Fintech PR
GCash marks 20 years of pioneering digital financial inclusion in the Philippines and beyond
The Philippines’ top finance super app makes history as country’s only $5 billion unicorn
MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Rooted in its mission to democratize financial services, GCash, the leading finance app in the Philippines, celebrates 20 years of commitment to digital financial inclusion as the nation’s first unicorn with a valuation exceeding $5 billion. This milestone highlights GCash’s global influence and its role in empowering users in the Philippines and across the world.
By consistently delivering innovative and accessible financial solutions, GCash stands out as one of the few financially sustainable fintech companies worldwide, dedicated to bridging the financial divide for underserved communities.
Key investments from Ayala Corporation, one of the Philippines’ largest and most diversified conglomerates, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Japan’s leading financial institution, have more than doubled GCash’s valuation from $2 billion in 2021. This recent funding round, which saw Ayala and MUFG each acquire an additional 8% stake in Mynt, the parent company of GCash, further solidifies GCash’s position as a trailblazer in financial inclusion across Southeast Asia.
“These past 20 years, we have made strides to provide more Filipinos with access to financial services. Now, we want to take it a step further and be their partner towards financial health and wellness,” GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon said. “Encouraged by the vision set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the United Nations towards digital financial inclusion, we will keep innovating to help Filipinos thrive everyday, be ready for a rainy day, and prepare for one day.”
Redefining financial access
Since its inception, GCash has prioritized how technological innovations can help promote financial inclusion. Before the pandemic, only 29% had bank accounts, less than 1% had access to investments, and 2% held credit cards. With 47% of the population still unbanked, GCash leveraged digital tools to significantly broaden access to digital financial services. Beyond basic transactions, the finance super app offers innovative in-app credit services and affordable lending products like GCredit, GLoan, and GGives and has disbursed PHP 155 billion to 5.4 million unique borrowers, including underserved segments.
In wealth management and insurance, GFunds has on boarded 6.6 million users and handles 3 in 4 UITF transactions. Meanwhile, GStocks represents 1 in 5 PSE accounts with 682,000 users and GInsure protects 7.8 million Filipinos with 28 million policies sold, making investment products and financial protection more inclusive and responsive to the needs of Filipinos.
Financial empowerment across the Philippines and beyond
GCash’s influence extends far beyond the country, solidifying its position as a global player in fintech. Through international remittance services, GCash Overseas, and Global Pay, GCash caters to the needs of millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and provides seamless financial services across borders. GCash Overseas allows Filipinos abroad to create GCash accounts using their international mobile numbers and send money back home, pay bills, and more from 16 countries and territories. Meanwhile, Global Pay enables Filipinos to use their GCash app in 47 countries at over 3 million merchants worldwide. This global expansion has also allowed GCash to become the second most-used finance app in the UAE, underscoring its global relevance.
GCash’s services have not only increased the number of accounts but also redefined the demographics of financial inclusion. In fact, 90% of GCash users come from lower-income classes, 57% are women, and 74% reside outside Metro Manila. This inclusivity is a testament to GCash’s commitment to being a “champion of digital financial inclusion,” helping Filipinos thrive in their everyday lives, wherever they are.
A sustainable and inclusive future for all
Beyond financial inclusion, GCash is also committed to environmental and social sustainability, making it one of the few financially sustainable fintech companies globally. Through its GForest initiative, GCash has mobilized 17 million users to plant over 2.8 million trees, reducing carbon emissions by 138,000 metric tons. This reforestation effort not only contributes to environmental conservation but also provides livelihoods for over 8,600 farmers.
By continually evolving and expanding its offerings, GCash is poised to solidify its status as a leader in the global fintech arena, driving transformative change that not only helps Filipinos thrive every day but also enhances the broader financial ecosystem beyond the Philippine borders.
About GCash
GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. Its mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion unicorn in the Philippines.
GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.
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DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — StockGro, India’s leading platform for experiential financial education, has joined hands with the Global Indian International School (GIIS) Dubai to equip students in grades 9 to 12 with essential financial skills. This partnership marks StockGro’s second major collaboration in the UAE, reinforcing its expansion into the GCC region.
As GIIS’s financial literacy partner, StockGro has integrated its innovative curriculum into the school’s academic framework. Through expert-led sessions conducted every alternate month, students gain insights into financial concepts, stock market basics, and strategic investment approaches, fostering critical thinking and real-world application.
A standout feature of the partnership is the stock market learning programs which consist of model portfolio exercises for grades 9 to 12. These stock market portfolio management activities allow students to apply their knowledge in a risk-free, real-world environment, building confidence and practical understanding of trading and investments.
Ajay Lakhotia, Founder & CEO of StockGro, said, “This collaboration bridges the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, preparing students to make informed financial decisions. It reflects StockGro’s dedication to empowering the next generation with tools to navigate real-world financial challenges.”
Ms. Rajani Manikonda , Supervisor of Senior Secondary School, GIIS Dubai, remarked, “Empowering students with financial literacy is essential in today’s interconnected world. This partnership with StockGro introduces our learners to the intricacies of financial management in an engaging, practical manner, ensuring they develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in the global economy.”
By partnering with one of Dubai’s top Indian international schools, StockGro strengthens its foundation for future collaborations in the UAE and GCC region, advancing its mission to revolutionize financial education on a global scale.
About StockGro
StockGro is a leading experiential social learning platform for trading and investments, trusted by more than 35 million users worldwide. It has successfully empowered students across 1100+ prestigious educational institutions with immersive financial learning experiences. Through this collaboration, StockGro continues its mission of fostering financial literacy and practical education for the next generation.
StockGro invites educational institutions across the GCC region to join hands in fostering a financially literate world. Write to us at [email protected] so we can empower the next generation with essential life skills together.
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GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — China’s ETF market demonstrated exceptional performance in 2024, with notable returns and substantial growth in assets under management. According to Wind, the average return of A-share ETFs (excl. ETFs launched in 2024) reached 11.36% for the year by December 31, and the total size of A-share ETF market reached USD 5.1 trillion, a net increase of USD 2.3 trillion from year-begin. Notably, CSI 300 ETF (Code: 510310), ChiNext ETF (Code: 159915), and Star 50 ETF (Code: 588080) managed by E Fund Management (“E Fund”), the largest mutual fund manager in China, ranked among the top ten in asset growth, underlining the company’s strong position in the industry.
A Two-Decade Journey of Growth
Since the launch of the first domestic ETF in December 2004, China’s ETF market has expanded significantly. This growth is not only marked by an increase in assets but also by an acceleration in ETF issuance. In 2024, 30 fund companies launched 156 new ETFs, with E Fund leading the market by introducing 14 new products – the most among all issuers.
Over the years, the ETF market has evolved from focusing primarily on broad-based indices to offering a diverse range of products across sectors, asset classes, and themes. These innovations have broadened investment opportunities, providing both institutional and retail investors with low-cost, transparent, and flexible tools to achieve their financial goals.
The Push for Low-Cost Investing
In 2024, Chinese fund companies accelerated the trend of reducing management fees, particularly for broad-based ETFs. Leading the charge is E Fund, which has long been a pioneer in promoting cost-efficient investing. As early as 2015, E Fund set a market precedent by lowering the management fee of its flagship CSI 300 ETF (Code: 510310) from 0.5% to 0.2%, and further reduced it to 0.15% in 2019.
E Fund’s leadership in low-fee strategy is further exemplified by its extensive product range, nearly 50 ETF products offering the lowest management fee of 0.15%, accounting for 60% of its ETF portfolio.
Shaping the Future of China’s ETF Market
With over 80 ETFs under management and total assets exceeding USD 83.7 billion, E Fund continues to innovate by offering a broad range of low-cost, high-efficiency investment solutions.
As China’s ETF market evolves and expands, E Fund remains at the forefront, driving innovation and setting new standards for accessibility and efficiency. The rapid growth in 2024 underscores not only the increasing popularity of ETFs but also their critical role in shaping the future of China’s investment landscape.
About E Fund
Established in 2001, E Fund Management Co., Ltd. (“E Fund”) is a leading comprehensive mutual fund manager in China with over RMB 3.5 trillion (USD 505 billion) under management.* It offers investment solutions to onshore and offshore clients, helping clients achieve long-term sustainable investment performances. E Fund’s clients include both individuals and institutions, ranging from central banks, sovereign wealth funds, social security funds, pension funds, insurance and reinsurance companies, to corporates and banks. Long-term oriented, it has been focusing on the investment management business since inception and believes in the power of in-depth research and time in investing. It is a pioneer and leading practitioner in responsible investments in China and is widely recognized as one of the most trusted and outstanding Chinese asset managers.
Source: E Fund. AuM includes subsidiaries. Data as of Sep 30, 2024. FX rate is sourced from PBoC.
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Fintech PR
HTX 2025 Outlook: Five Sectors to Look Forward to, and How Trump’s Policy Will Affect Crypto Industry
SINGAPORE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The year 2024 marks a significant chapter in the history of the crypto industry, where we witnessed continuous breakthroughs in blockchain technology, surges in Bitcoin price, and a gradually more open regulatory environment, with cryptocurrencies gaining increasing recognition from the mainstream. As 2025 unfolds, HTX, the world’s leading digital asset exchange, has released its latest report, HTX 2024 Global Web3 Blockchain Ecosystem Review and 2025 Outlook, which provides forward-looking insights into the development prospects of the crypto industry.
Key Sectors for 2025
In the report, HTX highlighted five key sectors that showed encouraging progress last year, and will continue to closely monitor these areas in 2025.
Bitcoin Ecosystem
In 2024, Bitcoin’s market dominance kept increasing, solidifying its position as the core asset, with spot ETFs acting as liquidity channels, and U.S. listed companies such as MicroStrategy (MSTR) serving as the vehicles to absorb unlimited dollar liquidity.
As a result, it is increasingly essential to further develop Bitcoin’s ecosystem and enhance capital utilization efficiency. With strong support from macro markets and infrastructure support, a further surge in Bitcoin demand over the next two years is well-anticipated.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure remained a cornerstone in 2024’s crypto investments and funding. The synergy between capital and technology has driven the rapid development of Layer 1, Layer 2, and middleware projects, among others.
Layer 1 solutions, in particular, now represent the focal point of technical development and exploration within the crypto space, and it is expected to remain a priority for development resources and capital investment in the future.
Meme Coins
The Meme coin sector emerged as a hotspot in 2024, fostering community consensus while integrating with fields like DeFi and GameFi to create new use cases. As the crypto market environment grows increasingly favorable, more retail investors are expected to enter the market, positioning Meme projects as vital channels for capital inflows.
AI
In 2024, the intersection of Crypto and AI sector has been driving the exploration of several segmented fields, the hottest one of which is AI agents. In the future, AI agents will gradually become personal butlers and assistants for users, serving them with comprehensive capabilities. Over time, they may develop unique cultures and religions.
This deep integration of AI and encryption technology is a groundbreaking evolution that is unattainable within Web2 and cannot be achieved by Web3 relying solely on encryption technology.
TON Ecosystem
Attributable to Telegram’s hundreds of millions of users and robust technical support, the TON ecosystem achieved significant milestones in various fields, pioneering the monetization of Web2 social applications through crypto. Moving into 2025, it needs to explore and find new business models to improve user retention and identify its next growth curve.
Donald Trump Effect: Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Worth Anticipating
The report also discusses the potential impact of crypto-friendly policies that could arise after Donald Trump takes office. Two important bills, the FIT21 Act and the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act, are likely to pass more quickly thanks to him.
The FIT21 Act aims to create a clear legal framework for token issuance and trading by classifying tokens as digital assets or digital commodities, transferring the regulatory responsibilities of many blockchain projects from the SEC to the CFTC, and introducing a safe harbor mechanism. This would help standardize and promote the healthy growth of the entire industry.
The Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act, aligning with Trump’s campaign promises, if passed, would mark Bitcoin’s transition from a niche asset to a nationally recognized reserve asset, greatly enhancing its legitimacy and recognition. It may also prompt other countries to adopt similar measures to further advance Bitcoin’s global recognition and application.
The Act was submitted to Congress for deliberation on August 4, 2024, and referred to the Senate Banking Committee for review. Trump is well-positioned to push this bill through. Meanwhile, several U.S. states have already proposed their own Bitcoin Strategic Reserve bills. By 2025, Bitcoin as a strategic reserve may become a reality.
Additionally, under Trump’s presidency, the SAB121 Act is likely to be repealed, allowing traditional financial institutions to hold cryptocurrencies on their balance sheets, further accelerating the institutionalization of crypto assets and contributing to the overall maturity of the crypto market. The SEC’s application criteria of the Howey Test may also be relaxed, increasing the likelihood of more spot crypto ETFs being approved and more public listings of crypto companies.
Meanwhile, the report also provides a comprehensive summary of 2024, looking back on the key events that had a major impact on the crypto industry while summing up what HTX had achieved over the last year.
To learn more, please visit: https://square.htx.com/htx-2024-global-web3-blockchain-ecosystem-review-and-2025-outlook/
About HTX
Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.
As a world-leading gateway to Web3, we harbor global capabilities that enable us to provide users with safe and reliable services.
Our growth strategy – “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance”, underpins our commitment to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.
Contact Details
Ruder Finn Asia
[email protected]
Company Website
https://www.htx.com
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