Dear readers,
We’ve published two pieces on the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) trend in just as many weeks.
Our second one, which focuses on the Singapore scene and how Grab and Mastercard have joined the fray, has been popular with our readers.
It’s curious why these stories are getting good traction – perhaps it has something to do with Affirm’s recent IPO?
Photo credit: 123RF
Anyway, some readers raised a concern about BNPL. While it relies less on late repayment fees compared with credit cards to make money, it still encourages over-consumption. This could be problematic for people with poor financial literacy.
“The road to hell is sometimes paved with good intentions,” a reader noted. Let us know if you agree.
Pivoting from fintech to entertainment, our story on Singtel’s bold move to storm the gaming world has also been well-received.
Most people hesitate to be candid about their employers in interviews, but Storms CEO David Yin isn’t one of them.
One of the first things he told us was how he initially didn’t want to join Singtel’s new joint venture. “I don’t think Singtel’s track record has been great,” he said.
My immediate thought was: “Are you sure you want this in print?”
Of course, he did go on to say that Singtel is learning from its mistakes, and that Storms is the result of that.
The Singaporean telco is taking an interesting approach, to say the least, and the article goes into detail about that.
Recapping 2020
Last week, we held our first all-hands editorial meeting for the year.
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
