Big Tech companies continue their push into fintech, but results vary by company. Google has secured more than 150 million users for Google Pay, mainly in India and the United States. Meta has not shown a clear presence since its Diem cryptocurrency project stalled.

· Google and Meta widen fintech gap as they race to lead in India and AI

Fintech heavyweight PayPal is also accelerating its expansion, moving from digital assets into AI.

PayPal has also decided to acquire Israeli fintech startup Cymbio. Cymbio runs a multi-channel orchestration platform that automates product sales across online marketplaces, retail and social commerce channels. Earlier, PayPal integrated Cymbio technology into its generative AI-based payment solutions, 'agent ready' and 'Store Sync'. Agent ready makes merchants' product data searchable on AI platforms and supports payments in AI environments.

· PayPal to buy fintech startup Cymbio, adding momentum to AI commerce expansion

In South Korea, financial groups are rolling out support measures for growth areas including AI. Shinhan Financial Group will set up three strategic funds worth a total of 350 billion won to expand core infrastructure and energy supply chains for building South Korea's 'AI highway'.

· "We will build an AI highway"... Shinhan launches 350 billion won strategic funds

KB Financial Group is recruiting companies to join its 2026 KB Starters programme through March 6 to support capable entrepreneurs and their global expansion. KB Financial Group also formed the 160 billion won 'KB Deep Tech Scale-up Fund' to invest in deep tech companies in areas such as AI and robotics that aim to become a 'K-Nvidia'.

· KB Financial to expand systematic entrepreneur support, pushing broader startup momentum · KB Financial forms 160 billion won venture capital fund to foster a 'K-Nvidia'

Woori Bank signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Commercial AI Software Association to expand AI adoption and strengthen cooperation between finance and industry. It also signed an agreement with Samsung Electronics, the Korea Federation of SMEs and the Korea Technology Finance Corporation to set up a financial support collaboration system to help small and medium-sized companies building smart factories.

· Woori Bank to support AX transformation at public institutions · Woori Bank to provide 110 billion won in financial support for SMEs building smart factories

Other major moves across the finance and fintech industries are as follows.

Shinhan Financial Group met with executives including Jason Rekate, Citi's Global Chair of Banking, to discuss global business expansion and future finance cooperation in areas such as digital assets. Shinhan Financial Group also decided to build the entire value chain of capital markets business in Jeonbuk Innovation City to develop it into an asset management and capital markets hub. Shinhan Bank will introduce differentiated wealth management services linked to the shopping experience through strategic cooperation with Shinsegae Department Store. Shinhan Bank, together with the Seoul city government, will also issue 25 billion won worth of vouchers dedicated to Ttaenggyeoyo to help boost sales at small merchants and reduce residents' dining-out costs.

· Shinhan chairman Ok-dong Jin (진옥동) discusses digital asset cooperation with Citi · Shinhan to build key asset management and capital markets hub in Jeonbuk Innovation City · Shinhan Bank to expand 'everyday wealth management services' with Shinsegae Department Store · Shinhan Bank and Seoul to issue 25 billion won in vouchers dedicated to Ttaenggyeoyo

Hana Financial Group, which posted annual net profit of 4.029 trillion won last year to enter the '4 trillion club' for the first time, is moving in earnest to normalise its non-bank business and secure new growth engines centred on stablecoins and AI.

· Hana Financial enters the '4 trillion club' for first time; Young-joo Ham (함영주) says the next bet is stablecoins and AI · Hana Financial speeds up new businesses such as digital assets after Young-joo Ham sheds legal risks

NH Nonghyup Bank will open and begin full operations at its Wirye branch of the 'NH Digital Station', a future-oriented unmanned outlet combining AI technology, in step with accelerating digital transformation in finance. NH Nonghyup Bank's AI data unit declared a full-fledged leap toward an Agentic AI Bank. NH Nonghyup Bank also completed a proof of concept for subscription and distribution processes for stablecoin-based STOs, jointly with Aton and Musicow.

· NH Nonghyup Bank opens Wirye branch of future unmanned outlet 'NH Digital Station' · NH Nonghyup Bank declares leap to 'Agentic AI Bank' · NH Nonghyup Bank completes STO subscription PoC using won stablecoin

K Bank built a cloud-based research and development network, a first in the banking sector. The R&D network is a development-only infrastructure designed to verify and test new technologies and services through proofs of concept in an independent environment separated from the internal network.

· K Bank builds banking sector's first cloud-based R&D network

Thailand's mobile banking platform LINE BK unveiled its business strategy for 2026. It aims to continue performance growth on the back of a larger customer base and improved profitability, while strengthening its role as a daily-life financial platform in an uncertain economic environment.

· LINE BK announces 2026 business strategy... "We will be a daily finance partner for Thai people"

Hana Securities will work with Datagen to pursue a public offering of 'Livestock Investment Contract Securities No. 1' backed by domestic pork as the underlying asset. Hanwha Investment & Securities completed a strategic investment of 10 billion won in blockchain-based digital asset data platform Xangle. Jong-min Son (손종민), managing director and head of the future strategy office at Hanwha Investment & Securities, said, "We will strengthen information competitiveness by combining Hanwha Investment & Securities' digital asset capabilities with Xangle's on-chain data and research capabilities." He added, "We will strengthen strategic cooperation going forward to expand the global Web3 ecosystem." Hana Securities opened 'Seminar Lounge', a non-face-to-face video-based investment strategy service.