Skip to main content

Spire speaks on rise in mobile wallets across Asia


As use of mobile wallets grows across Asia, digitalized financial services are transforming consumer behavior. In this context, Informa Business (IBC) organized the 4th Annual Mobile Wallet Conference to discuss key industry trends, opportunities and challenges in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Jeffrey Bahar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Spire Research and Consulting group, was honored to be a guest speaker at this event. In his presentation, Bahar highlighted key facts about the mobile wallet ecosystem in Asia with focus on consumer trends, growth drivers and acceptance of digital currency.

Bahar mentioned the rise mobile wallet payments is due to faster transactions (71%), ease of use (55%) and the need to have cash on hand (47%). There are more opportunities for organizations, regulators and startups due to the convergence of multi-channel integration, integrated IT infrastructure, digital currencies and Big data analytics, to name a few trends.

The Philippines became one of the first countries to launch mobile wallet services with a cost-effective digital remittance program. It channeled a total of USD25.48 billion in remittance value in 2015.

On the other hand, the potential of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) digital currency is vast. Blockchain – another type of cryptocurrency – is gaining popularity. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Citibank Inc. successfully tested the record-keeping technology behind Blockchain on credit-default swaps in April 2016.

However, there is still some degree of skepticism about the legality of P2P digital currencies in specific countries. Japan recognizes Bitcoin and digital currencies whereas Hong Kong does not have laws governing this space at present and a de facto ban is in place in Russia.

Bahar’s presentation deck on “Mobile Wallet Trends” can be found here.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

2022: Recovery or Resurgence?

  The Covid-19 pandemic officially marks a grim second year this year. Nonetheless, there is some optimism among scientists that while the virus will become endemic, its threat to human life could reduce over time.  In the first of a three-part Spirethoughts instalment examining analysts’ predictions for the new year ahead, we look at 3 economic and social trends that are likely to affect the global economy in 2022.   Debt and inflation to grow . Global debt accelerated during the pandemic as governments continued to borrow. Twenty-five nations, including the US and China, now have total debt amounting to more than 300% of GDP, as central banks contribute to inflation by printing money, deepening the debt trap. Inflation, while on the rise, seems unlikely to hit the historic double-digit levels of the 1970s, as government spending should ease in 2022.   Industries overheat amid global warming “greenflation”.  The other continuing story with global imp...

The European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is set to open doors for Vietnamese exporters

On 30 June, 2019, the European Union signed its first free trade deal with a developing Asian country – Vietnam, one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) would reduce 99% of tariffs on goods and services traded between European and Vietnamese markets. WVietnam’s exports to the EU were valued at 50 billion euros in 2018. This figure is expected to increase by 40% by 2025 under EVFTA. Between the years 2024 – 2028, the agreement would boost Vietnam’s gross domestic product by 5 to 6% annually. Will the EVFTA herald a closer economic relationship between Vietnam and Europe? For more information :  https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/the-european-union-vietnam-free-trade-agreement-evfta-is-set-to-open-doors-for-vietnamese-exporters/

Game markets: Asia and China

In recent years, the Asia Pacific gaming industry has attracted the attention of investors, developers and analysts. Within Asia, Japan, South Korea and China are the leading markets. The Asia Pacific remains the largest games market and is expected to reach USD71.4 billion in revenue, with a spectacular 39 per cent growth in 2018. By 2021, domestic market revenue in China is poised to increase from USD27 billion to USD35 billion. Asia’s gaming market is being transformed by Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology as well as gaming on social media platforms. Above all, Esports looks set to transform the industry. These were the findings from a study conducted by Spire Research and Consulting in Q3 2018. Gaming market in Asia Pacific (APAC) The Asia-Pacific region has been leading the global electronic game market. In 2017, total revenue from the gaming market reached USD51.2 billion, almost twice the revenue of the second-ranked North American region. ...
Confidence key to Singapore’s success Can Singapore cultivate a culture of confidence as it turns 53? Leon Perera, CEO of Spire Research and Consulting shared his insights in The Business Times – Views from the Top section on 6 August 2018 on Singapore’s future. As Singapore ushers in another year of independence, more confidence needs to be instilled. Intelligent risk-taking will be key to the next phase of Singapore’s development. Perera highlighted that familiarity with past successes should not inhibit fresh, innovative thinking and experimentation with new strategies. Therefore, it is crucial for leaders to inspire trust and also for Singaporeans to cultivate greater trust in one another to be good citizens, thus engendering the social capital necessary for national success. The text of Perera’s comments are provided below. A comprehensive Korean peace treaty and denuclearization agreement are worthwhile goals to pursue. But it is unlikely that the North ...

Spirethoughts: Saving India’s farmers

Rural farming in India could benefit immensely from solar energy, as farmers can use water pumps that are powered by solar panels to irrigate farms; balancing out the electricity provided for urban dwellers in the process. This is crucial as approximately 18 million of the country’s 25 million water pump sets are linked to the national electric grid. To address the nation’s power shortage, a joint-venture will be formed between six state-owned companies in Mumbai, including Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, to build a 4-gigawatt solar photovoltaic farm by the end of 2016. The price would be INR10 cheaper than the lowest power bid in India. Once the government grant has been received, this would change the way clean energy is generated; providing light through solar energy to 70 percent of the population residing in the urban areas. Is solar energy becoming a transformative resource for rural farmers? http://www.spireresearch.com/ne...