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When I joined Tech in Asia three years ago, blockchain was the biggest new trend in tech. Every other week, companies came up with new cryptocurrency or enterprise blockchain solutions, and everyone, from my colleagues to my friends and family, was talking about this revolutionary technology.
However, the innovation faded out of mainstream discourse just quickly as it caught on. It was almost like people forgot how this “cool” new thing could change the way the world works.
But recently, I can’t help but feel like blockchain is back. This week, one of the top deals in the region was inked by an Indonesian cryptocurrency marketplace, while the parent company of Thai fintech firm Omise, which specializes in blockchain-supported payments solutions, made an acquisition recently.
The technology is also seeing a wider range of applications that are being recognized by the general public. We recently dug into the Axie Infinity phenomenon that’s hit Southeast Asia via a three-part, in-depth series.
The hype is considerably lower this time around but perhaps blockchain will stick around longer.
You can find all other important investment deals over the last few days in our weekly funding news wrap-up.
Let’s dive into the biggest deals and M&As that took place recently.
BIGGEST DEALS BY COUNTRY
🇹🇷 Trendyol: The Alibaba-backed Turkish ecommerce firm banked US$1.5 billion in a late-stage funding round from General Atlantic and SoftBank Vision Fund.
🇮🇳 UpGrad: The Indian edtech firm scored US$185 million in early-stage funding from IIFL Holdings, International Finance Corporation, and Temasek Holdings.
Lists of most active investors in the region
List of top-funded startups in Asia
List of largest exits in Asia
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