Thursday, 30 July 2026 · SEA Deal Ticker

SEA Deal Ticker Thu, 30 Jul

Four deals buy access to rails someone else already built.

Remittance apps have always stopped at the bank account: Wise plugs into Malaysia's DuitNow — TechNode Global · Permalink

Wise gained direct access to PayNet, letting users scan DuitNow QR codes and send ringgit to a mobile number. Malaysia becomes the ninth market worldwide where Wise holds domestic payment-system access, and the fifth in APAC.

Positive-sum angle: Every Malaysian merchant already accepting DuitNow QR now takes inbound foreign money over domestic rails, with no new terminal and no integration work. The corridor widens on the receiving side, not just the sender's.
Only three firms in Singapore both list and clear: HashKey moves on APEX — TechNode Global · Permalink

Hong Kong's HashKey signed a non-binding framework agreement to buy Singapore's Asia Pacific Exchange outright. APEX holds both an MAS Approved Exchange and Approved Clearing House licence, a pairing only three firms carry, and the deal awaits MAS approval.
Manila built the AI delivery bench Singapore needed: Temus takes a stake in Thinking Machines — TechNode Global · Permalink

Temasek-backed Temus invested an undisclosed sum in Thinking Machines, OpenAI's first services partner in Asia Pacific. The Manila firm has served over 110 clients since 2015 and trained more than 10,000 professionals.

Positive-sum angle: Philippine services talent has long been priced as back-office labour. A Temasek-linked cheque reprices it as regional AI delivery capacity, and the next round of buyers now has a precedent to point at.
Ageing is becoming an investable platform: Singapore's iWOW raises S$15M from nine institutions — TechNode Global · Permalink

iWOW placed 66.67 million shares at S$0.225 each, drawing UOB Asset Management, Lion Global, Tokio Marine and Value Partners. Proceeds shore up the balance sheet after its acquisition of The Gentle Group.

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