Pave Bank raises funding to build the future of regulated on-chain finance
Pave Bank, a commercial bank “built for the modern economy,” has raised more than USD 39 million in a funding round led by Accel, with participation from Tether Investments, Quona Capital, Wintermute, Helios Digital Ventures, Financial Technology Partners, Yolo Investments, Kazea Fund, and GC&H Investments.
The round brings the company’s total funding to over USD 44 million. The capital will be used to expand regulatory coverage, enhance product development, and scale client operations globally.
Founded on the premise that the future of finance will be both regulated and programmable, Pave Bank combines traditional banking with institutional-grade digital asset management. Its unified platform offers deposit accounts, foreign exchange liquidity, card issuance, and treasury management, alongside instant settlement and digital asset trading, all under a single compliance framework.
“The global financial system is moving towards regulated on-chain finance, and institutions need a trusted bridge between the old and the new,” said Salim Dhanani, co-founder and CEO of Pave Bank. “We have built a mulit-asset bank that merges the stability and prudential oversight of traditional finance with the automation, speed, and intelligence of digital assets.”
Endowus raises over USD 70 million to scale Asian wealth management platform
Endowus, a Singapore-headquartered digital wealth advisory platform, has raised more than USD 70 million in its latest funding round led by Illuminate Financial, with participation from Prosus Ventures, Citi Ventures, and several Asian family offices. The round includes a USD 20 million cash injection and the conversion of existing notes, bringing the company’s total funding to over USD 130 million to date.
The funds will be used to scale operations in Singapore and Hong Kong, where assets under management have surpassed USD 10 billion. Endowus will also invest in artificial intelligence to drive product innovation and expand its pension and B2B advisory services across Asia.
In a statement, the company said it will leverage lead investor Illuminate Financial’s expertise to deepen its wealth technology capabilities.
Hangry raises USD 10.5 million to strengthen its Indonesia expansion
Hangry, a Jakarta-based operator of “virtual” restaurants serving delivery-only orders, has raised USD 10.5 million in a Series A5 round led by Alpha JWC Ventures.
The funds will be used to expand operations across Indonesia, upgrade kitchen infrastructure, and enhance production efficiency.
“Hangry has demonstrated great execution in building a scalable, operations-driven F&B platform,” said Chandra Tjan, co-founder and general partner at Alpha JWC Ventures. “Their deep understanding of Indonesian consumers positions them strongly to become a leader in the next growth phase in the region.”
Building on its strong positioning in Indonesia, where it continues to expand across Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, and Bali, Hangry has begun preparing for international growth, targeting Malaysia as its first overseas market.
ChatCut secures USD 1.35 million to scale AI-powered video editor
ChatCut, a Singapore-based AI-driven video editing platform, has raised USD 1.35 million in a seed round led by ZhenFund, with participation from Antler.
The company’s platform can reportedly transform text prompts into professional video edits, reducing editing time significantly.
The new capital will support team expansion, infrastructure scaling, and product enhancements. ChatCut also plans to integrate advanced AI capabilities into its editor and expand into new markets.
Secai Marche secures USD 6 million to expand Southeast Asia operations
Secai Marche, a Tokyo-based farm-to-table logistics company with operations in Singapore and Malaysia, has raised JPY 910 million (USD 6 million) in its Series A round, per e27. The round was led by Kuroneko Innovation Fund II, managed by Global Brain and Yamato Holdings, and NX Global Innovation Fund, jointly managed by SBI Investment and Nippon Express Holdings.
The proceeds will be used to strengthen logistics and cold chain networks across Southeast Asia, expand product categories, and enhance technology systems for route optimization and real-time inventory management. The company also plans to grow its team and enter new regional markets.
Founded in 2019, Secai Marche connects producers directly with restaurants and retailers, reducing food waste through an integrated platform that manages order placement, inspection, packing, and delivery.
StraitsX receives USD 10 million investment to expand stablecoin settlement network
StraitsX, a Singapore-based developer of a stablecoin settlement layer under Fazz Financial Group, has received a USD 10 million investment from UQPay, with continued support from existing investor NTT Docomo.
The funds will support StraitsX’s expansion across Asia and integration of stablecoins into cross-border payments, enterprise APIs, and card programs. The company plans to enhance multi-currency connectivity, enabling real-time on- and off-ramps between stablecoins and fiat currencies for enterprises and financial institutions.
StraitsX will also introduce virtual and physical card programs in partnership with RedotPay and Visa to bridge Web3 and traditional finance.
Riverchain raises USD 5 million to bridge liquidity gaps in construction finance
Riverchain International, a Hong Kong-based fintech firm serving the construction sector, has raised USD 5 million in a Series A round led by Betatron Venture Group.
Founded in 2023, Riverchain provides working capital solutions for subcontractors facing liquidity constraints. The company reports having deployed over USD 100 million to fund 115 projects across Hong Kong, including the Northern Metropolis and Kai Tak Sports Park.
The new capital will support technology upgrades, market expansion across Southeast Asia, and scaling of its proprietary credit underwriting and distribution systems.
Recent deals completed in China:
- Cambricon, one of China’s leading AI chipmakers, has raised about RMB 4 billion (USD 560 million) through a private placement to advance chip development, according to Caixin Global. This is the company’s second major fundraising since going public and comes amid growing domestic demand following restrictions on Nvidia’s advanced chips.
- Joy Group, also known as Juyi Cosmetics, has acquired the Italian dermatological hair care brand Foltene. The deal includes all brand assets, distribution networks, supply chain systems, and Foltene’s research laboratory in Italy. Foltene is recognized for its clinically tested formulations that promote hair growth and repair across categories such as shampoos, serums, and nail essences.
- Sritpower, a lithium battery company, has raised nearly RMB 50 million (USD 7 million) in its Series B round from Haiheng Group. The company will use the funds to expand production capacity and advance product R&D. Founded in 2019, Sritpower develops proprietary cap-composite and packaging technologies that enable full localization across materials and processes. —36Kr
- AntomFusion, a fusion energy company, has secured close to RMB 100 million (USD 14 million) in its first funding round, backed by Legend Star, QF Capital, Vangoo Capital Partners, Daoyi Capital, and the Shuimu Tsinghua Alumni Seed Fund. The capital will support R&D of Z-pinch fusion systems and related experimental platforms. —36Kr
- Startime, an embodied intelligence startup, has completed a pre-Series A round co-led by Seine Ventures and Puhua Capital, with participation from Kexi Venture Capital. Profound Capital served as the financial advisor. The funds will drive the development of dexterous manipulation technologies, robotic hand systems, and team expansion. —36Kr
- Jitian Xingzhou, a developer of aerospace optical remote sensing payloads, has raised over RMB 100 million (USD 14 million) through its Series A and A+ rounds. The rounds were co-led by SR Capital and InnoVision Capital, with participation from CapitalLink, Soochow Securities, and Suzhou Capital Group. The proceeds will strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and cash flow reserves. —36Kr
- Rsemi, a developer of SerDes (serializer-deserializer) chips for automotive applications, has raised more than RMB 100 million (USD 14 million) in its Series A+ round, with continued support from existing investor Desay SV and participation from GP Capital. The funds will support mass production, supply chain development, and next-generation product R&D. —36Kr
- Aerospace Electric Propulsion Tech, a manufacturer of hybrid electric propulsion systems, has secured an eight-figure RMB sum in a Series A2 round led by China Capital Management, with continued backing from Addor Capital. The company will use the funds to enhance testing and production capacity. —36Kr
- Yuanxiang Technology, a materials startup focused on shape memory alloys, has closed a funding round led by Brizan Ventures, raising an eight-figure RMB sum at a valuation exceeding RMB 100 million. The investment will be used for team expansion, R&D, equipment procurement, and early market development. —36Kr
- Riltide Medicines, an AI-driven pharmaceutical startup, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in seed funding. NRL Capital led the round, with participation from Qingtan Investment. The proceeds will advance preclinical development of its core pipeline and AI-assisted molecular design platform targeting autoimmune diseases. —36Kr
Ryder, Verta, Xendit, and more made recent headlines:
- Ryder, a crypto technology company, has raised USD 3.2 million in a seed funding round led by Tim Draper, founder of Draper Associates and an early investor in Facebook, Tesla, and SpaceX. The round also saw participation from Anatoly Yakovenko, founder of Solana; Joe McCann of Asymmetric; and venture capital firms Borderless, Semantic, Smape, and VeryEarly.
- Verta Bioenergy, a Singapore-headquartered climate tech startup, secured SGD 1.1 million in seed funding from various investors including Engine Factory, Wright Partners, AlphaGen VC, Auravia Capital, and Jun Umali (Manila Angel Investors Network).
- Xendit, a payments infrastructure company, has acquired and integrated Payex, a Bank Negara Malaysia-licensed payment gateway.
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