holdings LimitedMs Yan Yan, General Manager, Keeta Drone Hong KongMs Theresa Yeung, Managing Principal, East Asia, Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited

Launched by ASTRI in April 2023, the Smart Mobility Technology Alliance (formerly the Smart Mobility Technology (C-V2X) Alliance) provides a networking and knowledge sharing platform for ecosystem stakeholders. These include infrastructure manufacturers, telecommunications providers, EV and drone developers, system integrators, and end users from China, in particular the Greater Bay Area, and overseas markets, all seeking to explore collaboration and technology commercialisation in the smart mobility field.

SMTA Website: https://smta.astri.org/

Photos Download: https://bit.ly/4s0M9ex

 

About ASTRI

Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is the city’s largest government-funded R&D centre. Committed to transforming high-impact research into practical innovations, ASTRI drives market-driven, interdisciplinary advancements across sectors, including Smart City, FinTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies. Following its merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, ASTRI has further strengthened its capabilities, with over 1,500 patents and 2,200 successful cases of technology transfer. Recognised with numerous international awards, ASTRI continues to nurture top I&T talent and foster collaborations among the I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong’s high-value economic development. For more information, please visit: https://www.astri.org

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SOURCE Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI)

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2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit Opens

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WUZHEN, China, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from CRI Online

The 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit opened on November 3 in Wuzhen, Tongxiang City in Zhejiang Province, under the theme “Open Source and Openness, Joined Contribution and Shared Benefits — Jointly Building a Community With a Shared Future in Cyberspace”. Approximately 1,800 participants attended the opening ceremony, including government officials from various countries, heads of international organizations such as the United Nations, representatives of global Internet companies, and experts and scholars.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2026-world-internet-conference-wuzhen-summit-opens-302931703.html

SOURCE CRI Online

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Forum on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations in Cyberspace held at 2026 WIC Wuzhen Summit

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WUZHEN, China, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from CRI Online:

The Forum on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations in Cyberspace was held in Wuzhen, east China’s Zhejiang Province, on November 4 as part of the 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit.

Themed “Deepening Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations, Building a Better Online Home Together,” the forum aimed to promote the Global Civilization Initiative and advance exchanges among civilizations in cyberspace, contributing to a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

Yang Jianwen, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China; Hu Wei, vice governor of Zhejiang Province; and Peng Jianming, a member of China Media Group’s editorial board, delivered opening remarks.

Keynote speakers shared achievements and practical experience in digital cultural heritage preservation and development, international youth exchanges and talent development, cross-cultural communication by mainstream media, and film and television production.

A roundtable discussion explored “Co-Creating Diverse Online Content, Unlocking New Paradigms for Dialogue among Civilizations.”

The forum also launched the “Initiative for Improvement of Minors’ Internet Literacy.” Representatives from the Cyberspace Administration of China’s Bureau of Internet Social Work, the Ministry of Education’s Department of Basic Education, the ministry’s Center for Educational Technology and Resource Development, and Tencent, together with Peking University experts, jointly launched the initiative.

The micro variety show project “Civilizations in Conversation” was also unveiled. A Chinese opera artist and a British performer of Chinese opera jointly presented “Shared Operatic Charm: Face-Changing Show Featuring a Foreign ‘Monkey King'” during an intangible cultural heritage showcase.

Hosted by China Media Group and co-organized by CRI Online, Huawei and RayNeo, the forum attracted more than 120 participants, including government officials, experts and scholars in online culture, technology company executives, and prominent online personalities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/forum-on-exchanges-and-mutual-learning-among-civilizations-in-cyberspace-held-at-2026-wic-wuzhen-summit-302931738.html

SOURCE CRI Online

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