Blockchain & Crypto (opens original source in a new tab)Fintech News SingaporeBRICS Explores CBDC Links to Cut Cross Border Payment CostsBRICS is examining ways to make cross-border payments cheaper through closer links between fast payment systems and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the proposals remain under discussion, according to Reuters. Possible approaches include greater interoperability between members’ instant payment networks and connections between their respective CBDCs. The [...] The post BRICS Explores CBDC Links to Cut Cross Border Payment Costs appeared (opens original source in a new tab)Fintech News Singapore·12 August 2026
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)WamdaArab Therapy closes $2 million pre-Series ABerlin-based and Jordan-born digital mental health startup Arab Therapy has raised $2 million in a pre-Series A round led by Manara Ventures, with participation from Anara Impact Fund and Value Makers Studio (VMS). Founded in 2021 by Jordanian entrepreneurs Dr Tareq Dalbah and Hekmat Al Hasi, Arab Therapy provides Arabic-language mental healthcare through online therapy sessions with licensed specialists, mental health content and AI-powered tools. The startup operates across B2C and B2B models, (opens original source in a new tab)12 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)CoinDeskCrypto.com rolls out tokenized stock derivatives as crypto exchanges push into equitiesThe exchange is joining a tokenized stock market that has grown 600% in a year, though its products offer price exposure rather than share ownership. (opens original source in a new tab)Krisztian Sandor·12 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)YourStoryFrom cyber defence to care and contracts: AI100's eighth cohort puts AI to workAI100's eighth cohort spotlights three leaders embedding intelligence into the systems enterprises rely on — data security, healthcare, and contracts. (opens original source in a new tab)12 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)Fintech News Singapore2026 Singapore Digital Banking Report: Winners and Losers So FarDigital banks, possibly everywhere else in the world, unlocked their markets by being better at technology than the others in the market, but this is not the case for Singapore. The 2026 Singapore Digital Banking Report reveals that Singapore’s five digital banks compete on one big factor: the clients they’re serving. From borrowers with little [...] The post 2026 Singapore Digital Banking Report: Winners and Losers So Far appeared first on Fintech Singapore. (opens original source in a new tab)Annette Rowena·12 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)YourStoryAditya Gupta: Building intelligence into contracts at scaleFrom early experiments in autonomous systems to embedding AI at the core of enterprise workflows, the Sirion CTO is reimagining how contracts are understood, managed, and acted upon. (opens original source in a new tab)12 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)YourStoryAnkit Maheshwari: AI, architecture and impactFrom early coding experiments to architecting AI-native healthcare systems at Innovaccer, Ankit Maheshwari on why clean data, infrastructure-first thinking, and human-centered design will define AI’s next chapter. (opens original source in a new tab)12 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)YourStoryDavid Gildea: On a mission to democratize data securityDruva’s VP of Generative AI, David Gildea, is using cloud-native thinking and GenAI to strip complexity out of data protection – and put enterprise-grade security within everyone’s reach. (opens original source in a new tab)12 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)AGBITalabat raises guidance as revenue risesTalabat, the Dubai-listed online food ordering and delivery company, has raised its 2026 guidance after revenue and gross merchandise value (GMV) increased in the first half and second quarter of the year. Revenue rose 19 percent year on year in the first half to $2.2 billion, driven by a higher share of Talabat mart revenue […] (opens original source in a new tab)Pramod Kumar·12 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)Startup DailyWhy category-defining startups can become harder to fundWhen every company starts to sound the same, investors need to look beyond language to what truly sets them apart. (opens original source in a new tab)Laina Chan·12 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyScientists find evidence for two origins of life on EarthScientists probing life’s deepest origins have uncovered evidence that the first free-living cells may have emerged not once, but twice. The findings suggest a striking possibility: life may share one ancient genetic code, yet have undergone two separate transitions into free-living existence. (opens original source in a new tab)12 August 2026
