HSBC has led a series C funding round in Dowsure, a Shenzhen-based fintech firm focused on cross-border e-commerce, for an undisclosed amount.

Dowsure provides financing solutions for businesses selling internationally and says its products are used on platforms including Amazon and eBay.

HSBC first invested in Dowsure in 2023.

The bank also backed European fintech Token.io in June.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Cross-border e-commerce financing represents a massive growth opportunity for banks

HSBC’s investment in Dowsure reflects the significant growth in cross-border digital trade, particularly in Asia Pacific.

The bank anticipates that cross-border trade via digital channels in China will surge to $500 billion by 2025, up from $155 billion five years prior1.

This growth aligns with the broader trajectory of the Asia Pacific e-commerce market, which is projected to exceed $28.9 trillion by 20262.

B2B e-commerce volumes are expanding 15-22% year-on-year, outpacing traditional B2C growth1.

Global cross-border payments are also projected to reach approximately $290 trillion by 20303, highlighting the immense scale of this market.

For banks like HSBC, partnering with specialized fintechs offers a faster path to capture this opportunity compared to building internal capabilities from scratch.

2️⃣ Real-time transaction data is transforming traditional trade finance approaches

The HSBC-Dowsure partnership illustrates how banks are shifting from traditional document-based lending to data-driven credit assessments.

Dowsure’s technology uses real-time transaction data from platforms like Amazon and eBay to streamline credit approvals for SMEs2.

Recent HSBC developments