Accelerated push for 100% tokenization and seamless authentication in Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam by 2027

SINGAPORE, Nov. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — At the Singapore FinTech Festival, Mastercard announced its ambition to make online shopping across Asia Pacific password-free and number-free by 2030. While more than a third of Mastercard transactions worldwide are already tokenized, achieving that vision in the world’s largest and fastest-growing e-commerce market — projected to exceed USD 7 trillion by 2030^[1] — will require collective action.

That’s why Mastercard is rallying banks, merchants, digital wallets, and technology partners to enable secure, tokenized payments powered by biometric authentication. This eliminates manual card entry and static passwords, making checkout faster and safer for consumers.

Building on progress in India—where Mastercard worked with regulators, banks, and merchants to deliver near-complete tokenization for e-commerce—the next phase targets full adoption in Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam by 2027. These markets are driving Southeast Asia’s rapid digitization, with digital payments expected to account for 94% of e-commerce transactions in a market worth USD 325 billion by 2028^[2].

As online shopping accelerates, so do its challenges. Card-not-present fraud remains seven times higher than in-store ^[3], with global losses expected to surpass USD 100 billion by 2029^[4]. Meanwhile, eight in 10^[5] shoppers abandon their carts, nearly half citing checkout frustration. Mastercard’s answer: replace passwords and card numbers with secure tokens and on-device biometrics, reducing friction through Click to Pay and building trust across every device and platform.

Proof in Every Transaction

Where tokenization is live, approval rates have risen by up to 6%, generating more than USD 2 billion in additional sales each month for merchants ^[6]. The impact is tangible:

• Merchants see faster, more reliable checkouts and stronger security, leading to higher customer satisfaction and increased sales.
• Consumers enjoy one-step payments with no forgotten passwords or declines.
• Digital wallets integrate seamlessly, offering users simpler, safer payments at over 150 million Mastercard-accepted merchants worldwide.

“The vision is simple: no passwords, no manual card entry, no friction,” said Sandeep Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Core Payments, Asia Pacific, Mastercard. “By uniting the industry, Mastercard is accelerating adoption of tokenization and payment passkeys to create a single, secure experience for password-free payments. As a result, approval rates are rising, fraud is falling, and millions of shoppers are enjoying faster, safer checkouts. Partners who join this movement will help shape the future of intelligent commerce in Asia Pacific.”

The Next Paradigm Shift

Just as payments once moved from cash to digital, the next evolution is from digital to intelligent — powered by AI, data, and connected networks. Advances in tokenization and authentication are paving the way for agentic commerce, where trusted digital assistants shop and pay securely on behalf of consumers. Tokenization and passkeys aren’t the finish line; they’re the foundation for a smarter, more secure future that will unlock new possibilities for people and businesses alike.

Building on Global Momentum

This regional roadmap builds on Mastercard’s global launch of its Payment Passkey Service in India, where the company partnered with leading banks and merchants to debut device-based biometric checkout for millions of shoppers. That success proved how passkeys can boost both security and simplicity — now setting the stage for Mastercard’s 2030 vision across Asia Pacific.

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Consensus SALT Hong Kong Institutional Summit set for February 10, 2026, uniting world’s leading asset managers and capital allocators

HONG KONG and NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CoinDesk, the leading media, events, indices, and data platform for the global crypto economy, and SALT, a premier community of institutional investors, creators and thought leaders, today announced a strategic partnership to launch the Consensus x SALT Hong Kong Institutional Summit. The summit will take place on February 10, 2026 at the Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong, one day before the main exhibition days of Consensus Hong Kong, the world’s largest and longest-serving event for crypto, AI and blockchain.

Independently, both SALT and CoinDesk’s Consensus events attract key decision-makers actively evaluating frontier technologies and allocating capital to the digital asset ecosystem. By combining forces, the organizations will unite the most influential institutional investors, asset managers and capital allocators in the world under one banner at one event.

The Consensus x SALT Hong Kong Institutional Summit will draw an international investor audience, with a significant focus on the APAC region, making it an invaluable hub for learning, business development, capital allocation and peer-to-peer networking. Operating under strict Chatham House Rule, the Summit is designed for high-level engagement that includes: a proprietary meeting app, one-on-one meetings, expert-led roundtables, and keynotes from the most important leaders in crypto.

Anthony Scaramucci, Founder and Chairman of SALT, said “Digital asset investments are now firmly on the menu for global institutional asset allocators, following a year of tremendous regulatory progress. As significant fund allocators ourselves, we take pride in helping fellow investors navigate the crypto landscape. We look forward to working with CoinDesk and Consensus, the oldest and most prestigious conference brand in digital finance, to deliver Asia’s premier institutional platform. Consensus Hong Kong has instantly become a must-attend event, and we look forward to taking the institutional track to the next level.”

“Institutional participation has been a defining narrative for digital assets. Our partnership with SALT combines two unparalleled networks of preeminent asset allocators and owners to create the premier institutional gathering the market has been demanding. I’m excited to bring the world’s most significant decision-makers and capital allocators together under one roof, especially in the global financial hub of Hong Kong,” said Michael Lau, Chairman of Consensus.

The partnership builds on momentum from Consensus Hong Kong’s sold-out 2025 debut, which drew nearly 10,000 attendees from 102 countries – representing more than $4T in combined AUM – and generated an estimated HK$275M in economic impact for Hong Kong.

For more information or to apply to attend the Consensus x SALT Hong Kong Institutional Summit, please visit our website.

About SALT
SALT is a community of the world’s foremost investors, creators and thinkers. Our mission is to drive prosperity and innovation by connecting investment capital with intellectual capital. We achieve our mission by helping Institutional Investors (from sovereign wealth funds and government pensions to endowments and foundations to family offices and financial advisors) identify and connect with differentiated Asset Managers (from hedge funds to venture capital to private equity/credit) and Company Founders (from fintech to deep tech to climate tech). SALT was founded in 2009 by SkyBridge Capital, a leading fund of funds, but now operates as a standalone entity.

About Consensus
Consensus by CoinDesk is the world’s longest-running and most influential gathering for the crypto, blockchain and AI industries. Bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and innovators, it helps people understand the future of digital assets with discussions on key topics such as DeFi, Web3, AI, the evolving regulatory landscape and more. With a mix of panels, keynotes and networking opportunities, Consensus provides a platform to explore the latest trends shaping the digital economy. For more information about Consensus, please visit https://events.coindesk.com/

About CoinDesk
CoinDesk is the most trusted media, events, indices and data company for the global crypto economy. Since 2013, CoinDesk Media has led the story of the future of money and investing, illuminating the transformation in society and culture that comes with it. Part of Bullish Group (NYSE: BLSH), CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. Our award-winning team of journalists delivers news and unparalleled insights that bring transparency, comprehension and context. CoinDesk gathers the global crypto, blockchain and Web3 communities at annual events such as Consensus, the world’s largest and longest-running crypto festival. For more information, please visit CoinDesk.com.

Use of Websites to Distribute Material Company Information
We use the Bullish Investor Relations website (investors.bullish.com) and our X account (x.com/bullish) to publicize information relevant to investors, including information that may be deemed material, in addition to filings we make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and press releases. We encourage investors to regularly review the information posted on our website and X account in addition to our SEC filings and press releases to be informed of the latest developments.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Sentences containing words such as “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “expect,” “should,” “could,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” or their negatives, or other similar expressions of a future or forward-looking nature generally should be considered forward-looking statements and include, without limitation, statements relating to future events or Bullish’s future financial or operating performance, business strategy, and potential market opportunity. Such forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Bullish, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause results to differ from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited, to our ability to grow our business and operations, including in new geographic locations, the costs or expenditures associated therewith, competition in our industry, and the evolving rules and regulations applicable to digital assets and our industry. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, and Bullish undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements.

TOKYO, Nov. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LRQA hosted a high-impact seminar in Tokyo featuring Matt Gantley, CEO of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), to examine the evolving role of certification bodies amid growing global complexity.

The event welcomed around 80 professionals from quality, sustainability, and ESG domains. Speakers shared insights on international certification trends, upcoming ISO standard revisions, and actionable strategies to navigate emerging sustainability regulations.

Opening the session, Yasushi Horikawa, LRQA’s Japan General Manager, introduced the organization’s refreshed brand positioning and emphasized the critical role of certification bodies in helping businesses adapt to rapid change.

In his keynote, Matt Gantley clarified the distinction between accreditation and certification, highlighting UKAS’s role in safeguarding the integrity of global systems. He underscored that certification is foundational to international trade and a strategic lever for organizations aiming to enhance competitiveness. Gantley encouraged businesses to view certification bodies not just as compliance enablers, but as trusted partners in sustainable growth.

The seminar’s second session featured Satoshi Takeda, Service Delivery Manager, LRQA, who provided an update on the forthcoming revisions to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, expected in 2026. He outlined key changes and offered guidance on how organizations can prepare for a smooth transition.

Kazuyori Yukinaka, Lead Verifier for LRQA, concluded the event with a comprehensive overview of Japan’s inaugural sustainability disclosure standards from the Sustainability Standards Board of Japan (SSBJ). He also addressed global developments such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Japan’s GX League emissions trading scheme, offering practical advice on building resilient systems and ensuring ESG data integrity.

This seminar reaffirmed LRQA’s commitment to empowering organizations to transform risk into opportunity and drive sustainable progress through trusted assurance and risk management solutions.

About LRQA

From certification and cybersecurity to safety, sustainability and supply chain resilience, LRQA works with clients to identify risks across their business. We design smart, scalable solutions, built around your business – tailored to help you prepare, prevent and protect against risk. Our innovative risk management portfolio helps shape a stronger and more secure future for your business. With decades of sector-specific expertise, data-driven insight and on-the-ground teams across assurance, certification, inspection, advisory and training, we support over 61,000 clients in more than 150 countries.

For more information, visit https://www.lrqa.com/

Media Contact

Hasan Surve
Regional Marketing Manager – APAC, LRQA
hasan.surve@lrqa.com 
https://www.lrqa.com 

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– Secures Core Technological Capabilities Through Acquisition of SK powertech, Aims to Provide Process Technology by End of 2025 –

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SK keyfoundry, an 8-inch pure-play foundry in Korea, announced that it is accelerating the development of SiC (Silicon Carbide)-based compound power semiconductor technology, bolstering its efforts into the global power semiconductor market. Leveraging its advanced manufacturing expertise and extensive intellectual property (IP) portfolio across the semiconductor manufacturing process, the company has recently acquired SK powertech, a key player with core competencies in the SiC sector — a move that is expected to further strengthen its technological competitiveness.

SK keyfoundry has accumulated a wide range of process optimization technologies and know-how for yield improvement based on its deep manufacturing expertise from wafer fabrication to back-end operations. Through this acquisition, SK keyfoundry has secured SK powertech’s SiC processes and design technologies, which is expected to generate a peerless synergy in the SiC-based compound semiconductor sector. With the acquisition of SK powertech, recognized domestically for its rare commercialized SiC power devices and core process technologies, SK keyfoundry has solidly established a foundation for technological self-reliance in the SiC power semiconductor field.

Building on this foundation, SK keyfoundry is accelerating the development with the goal of providing SiC MOSFET 1200V process technologies by the end of 2025 and launching SiC-based power semiconductor foundry business in the first half of 2026. In particular, the company plans to expand its process technology, focusing on high-voltage and high-efficiency applications such as electric vehicle powertrain systems, industrial power converters, and renewable energy inverters. To achieve this, SK keyfoundry is strengthening its process optimization and reliability evaluation process, while also establishing a dedicated team to provide customized SiC solutions.

In recent years, global demand for compound power semiconductors, including SiC, has been rapidly growing. Adoption of SiC is accelerating across industries where energy efficiency has become a key competitive factor, such as electric vehicles, Energy Storage System (ESS), 5G infrastructure, and data centers. According to market research firm Omdia, the global SiC market is expected to grow at a robust annual rate of over 24% from 2025 to 2030. Amid these market shifts, SK keyfoundry aims to position the SiC-based power semiconductor sector as its next-generation growth engine and expand collaboration with domestic and international customers to increase its global market share. 

“The acquisition of SK powertech, a specialist in SiC, marked a pivotal step for SK keyfoundry in securing its own distinctive technological edge in the compound semiconductor field,” said Derek D. Lee, CEO of SK keyfoundry. “By combining the core development capabilities of both companies and launching high-efficiency SiC power semiconductor process technologies and products, SK keyfoundry aims to establish differentiated technological leadership in the rapidly growing global market for high-voltage and high-efficiency compound semiconductor applications.”

About SK keyfoundry

Headquartered in Korea, SK keyfoundry provides specialty Analog and Mixed-Signal foundry services for semiconductor companies to serve a wide range of applications in the consumer, communications, computing, automotive and industrial industries. With a broad range of technology portfolios and process nodes, SK keyfoundry has the flexibility and capability to meet the ever-evolving needs of semiconductor companies across the globe. Please visit https://www.skkeyfoundry.com for more information.