Casey Hynes

Though the future of digital currencies remains opaque in many ways, blockchain is now seen as a potential major disruptor in many industries, not just in financial services. Indonesia's blockchain leaders are eager to take advantage of the opportunities the technology presents.

The hackathon provided participants a chance to stretch their skills and develop a product outside their usual domains. The API Showdown (API stands for application programming interface), held in Chicago from October 14-15, aimed to spark innovation in the digital payments space.

When consumers need to transfer money urgently, whether that’s to pay bills, cover emergency expenses or loan money to a loved one, they don’t want to wait three days for the money to be available. Emergencies happen, and when they do, people need money now – not three days from now.

It’s mid-November, and that means Cyber Monday is around the corner. In 2016, one outlet dubbed Cyber Monday 2016 as the biggest day for e-commerce sales in U.S. history.1 Cyber Monday 2017 could be another landmark for online retail sales. Here are six ways to take advantage of this holiday sales opportunity.

Bitcoin has taken its investors on a wild ride in recent months. Just this week, prices soared to more than $11,300, then fell back to around $9,000. Some experts speculate that the Bitcoin boom is a bubble, while others predict that its value could continue to rise. Whatever happens, there are those in the Southeast Asian tech scene who predict that cryptocurrency startups will be winners either way.

The Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba wracked up $25.3 billion in sales during its Singles Day extravaganza, beating last year's numbers by 40%. The online shopping frenzy was a bigger financial success than Black Friday, America's day of blatant consumerism. But the company is no doubt especially celebrating its performance in Southeast Asia, where it's been making a strong push in recent years.

In entrepreneur Ayesha Khanna’s view, microfinance is only part of the equation. She believes microinsurance must go hand-in-hand with microfinance, and she sees artificial intelligence as the catalyst for both in the emerging markets of Asia.

Spacetech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia are positioning Singapore as a potential hub for spacetech exploration, and satellite development could prove a cornerstone of these efforts. Prof. Kay Soon Low, director of the Satellite Technology and Research Centre (STAR) at the National University Singapore, said domestic and foreign interest in satellites has ramped up in recent years, bolstering Singapore’s status as a hotspot for spacetech innovation.

“In recent years, several ...

Blockchain technology is already reshaping the remittance market in Southeast Asia, but it holds a great deal of potential for the region's travel industry as well. Tourism plays a significant role in many Southeast Asian economies, including Thailand and Vietnam. Drawn by historical and cultural attractions along with low-cost travel and lush beaches, millions of backpackers and luxury travelers flock to the region each year. In 2016, Thailand alone saw more than 32.5 million international t...

Financing is a core driver in achieving economic equality for women. The World Bank reports that women own 30-37% of small- and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets. But many struggle to grow because they don’t have formal bank accounts and cannot secure credit or loans.

“Access to credit can open up economic opportunities for women, and bank accounts can be a gateway to the use of additional financial services,” according to the World Bank. “However, women entrepreneurs and employers face significantly greater challenges than men in gaining access to financial services.”

Through its partnerships with microfinancing organizations, Hapinoy is helping close that gap for women in the Philippines. Hapinoy is also facilitating tech partnerships that benefit the shops’ growth, as well as improved access to financial services in poor and rural communities. These services include mobile bill payment and remittance transfers, which are particularly crucial in areas where many families are supported by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Hapinoy founder and social entrepreneur Mark Ruiz said accommodating the demand for mobile services is key to the sari-sari stores’ futures.

Achieving universal financial access requires a multi-pronged strategy. One aspect of that is extending lending services to people who have sparse credit histories or who have been unable to open traditional banking accounts.

Lenddo, a fintech company that deals in non-traditional data, is helping lenders reach such consumers. Founded by CEO Richard Eldridge and Chairman Jeffrey Stewart in 2011, Lenddo operates on the premise that non-traditional data can be used to vet potential borrowers and provide financing to underserved consumers.

Startups like Coins, which use cryptocurrencies behind the scenes to offer fast, low-cost services to their customers, may be on the front lines of improving financial inclusion in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. Thanks to growing mobile phone penetration, even low-income consumers can take advantage of their services.

The people behind Timo, Vietnam’s first neobank, are offering an alternative to traditional banking. Rather than operating formal branches, Timo invites customers to its “hangouts,” which are hybrid coffee shop-banking centers.