DA NANG, Vietnam, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange serving over 41 million users across more than 200 regions, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Assets Association (VBA) and 1Matrix Joint Stock Company (1Matrix). This landmark agreement marks a pivotal step in KuCoin’s commitment to fostering innovation in emerging markets to accelerate blockchain infrastructure, digital asset applications, and the nation’s digital economy.

This collaboration positions KuCoin as a key pioneer in Vietnam’s crypto landscape, drawing on its global expertise to deliver tailored solutions. The initiative introduces actionable advancements, including pilot trading platforms, digital payment solutions, electronic identity systems, and international-standard risk management tools. By merging KuCoin’s cutting-edge technology with 1Matrix’s local expertise and VBA’s policy advocacy, it sets a new benchmark for localized blockchain development, directly supporting Vietnam’s National Blockchain Strategy (2025–2030) and elevating the country’s role in digital innovation.

Under the MoU, KuCoin will lead the transfer of advanced technology and best practices, empowering local innovation while upholding top security standards. 1Matrix will oversee domestic infrastructure and resources, while VBA will facilitate policy advocacy, standardization, and community outreach. This tripartite model fosters a transparent, sustainable digital financial ecosystem, enabling Vietnamese startups to access international markets and promote economic inclusion and growth.

Damen Chen, Vice President and Head of Group Commercial, shared his enthusiasm: “Vietnam is emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic hubs for blockchain and digital assets, fueled by a young, creative, and tech-savvy community ready to pioneer global innovations. Through this strategic partnership with VBA and 1Matrix, KuCoin is excited to co-develop blockchain technology and commit to long-term collaboration in building community trust, advancing digital asset education, and nurturing Vietnam’s blockchain startup ecosystem. Our shared goal is to create a transparent, secure, and internationally competitive market, elevating Vietnam as a pivotal landmark on the global blockchain map.”

This partnership highlights KuCoin’s dedication to security, transparency, and compliance—core pillars of its trusted reputation. As Chen noted in his recent address at Da Nang Finance and Tech Week, KuCoin prioritizes real-time order book data, regular proof-of-reserves reporting, and independent audits to combat fake volumes and ensure accountability. Among the first exchanges to mandate KYC and AML standards globally, KuCoin engages in regulatory consultations, sandboxes, and policy development. In Vietnam, KuCoin Labs and KuCoin Ventures are investing in early-stage projects and partnering with universities and communities to build talent and drive adoption in tokenization and DeFi.

Mr. Phan Duc Trung, Chairman of VBA and 1Matrix, praised the tripartite cooperation, emphasizing its role in boosting the digital asset market, enabling international integration, and fostering a transparent, sustainable digital financial ecosystem.

VBA, founded under Decision No. 343/QD-BNV dated April 27, 2022, by the Ministry of Home Affairs, serves as Vietnam’s first official social-professional organization for the blockchain sector. It gathers stakeholders interested in researching, testing, evaluating, standardizing, and promoting blockchain applications.

1Matrix Joint Stock Company, a VBA member, is a pioneer in Vietnam’s blockchain infrastructure. It develops the Vietnam Blockchain Multi-Chain Service Network (VBSN), a platform for rapid layer-1 blockchain deployment, supporting digital identity, data governance, and essential public applications.

This strategic agreement is expected to lay the foundation for a pioneering model in Vietnam’s blockchain sector, advancing the National Blockchain Strategy and establishing Vietnam as a bright spot on the global technology map.

About KuCoin

Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global cryptocurrency platform serving over 41 million users across 200+ countries and regions. Built on cutting-edge blockchain technology, KuCoin offers access to 1,000+ digital assets and solutions including Web3 wallet, Spot and Futures trading, institutional services, and payments. Recognized by Forbes as one of the “Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges” and a “Top 50 Global Unicorn” by Hurun, KuCoin is ISO 27001:2022 certified and committed to security, compliance, and innovation under the leadership of CEO BC Wong. Learn more: https://www.kucoin.com/

About VBA

The Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Assets Association (VBA) is a non-profit organization established under Decision No. 343/QĐ-BNV on April 27, 2022 by the Ministry of Home Affairs. As the first and only legally recognized professional association in Vietnam dedicated to blockchain, VBA has been entrusted under the National Blockchain Strategy to spearhead the development of “Make in Vietnam” blockchain platforms, promote standardization, and unite domestic technology enterprises to strengthen competitiveness and elevate Vietnam’s global standing. Learn more: https://blockchain.vn

About 1Matrix

1Matrix Joint Stock Company is a pioneering Vietnamese enterprise in blockchain infrastructure, committed to building a “Make in Vietnam” blockchain network and leading the advancement of Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS). 1Matrix is the founder and developer of the Vietnam Blockchain Service Network (VBSN) — a multi-chain infrastructure that enables the rapid deployment of Layer-1 blockchain networks, supporting data governance, digital identity, and diverse public services. VBSN is built by 1Matrix with the institutional support of VBA and strategic advisory from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), positioning it as a cornerstone of Vietnam’s national digital infrastructure and a catalyst for innovation across industries. Learn more https://1matrix.com

TAIPEI, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) makes its first-ever appearance at the 2025 Gwangju Design Biennale in South Korea, one of Asia’s most influential design events. Opening on August 30, the Taiwan Pavilion presents “Inclusive Design” as its curatorial theme, highlighting how Taiwan’s design embraces people-centered values, diversity, and sustainability.

Since its founding in 2005, the Gwangju Design Biennale has become a leading global platform for exploring the role of design in contemporary society. This year’s theme, “You, The World: How Does Design Embrace Humanity?”, focuses on how design can respond to social needs and challenges. Aligned with this vision, the Taiwan Pavilion, curated under “Inclusive Taiwan”, showcases 16 cases ranging from public services and urban spaces to daily life products, demonstrating how design removes barriers and fosters participation for people of all ages, backgrounds, and even pets.

The exhibition brings together 12 outstanding Taiwanese design companies and teams, including JIASUI STUDIO, Chen Yu-Yi Architects, Lejong Technology, Fu-Ken International Technology, Yude Precision Tools, Fudy Printing, and Myzoo, alongside projects led by TDRI. Many works have also been recognized by the Golden Pin Design Award, underscoring Taiwan’s design excellence and diversity.

On August 30, the Biennale’s International Forum featured nine global experts. TDRI President Chi-Yi Chang delivered a keynote speech, “Design Taiwan: An Inclusive Approach”, alongside Thomas Garvey, President of the World Design Organization (WDO); Davin Stowell, Founder of Smart Design; and Ico Migliore, Professor at Politecnico di Milano.

Through its debut at the Biennale, TDRI seeks to engage the international design community in dialogue about the role of design in future societies, while presenting Taiwan’s strength in integrating culture, industry, and public policy through design.

SINGAPORE and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BDx Data Centers (“BDx”), one of the leading data center operators in Asia, today announced a strategic partnership with HEXA Renewables, a regional leader in renewable energy. Together, the two companies will pioneer an innovative cross-border renewable energy model that will contribute at least 50MW of clean power to the Singapore–Malaysia energy grid. The collaboration directly addresses the challenges of sourcing renewable energy in Singapore by enabling and funding the development of new green energy projects in Malaysia. BDx’s support provides the critical additionality that enables HEXA Renewables to accelerate these projects, injecting renewable power into the regional grid that might not have been feasible otherwise.

With Singapore projected to add at least 300MW of new data center capacity, this cross-border collaboration introduces an innovative decarbonization model for the region and reinforces both companies’ commitment to driving sustainability and long-term impact at scale.

BDx operates CGK4, Indonesia’s first Sovereign AI data center campus, currently powered by renewable energy and certified by NVIDIA under the DGX-Ready Data Center program. This positions BDx at the forefront of delivering advanced AI infrastructure while maintaining sustainability at its core.

“Performance and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive,” said Mayank Srivastava, CEO, BDx Data Centers. “Our partnership with HEXA Renewables aligns hyperscale data center growth with renewable energy, setting a new standard for cross-border collaboration in the digital infrastructure space.

“AI has caused an explosion in digital needs, and with it, requirements from digital infrastructures. With Singapore expected to add over 300 MW of capacity in the near term, this move puts sustainability at the center of that expansion. This is a key milestone in supporting Singapore’s, and more broadly, the region’s climate ambitions,” added Srivastava.

“As Singapore advances its Green Plan 2030, the private sector must lead by example,” said Vince Choi, CEO, HEXA Renewables. “Our partnership with BDx represents a meaningful step in cross-border energy cooperation. It supports national sustainability goals while showcasing the power of regional collaboration in accelerating the energy transition.”

BDx aims to deploy 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity across the region. Its partnership with HEXA Renewables forms part of its broader sustainability strategy to build a fully green-powered digital infrastructure network. The company is actively exploring similar renewable energy initiatives in every market it operates in, reinforcing its commitment to driving environmentally responsible data center growth across Asia and beyond.

Meanwhile, HEXA Renewables, which is an independent energy producer operating in wind, solar and battery power, aims to develop, own and operate up to 5 GW of renewable energy power generation and battery storage projects in the Asia Pacific region. The company targets an aggregate investment of US$5 billion in the coming years.

About BDx Data Centers

BDx Data Centers is a leading cloud-and carrier-neutral data center, colocation and interconnection solutions provider that serves enterprises and hyperscalers across fast-growing markets in Asia. BDx Data Center footprint extends across Indonesia, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Taiwan region and Mainland China, having a total deployment potential of 750MW data center capacity. Led by a globally recognized team, BDx Data Centers operates ultra-modern colocation and edge facilities across the region for customers to accelerate their digitalization initiatives. BDx Data Centers goes beyond providing highly efficient space and power, and delivers advanced, tailor-made services, designed with renewable resources. As Asia surges ahead in its digital journey, BDx Data Centers remains a steadfast partner, lighting the way with secure, scalable, and sustainable data solutions. BDx Data Centers is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on digital infrastructure, energy, utilities, and transport investments across the globe.

For more information, visit www.bdxworld.com.

About HEXA Renewables

HEXA Renewables is an Asia-based Independent Power Producer (IPP) and is fast evolving as a leading name in the clean energy landscape. Launched by global infrastructure investment manager, I Squared Capital, we feature as catalysts in the energy transition by developing, building and operating cutting-edge renewable energy projects. HEXA Renewables invests across Taiwan region, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India. HEXA Renewables aims to develop, own and operate up to 5 GW of renewable energy power generation and battery storage projects in the Asia Pacific region, targeting an aggregate investment of $5 billion in the coming years.

Leading through cutting-edge 5G innovation and cross-industry applications, Chunghwa Telecom showcases market-defining advances in Taiwan’s telecommunications sector.

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that Chunghwa Telecom has been recognized with the 2025 Taiwan Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition in the 5G industry for its outstanding achievements in large-scale innovation, environmental impact, and cross-industry commercialization. This recognition highlights Chunghwa Telecom’s consistent leadership in deploying 5G-enabled applications and delivering customer-centric solutions that enhance both sustainability and digital transformation in Taiwan’s rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape.

This recognition highlights Chunghwa Telecom’s consistent leadership in deploying 5G-enabled applications and delivering customer-centric solutions that enhance both sustainability and digital transformation in Taiwan’s rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape.

“Chunghwa Telecom’s long-term vision and commitment to technological innovation across the entire 5G value chain have positioned it as a pioneer in Taiwan’s telecom sector. From AI-driven smart energy systems to immersive digital experiences for consumers, its forward-thinking approach is transforming 5G into a powerful engine of growth across industries,” said Mei Lee Quah, senior director of ICT research at Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by a future-focused growth strategy that embraces 5G, AI, and sustainable innovation, Chunghwa Telecom has demonstrated how a legacy telecom operator can lead in new technology paradigms. Its strategic agility and sustained investments in intelligent networks and scalable infrastructure have enabled the company to deliver high-impact 5G use cases across both public and private sectors.

Innovation is embedded in Chunghwa Telecom’s operational DNA. Its solutions include ultra-high-speed data transmission facilitated through 5G NR carrier aggregation, predictive AI-powered network management, and intelligent energy-saving systems that reduce power consumption by over 30% without compromising performance. In the environmental sector, it has addressed long-standing challenges in biodiversity protection through Taiwan’s first AI-powered 5G smart ecological monitoring system.

Chunghwa Telecom’s unwavering focus on customer experience reinforces its leadership position. By embedding AI into both consumer services and enterprise offerings, the company enables real-time responsiveness, stable connectivity, and seamless integration across mobile and cloud-based platforms. For example, during the Metaverse Marathon in Tainan, Chunghwa Telecom demonstrated the power of dynamic network slicing to ensure uninterrupted 5G performance during high-demand events.

Frost & Sullivan commends Chunghwa Telecom for setting a benchmark in strategy, execution, and technology innovation. Its vision, sustainability-driven mindset, and application diversity are redefining the role of 5G in society—from smart cities and education to immersive cultural experiences and environmental protection.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. The recognition celebrates organizations that are transforming their industries through bold innovation and operational excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition
Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.
Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Tarini Singh
E: Tarini.singh@frost.com

• RushOwl’s proprietary AI technology cuts emissions by 50% and commute times by 30%
• The startup’s RushOS algorithm integrates with autonomous vehicles, optimising fleet utilisation
• RushOwl operates in Singapore, India and Hong Kong (China), and will expand to the Philippines, South Korea and Malaysia

SINGAPORE, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — RushOwl, a Singapore-based ride-sharing platform that reduces carbon emissions with its proprietary AI-based technology, has raised US$10 million in Series A funding led by Gobi Partners, a pan-Asian venture capital firm. The Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), the Patient Capital institution wholly owned by the Hong Kong Government and dedicated to investing for the future of Hong Kong by advancing new economic growth impetus for Hong Kong including innovation and sustainability, is an investment partner of Gobi for this funding round.

Founded in 2018 by Shin Ng, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Songyan Ho, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Kris Lee, Chief Operating Officer (COO), RushOwl partners with organisations, including corporates and schools. To date, the platform has powered more than 1.5 million rides and manages over 4,000 trips daily.

RushOwl’s core technology is its AI-based dynamic routing algorithm, called RushOS, which pools trip requests together for shared, carbon-efficient journeys. One key differentiator between RushOS and other mobility providers’ algorithms is RushOwl’s focus on readying its fleet software for autonomous vehicles, with a focus on optimal asset utilisation for sustainable ROI.

RushTrail, the platform’s mobile app, currently supports 250,000 users – mainly staff and students – who experience 30% shorter commutes compared to public transport. RushOwl also lowers carbon emissions by 50% through saved mileage, with each shared journey replacing more than three vehicles.

RushOwl now provides on-demand shuttle service in Singapore, India and Hong Kong (China), where it is actively expanding its business operations to support the city’s smart mobility development. RushOwl will use its funding to expand into more markets, including the Philippines, South Korea, and Malaysia. It also plans to open an R&D centre in Malaysia.

Key partners include Asia Pacific Breweries, CBRE, and Singapore’s Ministry of Education. The company has secured eight-figure annual contracted revenues through long-term agreements of at least 24 months. By offering a dynamic, data-driven alternative to traditional fixed-fleet shuttle providers, RushOwl enables clients to reduce costs and emissions.

Shin, Songyan and Kris began their journey as mobility researchers, united by the goal of creating equitable access to transportation.

“We saw in both developing and mature cities that when governments want to increase their land usage to include more companies and amenities to benefit people, accessibility continues to be a big problem because they cannot immediately create a public transport offering without spending billions of dollars,” said Shin Ng, CEO of Rushowl. “The idea of creating a free-flowing public transportation system appealed to us.”

In addition to market expansion, RushOwl will also use its Series A to grow its B2B sales team, securing key partnerships with fleet partners and licensing RushOS to them.

Gobi Partners invested through three of its managed funds across Hong Kong (China) and Malaysia, reinforcing the cross-border potential of RushOwl’s growth strategy.

Clara Chan, CEO of the HKIC said, “The HKIC adopts an “investment+” approach and invest in opportunities that not only generate financial return but also create or support long-term themes that could be Hong Kong’s future economic growth drivers. Our investment in RushOwl embodies this approach — supporting a company whose smart mobility solutions address urban and sustainability challenges that are highly relevant to Hong Kong and other major cities. This is a very important trend to capture. We are pleased to partner with RushOwl and will support its continued expansion to Hong Kong and across Asia. This is a vivid case showcasing Hong Kong’s role in contributing to regional economic and social developments by way of investing.”

Chibo Tang, Managing Partner of Gobi Partners said, “One of the most vital elements of smart cities is transportation that is not only affordable, but also sustainable. RushOwl addresses urban challenges such as congestion and excess emissions, while preparing for the future by developing technologies compatible with autonomous vehicles. We are excited to work with RushOwl as they make cities across Asia more accessible to everybody who lives in them.”

About RushOwl

Headquartered in Singapore and founded in 2018, RushOwl’s goal is to bridge the gap between private and public transportation in Asia’s busiest cities. Powered by its proprietary AI-driven dynamic routing algorithm, RushOwl’s shuttle rides make daily commutes more convenient and faster while cutting down on carbon emissions.

Media Inquiries
publicrelations@rushowl.app