We have reported extensively on corporations acquiring Bitcoin as part of a treasury diversification model, most notably the Nasdaq-listed firm Strategy – which holds over 2% of Bitcoin’s 21 million capped supply – and the Japanese investment firm MetaPlanet, which has recently become the eighth largest corporate holder of Bitcoin. A recent trend, albeit far less notable, is niche firms acquiring Solana, the sixth largest cryptocurrency by marketcap and the native coin of the Solana blockchain. Unlike Bitcoin, Solana is a “proof of stake” blockchain, where holders can stake Solana to participate in the network’s security and earn yield (similar […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on South Korea’s upcoming presidential election and what is at stake for crypto. Crypto has emerged as a key campaign issue and this should come as no surprise in a county where nearly one out of three people people own crypto, including a large percentage of the older, wealthy class.  So this is not just a tactic to lure young voters. A South Korean technologist, Sangmin Seo, who leads the Kaia DLT Foundation […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on Sony Bank’s expansion into the Web3 business and the group’s strategic push beyond its traditional business. Sony is clearly not going to have a “Kodak moment.” After launching its own blockchain earlier this year, Sony Corporation continues with its innovative and aggressive push to integrate blockchain services into its business, a rare yet shining example of a long-established traditional corporation evolving and adapting with the times. The group’s banking unit, Sony Bank, […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on the ambitious plan of a former luxury watch distributor turning to the Bitcoin Treasury Model. Meanwhile, El Salvador responds to the IMF’s warning to stop buying Bitcoin by buying more Bitcoin. Top Win International Limited, a Hong Kong-based Nasdaq-listed company (trading under the ticker SORA), has just announced two major strategic investments as it accelerates its pivot into Asia’s fast-growing digital assets market. The firm’s ambitious Bitcoin portfolio expansion aims to create […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on a number of interesting news stories in the crypto and blockchain space. This is our news wrap for May 29: Solana gaining institutional exposure while another US firm goes big on Bitcoin with a half a billion dollar buy. $1 billion to invest more in Solana A Canadian firm, SOL Strategies, has just filed a $1 billion initial shelf filing to expand its capital-raising flexibility to further its investment in Solana, a […]

In this edition of ASEAN Business Briefs, we look at Macron in Hanoi on the deal circuit; the Vietnam government’s boost to the private sector; the ground breaking ceremony for the Trump golf course and the quest for the location of a new Trump Tower in HCMC; and continued Vietnam trade negotiations in Washington. Meanwhile, will the US invest in Cambodia’s new airport? Hanoi welcomes Macron with deals galore French President Emmanuel Macron is in Hanoi, his first stop on a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia, highlighting France as “a reliable trading partner and a counterweight to China in the […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on a major development for traditional and decentralized finance. Two major cryptocurrency exchanges are tokenizing global equities to trade 24/7 on the blockchain. Why is this significant? For one, there is now a direct link between decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional finance (TradFi). It is also interesting in that it was the DeFi community that bridged this link – not TradFi, showing the clear innovation and foresight of the latter. Secondly, this will […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on a major development for decentralized finance. TradFi is coming to DeFi and this is a game-changer! A group of large banks and other TradFi institutions are set to use the Solana blockchain to tokenize Real World Assets (RWAs). As the Financial Times reported, this has come about after a UK software and blockchain developer firm, R3, signed a deal with the Solana Foundation to allow its customers to use its blockchain. R3 […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on Bitcoin purchases worth $2 billion in the past two weeks. Who has bought? Two corporations. According to separate May 19 announcements, both firms collectively acquired 8,394 BTC, spending nearly $870 million. This follows their buying spree the previous week, when the companies added almost 15,000 BTC. These firms are the US-based Strategy – the world’s first and largest Bitcoin treasury firm – and the Japan-based Metaplanet, an investment firm that has been […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on a $104 million Bitcoin purchase by a Japanese investment firm, Metaplanet. The firm now holds 7,800 Bitcoin, worth more than $800 million, and is set to become the eight largest holder of Bitcoin on the planet. It is Asia’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin. The firm is financing its acquisitions through a series of bond issuances. The firm’s latest purchase comes as Bitcoin is flirting with its all time high. Bitcoin and […]

In this edition of ASEAN Business Briefs, we update on US tariff developments for Vietnam and Cambodia, Vietnam’s high-speed rail project, and China-Cambodia investment and trade. Vietnam takes action Vietnam continues to actively navigate US tariff threats, with Trump’s administration demanding action on the trade surplus and transshipment issues. Vietnam’s efforts to forestall the economic fallout from potential 46% tariffs have been described as a “scramble,” but no public deals have been announced, according to latest reports. Meanwhile, the Financial Times quotes economist Huynh Thanh Dien arguing that tariffs alone won’t shift manufacturing back to the US, citing Vietnam’s infrastructure […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on an ambitious plan by the Singapore-based Basel Medical Group to acquire $1 billion worth of Bitcoin to diversify its treasury. The move is also part of a broader financial restructuring initiative for the firm. The company’s management sees the diversification into Bitcoin as a hedge against currency volatility and inflation risks in emerging markets, particularly in regions where it seeks to expand. According to reports, the proposed acquisition will occur through a share-swap […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on developments in Thailand, particularly a government plan to issue a digital investment token. The G-Token is meant to provide investors with the chance to earn a higher return than they would on bank deposits and will raise funds from the public under the current budget borrowing plan. Reportedly, the new token offering meets all of the Bank of Thailand’s regulatory requirements and conditions. Thailand’s crypto push Thailand has been on a clear […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on a notable new trend in Bitcoin acquisitions: Corporations are buying up supply. According to research by the US Bitcoin financial institution River, corporations and businesses are the largest net buyers of Bitcoin so far this year, outpacing exchange-traded funds and retail investors. Overall, there has been a 154% growth in business ownership of Bitcoin since 2024, according to River, with finance and investment firms being the largest buyers, followed by tech firms […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on the bullish appetite of two Japanese companies acquiring Bitcoin. Leading the way is the the little known Japanese investment firm Metaplanet. The company has just surpassed El Salvador in its Bitcoin holdings and is the largest publicly listed corporate holder of Bitcoin in Asia. To read our full report, please visit here.  

This is Access Asia’s second edition of ASEAN Business Briefs, a weekly newsletter focusing on business updates and foreign investment news across the region. Breaking: A reprieve on tariffs As of the time of publication, The New York Times (and of course many others) are reporting that the US and China have agreed to temporarily reduce the punishing tariffs they have imposed on each other “in an attempt to defuse the trade war threatening the world’s two largest economies. “In a joint statement, the countries said they would suspend their respective tariffs for 90 days while they negotiate. Under the […]

In our latest edition of Crypto Finance Asia (Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter covering the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space), we report on a new blockchain recently unveiled by a group of Vietnamese financial institutions, including leading private lender Techcombank. The blockchain, 1Matrix, is Vietnam’s first homemade layer-one chain and is aimed at reducing reliance on foreign tech platforms. The chairman of both 1Matrix and the Vietnam Blockchain Association, Phan Duc Trang, was recently quoted by media as saying: “Having complete control over blockchain technology and intellectual property will not only enable Vietnam to proactively apply […]

In a stunning move that has sparked an inflow of some US$300 billion into the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, US President Donald J Trump announced Sunday that a US strategic cryptocurrency reserve will be established and will include “altcoins” such as XRP, Solana, and Cardano’s ADA. This would be in addition to Ethereum and Bitcoin, the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.  Interestingly, the announcement was made on a Sunday when traditional (or Tradefi) markets are closed. The crypto market – which runs 24/7 – saw an immediate and powerful upswing (ADA, for example, surged by 50%). […]

Over the past few weeks in our Linkedin newsletter, we have reported on a little known Japanese investment firm that has launched an ambitious $745 million fundraising drive to buy Bitcoin and incorporate it into the company’s treasury. The company is called Metaplanet and its initiative has been touted as “Asia’s largest-ever equity capital raise for Bitcoin.” As part of of this, the company has recently announced it has secured $26 million (4 billion yen) through the issuance of zero-interest, unsecured, and unguaranteed bonds. According to the firm, Japan’s economic conditions – marked by prolonged negative interest rates, high national […]

This is our first edition of Crypto Finance Asia since Donald Trump’s US election victory, which sparked an immediate surge in the crypto market due to the President-elect’s pro crypto stance. Bitcoin has been flirting with the key psychological level of $100,000, and has surpassed silver to become the seventh largest asset in the world. Not enough Bitcoin There are approximately 58 million USD millionaires in the world. There is a maximum supply of 21 million Bitcoin embedded into Bitcoin’s source code. When taking into account several million Bitcoin lost forever from user issues (lost private keys or death without […]

About us: Crypto Finance Asia is Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter, which covers the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, please click here. According to a recent report by Electric Capital, Asia has surpassed North America as the leading place for crypto developers, increasing its global share from 13% to 32% since 2015. North America’s share dropped from 44% to 25% over the same period. As the report explains, developers are a leading indicator of value creation in crypto as they build apps that deliver value to users. […]

Crypto Finance Asia is Access Asia’s Linkedin newsletter, which covers the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, please click here. This week, the blockchain research firm Chainanalysis released its 2024 Geography of Crypto Report, documenting regional trends in crypto adoption. The report is packed with 134 pages of well documented information – not exactly light reading material so we are devoting this edition of Crypto Finance Asia to provide some key takeaways of the report, particularly those relevant to the geographical focus of our newsletter. Last […]

This is Access Asia Group’s second edition of Crypto Finance Asia, a biweekly newsletter focusing on the latest developments, innovations and investments in Asia’s crypto and blockchain space. You can subscribe to our newsletter here. October is typically an upbeat month in the highly cyclical world of crypto – since 2013 Bitcoin has averaged gains of 20.65% for the month and only twice posted negative returns (hence the monthly moniker of Uptober). Price movements, however, are just one aspect of this innovative space and an aspect that we will mostly leave out of this newsletter. For those who are new […]

For decades, Southeast Asia has been among the fastest growing economies in the world and a major magnet of foreign investment. The region is on course to become the world’s largest single market by 2030, propelled by a number of factors such as dynamic economic activity, favorable demographics, openness to international trade, relatively stable and pro-business government policies, bustling entrepreneurial activity, and a recently rising trend that should not go overlooked – a surging digital economy. It is this latter development that Access Asia Group is keenly following due to its immense impact on overall economic, social and even political […]

After months of some form of a lockdown, Vietnam’s largest city and epicenter of the country’s fourth Covid wave, Ho Chi Minh City, has lifted its “shelter-in-place” order and is allowing many businesses to resume operations. Finally, it seems that a sense of normalcy is returning, yet the city’s battle against Covid-19 is far from over. The following is Access Asia’s latest update on the situation in Vietnam in collaboration with Vietnam Weekly, a subscription-based publication covering current affairs in Vietnam. Starting today (Oct 1), businesses in Ho Chi Minh City except for bars, spas, karaoke and massage parlors, beauty […]

After weeks of reporting mostly negative developments about the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam, this week’s update is finally positive. Several key health indicators here have improved recently, while there has been a lot of official discussion of a ‘new normal’ beginning October 1 (Ho Chi Minh City’s strict “shelter-in-place” lockdown expires on September 30). The seven-day rolling national average of Covid cases has fallen to 9,938 – the lowest that number has been in about five weeks – and health officials said that Ho Chi Minh City has passed its peak. Large-scale testing in at-risk areas over the weekend returned a positivity […]

Vietnam’s Covid-19 situation has worsened over the past week, while events over the weekend in Ho Chi Minh City – the current epicentre of Vietnam’s fourth wave – were somewhat chaotic due to a lack of clarity on the next phase of the city’s response to containing the outbreak. City residents scrambled to buy supplies in anticipation of a city-wide blockade and a strict stay at home policy, likely creating a number of super-spreading incidents.  We expect the worst has yet to come for HCMC and that the number of cases and fatalities will continue to spike in the coming […]

Vietnam is continuing to battle major Covid-19 outbreaks throughout the country and unfortunately this past week has not seen any major breakthrough in curbing the situation. The good news, however, is that the vaccination drive is pushing ahead at full speed and the situation in Ho Chi Minh City, the epicentre, appears to be stabilizing. The following is Access Asia Group’s latest update on the Covid-19 situation in collaboration with Vietnam Weekly, a subscription-based publication covering current affairs in Vietnam. The latest data At the start of the week, 206,439 cases had been detected in this outbreak. That figure is now 242,552, 152,561 […]

Vietnam is continuing to battle major Covid-19 outbreaks as the Delta variant takes its course over a country that up until April had been mostly spared from the pandemic. The good news is that data over the last few days indicates cases may have plateaued (granted it may be too early to draw any conclusions). Certainly, aggressive containment measures and  a major vaccination mobilization campaign are working, yet the battle will be a drawn out one as strict containment measures cannot be in place indefinitely without major economic and social repercussions. The following is Access Asia Group’s latest update on the […]

Vietnam is continuing to see a major surge in Covid-19 cases after tremendous success in containing the virus for three waves from January 2020 to April 2021. Now, the the highly contagious Delta variant is spreading aggressively throughout the country, with the epicentre being the country’s economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City. The following is Access Asia Group’s latest update on the Covid-19 situation in collaboration with Vietnam Weekly, a subscription-based publication covering current affairs in Vietnam. Data update Through the course of this week, this outbreak has grown in size from 94,666 community infections to 124,584, bringing the national pandemic total […]

Vietnam is continuing to see a major surge in Covid-19 cases after remarkable success in containing the virus up until the last few months. As the highly contagious Delta variant spreads throughout the country, a major short-coming has been the country’s slow vaccine roll-out program. Ironically this is mostly a result of Vietnam’s initial success in containing the virus in that the country was slow to place and prioritize vaccine orders as the situation was well under control until only recently. The following is Access Asia Group’s latest update on the situation in collaboration with Vietnam Weekly, one of the few […]

SINGAPORE: Access Asia Group (“AAG”) is pleased to welcome George McLeod as a new Managing Partner. George will be based in between Thailand and Canada and will drive AAG’s continued expansion as a leading investigations provider. He brings over 20 years’ experience to AAG that includes serving as PwC’s regional head of Corporate Intelligence. He also served as a financial journalist and a United Nations spokesman. “We are thrilled to bring George on board. Access Asia Group is a fast-growing firm in the investigative due diligence sector; positioned in a region leading the world in growth, innovation and opportunity. George […]