This Week
Featured Report
SEA Signal: Thailand Locks In a Crypto Travel Rule, BitGo Plants Its APAC Flag in Singapore, and the Philippines Wires QR Ph to the World
Thailand's SEC finalized a Travel Rule that forces digital-asset operators to identify counterparties on every transfer, including self-custodial wallets, from February 2027. BitGo opened a Singapore office after tripling its APAC client base, a vote of confidence in the city-state's licensing regime from a major institutional custodian. And the Philippines connected its QR Ph network to Alipay+, giving 2.5 million local merchants a route into cross-border commerce without touching their existing infrastructure.
The intelligence layer
for Southeast Asia.
Layer 7 Ventures publishes original research on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency as they reshape the world's most dynamic emerging market region. We believe the next decade of global growth will be written in Southeast Asia.
Daily Coverage
Daily Briefs
SEA Daily Brief: BNM's Sanctions-Screening Fines, Qualcomm's Vietnam AI Bet, and CIMB's Biometric Mandate
Bank Negara Malaysia fined Petronas' Setel and two Standard Chartered units a combined RM901,500 over sanctions-screening lapses. Qualcomm's CEO told Vietnam's top leader he wants the country to become the chipmaker's third-largest AI R&D hub globally. And CIMB will require biometric or passcode approval for all online banking transactions from September 19, ending password-only authorization.
SEA Daily Brief: Indonesia's OJK Maps a Crypto Roadmap, Singapore's Scam Data, and Alibaba's Malaysia AI Push
Indonesia's OJK laid out a 2026-2031 roadmap covering stablecoin regulation, real-world asset tokenization, and a single investor ID for crypto. Singapore's H1 2026 scam losses fell 17.9% to S$410.6 million, with crypto-linked losses down 43% but still 16% of the total. And Alibaba Cloud joined Malaysia's AI Untuk Rakyat programme, offering two free AI tools to 100,000 young Malaysians.
Vietnam's Crypto Penalty Regime Takes Effect With No Licensed Exchange Yet, Singapore Proposes 100% Stablecoin Reserves, and Malaysia Adds RM1 Billion to SME Microfinancing
Vietnam's Decree 284/2026 entered into force today, fining domestic investors up to VND 50 million for trading on unlicensed platforms — before the Ministry of Finance has approved a single licensed exchange. The Monetary Authority of Singapore opened consultation on a dedicated stablecoin-issuer framework that would ban interest payments and mandate 100% reserves. In Malaysia, the government added RM1 billion to 2026 microfinancing allocations and lifted the e-invoicing exemption threshold to RM3 million in annual sales.
Our Focus
Artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency represent two of the most significant technological shifts of our era. Southeast Asia is uniquely positioned to benefit from both.
Our Method
We publish independent, analytically rigorous research. No paid placements. No promotional content. Our only metric is whether the thinking holds up.
Our Thesis
Southeast Asia's low legacy debt, mobile-first infrastructure, and 685 million people make it the defining geography of the next technology cycle.
Stay Informed
Get new reports delivered to your inbox.
We publish one to two original research pieces per month. No noise — only signal.
No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.