Klickl, WeBank and Goldford Group Partner to Drive Cross-Regional Fintech Innovation
The agreement sets out to create a cross-regional fintech innovation alliance connecting Mainland China, Hong Kong, and the Middle East.
The MoU was signed during an official visit to Qatar by a delegation from Hong Kong and Mainland China, led by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee.
This collaboration represents the first structured initiative linking fintech ecosystems across the Greater Bay Area and the Middle East.
Klickl contributes its regulatory knowledge and experience in Web3 financial services within the Gulf region.
WeBank provides technological expertise from Mainland China, while Goldford Group supports integration across Hong Kong's innovation landscape.
The alliance will focus on several areas including the development of a blockchain and AI incubation platform, support for startup acceleration between Asia and the Middle East, delivery of next-generation financial services for cross-border applications, digital transformation support for traditional financial institutions, localisation of fintech solutions for Gulf markets, and the exploration of quantum technology for financial use cases.
'This partnership is more than symbolic, it is strategic,'
said Michael Zhao, Founder and CEO of Klickl.
'As the only homegrown Web3 financial services provider in the region, we are proud to help bridge capital, compliance, and technology across three economic hubs. This alliance reflects not only our infrastructure readiness, but also the trust we've built with institutions across Asia and the Middle East.'
Klickl is licensed by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) under its Financial Services Permission (FSP) and holds Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration in the European Union.
The firm provides Web3-native financial services including digital wallets (Klickl4U), institutional accounts (KlicklONE), payment infrastructure (KlicklPay), stablecoin services, asset custody, and trading infrastructure.
It has also participated in official economic delegations to Malaysia, Poland, and Japan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Dow set to open at record high on rate-cut hopes, UnitedHealth gains
The blue-chip Dow was on track to open at a record high on Friday, underpinned by expectations of an interest rate cut in September and gains in UnitedHealth's shares after Berkshire Hathaway raised its stake in the health insurer. Futures tracking the tech-heavy Nasdaq were slightly off as chip stocks weakened after Applied Materials warned of weak China demand. UnitedHealth Group jumped 11.5% in premarket trading after Warren Buffett's company revealed a new investment in the health insurer, while a securities filing showed Michael Burry's Scion Asset Management included bullish positions in the company. Rising costs in the broader healthcare sector and an about 46% slump in heavyweight UnitedHealth's shares this year have left the Dow lagging its Wall Street peers on the road to record highs. The price-weighted index last scaled an all-time high on December 4. This week, however, the healthcare sector is the top performer on the benchmark S&P 500 and is on track for its best weekly performance in three. Other insurers also gained, with Elevance up 4.2%, Centene rising 2.9% and Molina adding 3.7% before the bell on Friday. More broadly, the main U.S. stock indexes are on track for their second week of gains, buoyed by expectations that the Fed could restart its monetary policy easing cycle with a 25-basis-point interest rate cut in September. The central bank last lowered borrowing costs in December and said U.S. tariffs could add to price pressures. However, recent labor market weakness and signs that tariff-induced inflation was yet to reflect in headline consumer prices have made investors confident of a potential dovish move next month. "A 25bps rate cut is still almost fully priced in although it has put a dampener on tentative expectations that the Fed could deliver an even larger 50bps rate cut like last September," analysts at MUFG said in a note. "Market participants are still confident that the Fed will resume rate cuts in response to weakness in the labor market and the lack of pass through so far to consumer prices from higher tariffs as evident in this week's CPI report." At 07:16 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 303 points, or 0.67%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 9.25 points, or 0.14%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 19.25 points, or 0.08%. Focus will now be on July retail sales data, due later in the day, and the University of Michigan's report on consumer confidence, for clues on the health of the American consumer. Among other stocks, Applied Materials tumbled 14.1% after the chip equipment maker issued weak fourth-quarter forecasts on sluggish China demand, fueling concerns over tariff-related risks. Shares of other chip equipment makers such as KLA and Lam Research lost 5.8% and 5%, respectively. Intel rose 2.7% on the heels of a 20% gain this week after a report said the Trump administration was in talks with the struggling chipmaker for the U.S. government to potentially take a stake in the company. On the commodities front, crude prices slipped to around $65 a barrel with attention on a meeting in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that markets hope could pave the way for a resolution to the Ukraine conflict. The meeting will take place at 1900 GMT. (Reporting by Johann M Cherian and Sanchayaita Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE visa, bank accounts included as digital creator licence launched in RAK
Ras Al Khaimah Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO) has introduced the UAE's first Digital Creator Licence, designed uniquely for influencers, streamers, and educators. This licence offers a comprehensive business setup that includes a licence, visa, and a bank account, all specifically tailored to the needs of digital content creators, through a partnership with the Web3-based platform Lyvely. Licence holders gain an official business setup, benefiting from zero corporate and personal income tax, 100 per cent foreign ownership, and access to RAK DAO's ecosystem of partnerships, networking, and support services. Paul Dawalibi, CEO of RAK DAO, stated that the license addresses one of the creators' biggest barriers to credibility in the eyes of banks, brands, and investors. 'We wanted to give them a legal wrapper so they can be taken seriously. This is about turning what many see as a side hustle into a recognised, sophisticated business,' he said. RAK DAO is a free zone in the UAE dedicated to supporting companies in the digital and virtual asset space. It is designed to foster innovation in sectors such as blockchain, Web3, NFTs, and DAOs, offering a supportive legal framework, business licensing, and access to resources for companies in these industries. Unlike other free zone licenses, the Digital Creator License is built for digital content creation. Creators on Lyvely's platform get full business ownership, legal independence, and access to benefits usually reserved for standard RAK DAO businesses. The licence addresses common challenges like banking and partnerships, and opens up new ways to earn money that generic licences do not offer. The licence enables creators to diversify their income, secure brand deals, launch services, and control their earnings and intellectual property as a legitimate business. The application is fast and simple: creators sign up on Lyvely, then complete a streamlined setup with RAK DAO, often becoming licensed and banked within days. Applicants worldwide receive the same tax and ownership benefits as UAE-based businesses, along with the added convenience of operating in free zones. 'This license expands the universe of possibilities for creators,' Dawalibi added. 'They can operate globally, open new revenue streams, and take control of their professional futures, all with the credibility and advantages that come from being a legitimate business.' Why Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah offers a cost of living that's nearly half that of Dubai, plus tax-free advantages. As Dawalibi explains, while Dubai shares some of these benefits, its high living costs typically mean that only top executives relocate there, while most developers and workers remain in different countries. In contrast, Dawalibi highlights that RAK's affordability makes it practical for companies to bring entire teams, including developers, together in one place, rather than keeping them spread out internationally due to high costs.
Arabian Post
4 days ago
- Arabian Post
Open-Source AGI Network ‘The GRID' Debuts
Sentient has rolled out The GRID, an open-source network for artificial general intelligence enabling developers to build, share and monetise AI agents. The launch introduces a decentralised alternative to closed AI platforms such as OpenAI, offering token-based monetisation and interoperability across Web2, Web3 and multiple blockchain ecosystems. At launch, The GRID presents over 40 AI agents, 50 data sources and more than 10 distinct models. Developers gain access through Sentient Chat, allowing them to integrate tools such as Napkin, a generative graphics engine, and Exa, a search service, while deploying blockchain-linked agents across platforms including Base, Polygon and Arbitrum. Himanshu Tyagi, a co-founder of Sentient, described The GRID as 'the world's largest collection of open-source intelligence, and the economic rails that allow it to scale.' He emphasised that it is not merely a 'better app store for AI' but foundational infrastructure aimed at making open-source AI viable over the long term. A standout feature of the network is its interoperability: agents within The GRID can share memory and coordinate tasks in real time. This aims to mitigate fragmentation in enterprise AI, where disconnected 'assistant' systems often struggle to communicate effectively. Earlier this year, Sentient secured approximately $85 million in seed funding co-led by Founders Fund, Pantera Capital and Framework Ventures, underlining investor confidence in its mission to create a community-owned, open-source AGI ecosystem. The company's broader strategy centres on the Open, Monetisable, Loyal framework, a cryptographic incentive model designed to ensure AI models are open, monetisable by contributors and remain loyal to their communities. Sentient's protocol supports tokenisation, model fingerprinting and revenue sharing, all governed through decentralized mechanisms including DAOs. In a significant development reinforcing The GRID's commitment to secure and trustworthy AI, Sentient has partnered with Billions, a token-based digital identity verification platform. The partnership aims to embed sybil-resistant, reputation-based trust mechanisms into the agent economy, ensuring The GRID serves real users and not bots or malicious actors. Himanshu Tyagi noted the necessity of such a system for safe and equitable AI deployment. Sentient's vision stands in marked contrast to the closed-source AGI systems championed by major tech firms. It posits AGI as a network of specialised intelligences—agents and models built by the community—going beyond centralised control to foster a decentralised AI economy. Notice an issue? Arabian Post strives to deliver the most accurate and reliable information to its readers. If you believe you have identified an error or inconsistency in this article, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at editor[at]thearabianpost[dot]com. We are committed to promptly addressing any concerns and ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity. ADVERTISEMENT
