Asia’s tech news #142: NZ & NFT packaging, China’s cashless banks, Myanmar CBDC mulled…
In this issue: New Zealand and NFT-based physical packaging, two Chinese banks go entirely cashless, space-tech and big data in SE Asia’s agricultural sector, Myanmar’s coup leaders mull digital currency…
China: Two private banks to no longer provide services involving banknotes and coins — www.scmp.com
Two small private banks announced an end to services for banknotes and coins in the latest sign that China is moving towards a fully cashless society.
New Zealand: Natural Abundance launches NFT-based one-of-a-kind set of 200 collectible packets — www.naturalabundance.co.nz
Each physical packet comes with a free digital NFT art minted on the Ethereum blockchain — Art on Opensea — Natural Abundance Physical NFT…
Indonesia: Bananas raises $1.5M with ‘rapid commerce’, aiming to open 50 or more ‘dark stores’ — incubees.com
Bananas, an Indonesian rapid commerce company, has raised US $1.5 million in a preliminary fundraising round headed by East Ventures. SMDV…
Vietnam: Selly raises $2.6M pre-A, partnering suppliers to offer inventory to resellers for social sales — www.businesstimes.com.sg
The Vietnam-based startup said it has grown gross merchandise value 300 times in its 10 months of operations but did not disclose specific numbers. Selly now has 300,000 resellers after the 10…
Myanmar: Military reportedly considers digital currency, likely in response to NUG interest in Tether — decrypt.co
Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters are using Tether. The Myanmar government says it wants a digital currency to “improve financial activities.”
Indonesia: Julo P2P platform secures near $60M, connecting institutional lenders with underbanked — asia.nikkei.com
The fresh funding indicates confidence in Julo’s prospects amid what has been a challenging period for the country’s P2P lenders following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The segment has been…
Australia’s Eden Towers and Scotland’s IGS partner for vertical farm powered by solar energy — www.fruitnet.com
A four-tower farm will be the centrepiece of the new site, generating 120 tonnes of produce a year when fully operational in 2023. Crops will include lettuce, spinach, kale and basil, as well as the indigenous…
South Korea: Swing gains $24M to deploy 100K e-vehicles with interchangeable batteries… — techcrunch.com
Swing, a South Korean electric scooter and micromobility startup, announced today it has raised $24 million in a Series B round to spur its growth and expansion to Japan. The funding was led by…
SatSure raises $5M, utilising satellite data to provide intelligence around agriculture, infrastructure… — inc42.com
SatSure has closed its Pre-Series A round of $5 Mn in continuity with SatSure’s fundraise in November 2021 from Baring Private Equity India.
“The natural endpoint of blockchains and NFTs…is that every aspect of human life…will be collateralized.” — www.theatlantic.com
The internet has always financialized our lives. Web3 just makes that explicit.
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