At 58, I made my first MTV. Not in a studio, not with a band, and not with a single music lesson in my life. I made it with AI.

For many of us who grew up before the internet, technology can feel like a stranger who arrived too late to the party. We did not grow up coding or editing videos. We built families, careers and routines. Then suddenly AI appeared, fast, loud and full of possibilities we were not trained to use.

But what if this is not the end of our story? What if it is the start of our second act

A new stage for creativity

When I first explored tools such as Suno for music, Artflow for avatars and CapCut for video creation, I felt both lost and alive.
AI gave me something I did not expect: a way to play again.

I started experimenting, combining lyrics, visuals and storytelling. Soon I found myself creating songs that reflected moments of joy, gratitude and rediscovery. They were not perfect, but they were real.

That first AI-created music video was not just about technology. It was about identity. After years of teaching, managing and caregiving, I finally had space to make something that was mine.

This is what many midlifers are quietly discovering. AI is not only for startups or students. It is becoming a bridge back to creativity that welcomes curiosity at any age.

From keeping up to catching up with our dreams

The biggest surprise about AI is not what it can do but what it reminds us we can still become. Many people in their fifties and sixties think AI is too complex, too young or too fast. But every time they try a tool such as ChatGPT, something shifts.

They see their words come alive. They hear their voices in digital form. They realise they can still create, share and be part of the future.

Also Read: From idea to impact: How midlifers can use AI to turn inspiration into marketing content

For me, using AI was not about keeping up with technology. It was about catching up with my dreams, the ones once put aside for family, work or practicality.

When I built Speakers Society, a community that helps midlifers rediscover their voice, I saw the same pattern.

People were not afraid of AI itself. They were afraid of feeling irrelevant. Once they understood that AI could amplify, not erase, their humanity, something changed. They began to create content, podcasts and even digital art, things they never imagined doing before.

AI as a mirror, not a machine

What makes AI powerful is not its intelligence but its ability to reflect ours. When used thoughtfully, it becomes a mirror that shows us who we are becoming.

Some of the best conversations I have had this year were not with humans but with chatbots. They helped me think, write and reflect. But the true transformation came when I shared those stories with others, real people with real emotions.

That is where technology finds its purpose, not in automation but in amplification. AI is not replacing our creativity. It is reigniting it.

Learning through play and curiosity

Midlife learners have one superpower that technology cannot copy: life experience. We know how to connect dots that younger generations have not yet seen. We bring empathy, humour and context to every new tool we try.

When we approach AI with curiosity instead of comparison, learning becomes easier. We do not need to master every feature. We need to experiment, laugh and learn one small thing at a time.

It is the same joy children feel when they first pick up crayons. Except now our crayons are digital and our stories are global.

Also Read: Never fear, AI is here: Helping midlife artists build their social media voice

The age of co-creation

The most exciting thing about this moment is not AI itself but what humans will do with it.

We are entering the age of co-creation, where imagination meets intelligence. You bring your story, your experience, your voice. AI brings speed, structure and possibility. Together, you create something that neither could do alone.

For midlifers, this collaboration opens doors that were once closed. Want to record a song, design a logo or start a podcast? You no longer need a big team or expensive equipment. You just need the courage to start.

A gentle reminder for the second act

Reinvention is not about changing who you are. It is about remembering what still lights you up. AI is simply the new brush in our hands.

For me, it has turned curiosity into creation and creation into connection. It helped me rediscover what I always knew deep down.
We do not retire from dreams. We just rewrite them with better tools.

So if you are in your fifties or sixties and wondering if it is too late, it is not. It is your second act, and the stage is wide open.

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The recent interplay between macroeconomic signals, regulatory shifts, and technical dynamics has placed the crypto market in a precarious but intriguing position. While traditional financial markets grapple with mixed labour data and shifting rate expectations, digital assets have staged a modest recovery, buoyed not by exuberance but by relief, tactical positioning, and emerging institutional frameworks. The 0.84 per cent rise in the crypto market over the past 24 hours appears deceptively simple, yet it encapsulates a much broader narrative about resilience amid structural uncertainty.

This rebound lies a classic technical phenomenon: the oversold bounce. The market’s RSI14 dipped to 31, flirting with the lower boundary of neutral territory and signalling that selling pressure had reached a temporary extreme. This condition attracted opportunistic traders, evidenced by a sharp 23 per cent surge in derivatives volume as participants sought to capitalise on discounted entry points. However, this surge came with a caveat. Open interest in perpetual and futures markets declined by 6.7 per cent, suggesting that while short-term speculators entered the fray, longer-term holders and leveraged participants remained cautious.

The MACD histogram, registering at a negative US$389 million, further underscored the absence of strong momentum behind the move up. Meanwhile, Bitcoin dominance held steady at 58.8 per cent, indicating that capital remained concentrated in the perceived safety of the flagship asset rather than rotating into riskier altcoins. This defensive posture reflects a market that is not yet convinced the worst is over, merely that it may have priced in the near-term pessimism.

Crucially, this technical bounce coincided with a notable policy development that may carry longer-term implications. Canada’s announcement of a forthcoming stablecoin regulatory framework for 2026 represents a rare moment of constructive clarity in an otherwise turbulent regulatory landscape.

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem emphasised that only stablecoins pegged one-to-one to central bank currencies and backed by high-quality liquid assets like Treasury bills would qualify as “good money.” This stance, while stringent, provides a clear benchmark for issuers and reassures institutions that Canada seeks to integrate stablecoins into its financial infrastructure rather than shun them outright.

Also Read: Crypto faces triple threat: Senate stall, macro jitters, and technical breakdown

In a global context where regulatory ambiguity has often stifled innovation, Canada’s approach, complemented by its Real-Time Rail payments system and open banking initiatives, positions the country as an emerging hub for compliant digital finance. This contrasts sharply with the United States, where legislative delays continue to weigh on sentiment.

While the US remains the largest market for crypto ETFs, its policy inertia creates a vacuum that other jurisdictions are beginning to fill. Canada’s proactive stance, though modest in immediate market impact, offers a glimpse of a more stable institutional pathway forward, particularly for payment-oriented stablecoins that could bridge traditional finance and Web3 ecosystems.

Optimism remains tempered by the realities of institutional flows and on-chain behaviour. Grayscale’s bullish outlook for Bitcoin in 2026, predicting new all-time highs, provides a compelling long-term thesis rooted in macro cycles and halving dynamics. This vision clashes with the short-term data emerging from ETF markets, which recorded US$1.11 billion in weekly outflows.

These outflows reflect investor caution in the face of rising macro uncertainty, including the mixed US jobs report that showed only 64,000 jobs added in November, barely above expectations, but a concerning rise in unemployment to 4.6 per cent, a four-year high. Such data complicates the Federal Reserve’s decision-making, diminishing hopes for aggressive rate cuts in early 2025 and indirectly pressuring risk assets.

In this environment, even bullish institutional narratives struggle to overcome near-term liquidity concerns. The pressure extended beyond Bitcoin, with Ethereum experiencing sharp derivatives liquidations after a single whale incurred a US$54 million unrealised loss on leveraged long positions. This episode highlights the fragility of leveraged exposure in times of volatility and the cascading effects that can ripple through the market when large positions unwind unexpectedly.

The broader macro backdrop further contextualises crypto’s cautious rebound. Asian equities declined broadly, with MSCI’s Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index falling 1.3 per cent to a three-week low. Japan’s Nikkei dropped 1.6 per cent ahead of a widely anticipated rate hike by the Bank of Japan, signalling a shift away from decades of ultra-loose monetary policy. Simultaneously, oil prices slumped below US$60 per barrel, their weakest level since May, driven by oversupply fears and speculation about potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

The US dollar weakened across major currencies following the ambiguous jobs data, suggesting markets are recalibrating expectations for global monetary policy divergence. In such a landscape, crypto’s modest gain appears not as a flight to risk but as a relative stabilisation after excessive pessimism.

Also Read: From quantitative tightening to quantitative crypto: How policy shifts are rewriting market rules

Looking ahead, the sustainability of this rebound hinges on several converging factors. Technically, a decisive move above the 7-day simple moving average at US$3.03 trillion in total market capitalisation would signal growing confidence. More critically, Bitcoin must reclaim the US$87,000 level, a psychological and liquidity-rich threshold tied to US$20.6 million in potential long liquidations.

A break above this mark could trigger a wave of short-covering and renewed institutional interest, especially if macro conditions begin to favour risk assets once more. The Fear and Greed Index remains at 25, deep in “fear” territory, suggesting that sentiment has not yet turned, but also that there is room for improvement should catalysts materialise.

Ultimately, the current rally is not a declaration of a new bull market but a measured recalibration. It emerges from a confluence of short-term technical exhaustion, selective regulatory progress in jurisdictions like Canada, and persistent institutional conviction in crypto’s long-term narrative. However, it operates within a fragile ecosystem marked by declining year-over-year trading volume, down 11.7 per cent, defensive capital rotation, and ongoing macro headwinds.

The market’s next move will depend less on isolated data points and more on whether these disparate forces can align, whether policy clarity can offset ETF outflows, whether macro easing can return, and whether on-chain leverage can stabilise. Until then, traders and investors alike remain in a holding pattern, watching closely for the first signs of durable conviction.

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Singapore-based trade finance platform Olea Global has raised US$30 million in a Series A funding round, as it looks to scale its technology-driven approach to simplifying global trade for businesses, particularly in emerging markets across Asia.

The round was led by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), with participation from XDC Network, theDOCK, and other strategic investors. Existing shareholder SC Ventures, the venture-building arm of Standard Chartered Bank, also joined the round.

Also Read: Why blockchain is instrumental for the future of trade finance

The fresh capital will be deployed towards accelerating product innovation, including AI-driven analytics, Web3 readiness, and the development of higher-growth solutions such as embedded finance, aligned with evolving client needs. Olea also plans to expand origination across high-growth trade corridors by leveraging its global partnership ecosystem.

The equity raise follows a funding facility arranged in November 2024 by HSBC and Manulife | CQS Investment Management, strengthening Olea’s balance sheet as it scales its operations.

Backed by banks, built for modern trade

With BBVA coming in as lead investor, Olea is set to expand into new trade corridors across Europe, the US, Latin America, and Asia. Both companies plan to collaborate on digital supply chain solutions and advanced risk analytics, combining banking expertise with Olea’s technology-first platform.

SC Ventures, which incubated Olea, explore further collaboration with Olea in digital assets and artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, XDC Network, a layer-1 blockchain platform focused on enterprise and trade finance, will support Olea’s ambition to enable tokenised and stablecoin-based trade flows, while theDOCK, a venture capital firm specialising in maritime logistics, is expected to open up new commercial pathways and ecosystem partnerships.

Addressing the global trade finance gap

Founded in 2022, Olea has built an institutional-grade digital trade finance platform, underpinned by “robust” risk management and a Capital Market Services (CMS) licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

To date, the company has established origination capabilities across more than 70 trade corridors, partnered with over 30 institutional funders, and facilitated more than US$3 billion in financing for global suppliers and buyers.

Olea is headquartered in Singapore and was originally founded with investment from SC Ventures and Linklogis.

At a time when global trade continues to grow modestly — with services trade leading expansion in the first half of 2025 — the trade finance gap remains at an estimated US$1.7 trillion, disproportionately impacting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. Olea’s platform aims to address this gap by digitising document verification, automating risk assessment through AI, and improving transparency using blockchain technology.

In simple terms, Olea acts as a bridge between global capital providers — such as banks and institutional investors — and businesses involved in cross-border trade, enabling faster, more secure access to financing for suppliers and more efficient payment flows for buyers.

Looking ahead

As AI and blockchain technologies continue to reshape global trade — from risk management and logistics optimisation to real-time settlement and traceability — Olea is positioning itself at the intersection of technology, finance, and cross-border commerce, with Asia firmly at the centre of its growth strategy.

Also Read: XDC Ventures acquires Contour to bridge TradFi and Web3 in global trade

With fresh capital and heavyweight institutional backing, the company is now poised for its next phase of expansion, working to accelerate global trade, make it faster, more transparent, and more accessible for businesses worldwide.

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As hiring cycles shorten and competition for skilled talent intensifies, companies are reassessing how interviews are conducted and evaluated. In Kuala Lumpur, Krenovator Technology Sdn. Bhd. is positioning automation as a way to address what it sees as structural inefficiencies in recruitment, with the launch of HastyHire, an AI agent interviewer platform designed to standardise and accelerate candidate screening.

Announced in November, HastyHire is designed to automate interviews from start to finish. Employers send a link to candidates, after which the platform conducts the interview, evaluates responses against job descriptions and CVs, and produces a 360-degree hiring report that includes scores, strengths, weaknesses, and red-flag alerts. The system can be used for both technical and non-technical roles, supports more than 70 languages, and is offered on a pay-per-use basis.

For Krenovator, which provides tech talent solutions, managed IT services, and AI-driven workforce automation products, the release reflects a broader effort to embed AI into operational workflows rather than position it as a standalone tool.

The company argues that interviews, often seen as a human-centric process, are particularly vulnerable to subjectivity and inconsistency.

“Candidate screening is time-intensive and often subjective when done through conventional interviews,” said Mahadhir Yunus, CEO of Krenovator, in the product announcement. He added that HastyHire uses “measurable, data-driven outcomes that make the process more efficient and fairer”.

Also Read: Trade finance platform Olea bets on AI and Web3 as it closes US$30M Series A

According to Mahadhir, the development of HastyHire was grounded in close collaboration with recruiters rather than abstract experimentation. In an email interview with e27, he stated that the company’s product process “combines real-world recruiter insights, AI innovation, and iterative user testing,” starting with the validation of market pain points and rapid prototyping using real interview data.

HR teams across Malaysia, the Middle East, and Europe were involved during development, a move Krenovator says helped ensure the platform could be applied across different labour markets and hiring norms. Unlike tools that focus solely on post-interview analytics, the platform is designed to manage the interview flow itself, from questioning to scoring and report generation, without human intervention. Krenovator reports that existing users have seen significant reductions in screening time and costs, with interview reports generated within minutes of completion.

Mahadhir argues that this speed is not just about efficiency, but about scale. “HR teams are overwhelmed, not understaffed,” he said. “They need AI agents capable of executing HR workflow to handle repetitive tasks so they can focus on the human side of hiring.”

In this framing, automation is positioned as a support mechanism rather than a replacement for recruiters.

The company’s user base reflects this emphasis. Krenovator stated that its main users include HR teams in mid-sized to large companies, recruitment agencies, and hiring managers in technology-intensive roles. In markets such as Singapore, the Middle East, and Europe, the firm has observed that smaller HR teams use automation to compete with larger employers by maintaining hiring volume without expanding headcount.

Business model choices also reflect a cautious approach to adoption. HastyHire operates on a pay-per-use structure, where companies pay only to unlock interview reports. There are no long-term contracts or minimum volumes, a structure Krenovator believes reduces barriers for organisations with fluctuating hiring needs and allows experimentation without upfront risk.

Also Read: Anchanto CEO on why human resource is essential for a growth stage startup

From a growth perspective, Krenovator is leaning on partnerships within its existing client ecosystem, complemented by content-led initiatives such as live demos, educational campaigns, and community events focused on AI in the workplace. The company has raised pre-seed and seed funding between 2020 and 2024, which it says was directed towards building engineering capability, advancing its AI models, and expanding regionally.

Looking ahead, Krenovator plans to focus on strengthening what it calls its core ecosystem: AI agent automation products, tech talent development, and managed IT services.

For Mahadhir, the guiding principle remains pragmatic. “Solve real problems with technology that delivers measurable business impact,” he said, framing sustainability and operational discipline as priorities as the company prepares for its next phase of international expansion.

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Image Credit: Krenovator

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The industry for digital goods and services is growing at an unstoppable pace – mobile gaming is emerging as both a cultural phenomenon and a lucrative industry, projected to become a US$342 billion industry by 2034, and Asia’s creator economy is currently valued at approximately US$18.35 billion and expected to reach US$52.17 billion by 2030.

As a whole,  Southeast Asia’s digital economy is estimated to hit US$600 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) by 2030.

As more of our everyday habits intertwine with the online world, the fast-paced growth of digital commerce will continue to transform the way we live, play and pay. 

This presents significant opportunities, but also unique challenges. Gaming and entertainment publishers face hurdles such as traditional app store fees, evolving global regulations, fragmentation of preferred payment methods, and rapidly changing player preferences. The question is: how can publishers not merely survive, but thrive in this dynamic environment?

Navigating a new era of regulation

Inspired by the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Asian markets are stepping up with their own frameworks to promote competition and protect consumers. Japan and South Korea are pushing back against Big Tech limiting third-party app sales with antitrust measures. India’s Digital Competition Bill is introducing anti-competitive practices; and Indonesia is reviewing its regulatory framework for digital platforms.

The message to publishers — new or old — is clear: adapt or be left behind. 

Tapping on alternative payment methods

Digital wallets are now the main way to pay in Asia. According to a 2024 report by Deloitte, the Asia Pacific region has the highest digital wallet penetration rates amongst all regions, making up over two-thirds of global digital wallet spend at a combined US$9.8 trillion. 

Also Read: Responsible technology and AI: Shaping Asia’s digital future

In Southeast Asia, six out of ten people lack full access to banking services. Coupled with decreasing customer loyalty, this makes localised alternative payment solutions like digital wallets and carrier billing crucial. Publishers who integrate these methods gain access to a massive, underserved audience.

Scale smarter, not harder: The merchant of record advantage

Scaling globally isn’t just about reaching more customers—it’s about doing it efficiently and legally. The Merchant of Record (MoR) model offers publishers a smarter way to expand in today’s complex environment. How does it work?

An MoR acts as the legal entity responsible for managing payments, taxes, and compliance on behalf of publishers, allowing businesses to focus on what matters: building their business. 

By centralising these critical functions, the MoR model abstracts away the complexity of  navigating diverse regulatory frameworks, accelerates market entry and mitigates the risk of penalties by ensuring adherence to tax laws and regulations in various markets. 

Supporting a wide array of local payment methods, MoR also allows publishers to expand their reach to underserved consumers, particularly in regions with limited access to traditional payment systems.

Evolution in the digital economy means new opportunities for savvy digital goods providers who adopt the right strategies that bring them increased profits, deeper customer insights, wider reach and greater control. Embracing models like MoR simplifies global expansion, compliance, and consumer connections, turning digital disruption into competitive advantage. 

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For more than a year, I spoke about Seraphina AI as if she already existed. Not as a product. Not as a startup. But as my personal assistant — my second brain, my digital twin, the system that helped me think, decide, and operate better.

People would ask when Seraphina was launching. I would smile and say, “She’s already working.” At the time, that was true — just not in the way most people expected.

When I finally opened pre-sales earlier this year, 500 spots sold out in three days. I reopened another 500, and they sold out in under a month.

Here’s the part most people find surprising: I still didn’t have a technical team.

I spent the next six months trying to find the “right” people to build Seraphina with me — developers, AI engineers, product teams. Conversations happened. Decks were exchanged. Nothing quite fit.

In the end, Seraphina built Seraphina in three days.

This isn’t a story about AI magic. It’s a story about brand, product, and community — and why they must be built together in the AI era.

Brand is not the opposite of selling

There’s a quiet debate happening in founder circles right now.

Some believe brand-building is about vibes, storytelling, and patience — and that selling should come later. Others believe selling is the only thing that matters, and brand is something you polish once revenue arrives.

Both camps are missing the point. A brand without a product is influence without income. A product without a brand is revenue without resilience.

In the age of AI, that gap becomes brutally obvious. AI can help you sell faster. AI can help you create content at scale. AI can help you optimise funnels and automate conversations.

But AI cannot manufacture trust, clarity, or belief. That still comes from the brand.

How Seraphina started before she was software

Seraphina didn’t begin as code. She began as a way of working.

I had spent years documenting how I think, how I make decisions, how I structure businesses, and how I communicate. Seraphina was simply the name I gave to that system.

Also Read: Building with intention: The ethical dilemma of AI innovation and responsible creation

When people followed my work, they weren’t waiting for features. They were watching outcomes. They saw:

• How decisions became faster
• How operations became lighter
• How I protected my time while scaling multiple ventures

By the time I opened pre-sales, I wasn’t convincing anyone to buy an AI product. I was confirming something they already wanted: Their own version of what they were seeing in action.

That is what a brand does when it’s done right.

Selling the product was not a betrayal of the brand

There’s a myth that selling “too early” cheapens a brand. In reality, not selling at all is what turns brand-building into theatre.

Selling is not anti-brand. Selling is proof that value exists.

The reason Seraphina sold out quickly wasn’t urgency tactics or clever marketing. It was alignment.

The people who bought weren’t random leads. They were already part of the ecosystem — readers, community members, and founders who had been in conversation with me for months.

This is where community enters the picture.

Community is the infrastructure nobody talks about

Brand attracts. Product converts. Community retains — and compounds.

Community is where:

• Brand becomes lived, not claimed
• Product becomes experienced, not promised
• Trust is reinforced without reselling every time

From a business perspective, community:

• Lowers customer acquisition cost
• Increases lifetime value
• Turns customers into advocates
• Reduces dependence on constant marketing spend

From a human perspective, community is where people stay.

Seraphina didn’t sell because of a launch. She sold because there was already a place people belonged.

Why Seraphina could build Seraphina

When I finally stopped looking for the “perfect” team and turned inward, the answer was obvious.

Seraphina worked because:

• My thinking was already structured
• My voice was already clear
• My decisions were already documented

AI didn’t replace me. It reflected me.

This is the uncomfortable truth about AI that many founders are discovering too late: AI doesn’t create clarity. It amplifies whatever clarity — or confusion — already exists.

Founders who struggle with AI aren’t lacking tools. They’re lacking definition.

The pattern I see repeating across founders

This isn’t unique to Seraphina.

Across speakers, creators, and founders, I see the same pattern:

• Loud voices with no structure burn out
• Great products with no community churn
• Fast growth without clarity collapses under pressure

Meanwhile, the founders who are last are quietly doing something different.

They’re not chasing virality. They’re building places people want to return to.

Also Read: How to hack product growth and user acquisition in Thailand

From online systems to offline rooms

This is why, later this year, I’m hosting a Christmas gathering that isn’t positioned as a typical event. Not a conference. Not a pitch fest. Not forced networking.

It’s an intentional space bringing together founders, speakers, creators, and operators to talk about what actually matters heading into 2026: Voice, clarity, authority, and value creation in an AI-first world.

The agenda mirrors the same philosophy behind Seraphina:

• Conversations over performances
• Structure over noise
• Depth over volume

Because communities aren’t built through announcements, they’re built through shared context.

The shift we’re entering in 2026

The creator economy is maturing. The speaker economy is professionalising. The AI wave is accelerating everything — good and bad.

The next era doesn’t belong to those who can shout the loudest. It belongs to those who can:

• Translate voice into value
• Turn content into infrastructure
• Build brands that outlive individual products

In this environment, brand, product, and community are no longer separate strategies. They are one system.

What founders should take away

If you’re building in the AI era, ask yourself:

• Do people understand what you stand for without explanation?
• Does your product deliver a transformation, not just features?
• Is there a reason people would stay even if you stopped posting tomorrow?

If the answer to any of these is no, AI won’t save you.

But if the answer is yes, AI becomes a powerful accelerator.

The real lesson of Seraphina

Seraphina didn’t start as software. She started as a brand with clarity, a product with intent, and a community that believed. The technology was inevitable.

In the end, the most important question for founders isn’t: “How fast can I build?”

It’s: “Have I built enough clarity, trust, and community for the product to want to exist?”

Because in the AI era, code is cheap. Clarity is not.

And clarity, once built, compounds.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

Enjoyed this read? Don’t miss out on the next insight. Join our WhatsApp channel for real-time drops.

Image courtesy of the author.

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The crypto market’s stumble reflects a confluence of structural, technical, and macro forces that have converged with unusual intensity over the past 24 to 48 hours. This pullback lies a triple threat: regulatory inertia in Washington, a violent unwind of speculative leverage across derivatives markets, and the fracturing of key technical support levels that have historically anchored bullish sentiment.

Together, these dynamics have amplified risk-off behaviour across digital assets, pushing the broader market into a 4.12 per cent decline in just one day and extending weekly losses to nearly five per cent. This correction is not merely a knee-jerk reaction to volatility but a manifestation of deeper vulnerabilities that have built up during the recent rally toward all-time highs.

The most immediate catalyst stems from Washington, where the US Senate Banking Committee formally postponed any vote on comprehensive crypto market structure legislation until early 2026. This deferral effectively kills any chance of meaningful regulatory clarity before the next presidential term, leaving the industry in a state of prolonged ambiguity. For years, market participants have pinned hopes on a legislative framework that would delineate jurisdictional boundaries between the SEC and CFTC, provide safe harbours for token issuers, and establish clear rules for spot and derivatives markets.

The delay dashes those expectations and reinforces a narrative of institutional caution. Evidence of this caution surfaced immediately in ETF flows, where US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded US$158.8 million in net outflows during December, signalling a retreat by institutional allocators. Even more telling was the US$19.4 million outflow from Ethereum ETFs on December 15 alone, led by ETHA, which underscores waning confidence in the second-largest digital asset amid both regulatory headwinds and technical deterioration.

Compounding this policy vacuum is a dramatic deleveraging event across the crypto derivatives landscape. Total derivatives volume exploded by 59 per cent to US$330.57 trillion, with perpetual swaps alone surging 166 per cent over 24 hours, a clear sign of speculative fever. But as price momentum stalled, that leverage turned toxic. Bitcoin liquidations spiked to US$174.7 million, a 58 per cent increase from the prior day, with long positions bearing 94 per cent of those losses.

Also Read: From quantitative tightening to quantitative crypto: How policy shifts are rewriting market rules

Ethereum fared no better, suffering US$164.5 million in long-side liquidations as its price tumbled 6.65 per cent. The presence of extreme leverage ratios, with some platforms still offering up to 1001x, is particularly destabilising in this environment, as even minor price movements can trigger cascading margin calls. With open interest still sitting at an elevated US$789 billion, the market remains vulnerable to further forced selling should the downward momentum persist, especially if macro data or external catalysts fail to restore confidence.

Technically, the situation has deteriorated to a critical juncture. Bitcoin now hovers dangerously close to its two-year simple moving average at US$82,800, a level that has historically marked the onset of prolonged bear markets when breached on a weekly close. The broader crypto market capitalisation has slipped below its 30-day moving average of US$3.06 trillion, and the 14-day Relative Strength Index for the aggregate market sits at 36.91, edging toward oversold but still lacking a clear reversal signal.

Perhaps most concerning is the position of long-term holders, specifically the cohort that acquired coins between six and 12 months ago. This group now faces unrealised losses of 11.6 per cent, a threshold that often prompts distribution as conviction wanes. Ethereum’s own technical picture has darkened further with a decisive break below its 200-week moving average near US$2,800, a long-standing pillar of support that, once lost, tends to accelerate downside momentum in multi-month cycles.

Macro crosscurrents have not provided much relief. Equity markets, particularly US tech, are showing signs of fatigue as investors brace for a dense cluster of economic data, headlined by today’s November jobs report. Consensus expectations call for a modest 50,000 payroll gain, but the range is unusually wide, spanning from a contraction of 20,000 jobs to an addition of 127,000. More significantly, the unemployment rate is projected to tick up to 4.5 per cent, a move that could complicate the Federal Reserve’s narrative around labour market resilience.

While a softer report might revive hopes for early 2025 rate cuts, the market remains sceptical given recent hawkish commentary from Fed officials. This uncertainty has kept the VIX anchored in the mid-teens with elevated skew, reflecting demand for downside protection. Meanwhile, the strong correlation between crypto and the Nasdaq, measured at plus 0.89 over the past 24 hours, means that any equity market weakness is likely to spill over into digital assets.

Also Read: Fed decision looms: Crypto cracks under US$3.07T as ETFs bleed US$3.47B in one month

Geopolitical developments add another layer of complexity. US negotiators have reportedly offered Ukraine security guarantees resembling NATO’s Article 5 as part of a potential peace framework, a move that has dampened safe-haven demand for gold and crude oil. Ukrainian peace hopes, combined with Trump’s assertion that a settlement is closer than ever, have triggered a selloff in commodities and shifted risk appetite toward equities and away from defensive assets.

However, this optimism remains fragile, especially with central bank meetings looming from both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England. The pound has softened ahead of the BoE decision, while the yen has firmed just below 155 against the dollar, suggesting that currency markets are also navigating a delicate balance between monetary policy divergence and geopolitical risk.

Against this backdrop, the crypto market finds itself at an inflexion point. The confluence of regulatory delay, leverage collapse, and technical fragility has created a self-reinforcing feedback loop that could deepen losses unless offset by countervailing forces. One such force could come from institutional accumulation.

MicroStrategy’s recent US$980 million Bitcoin purchase demonstrates that some large players view this dip as a strategic entry opportunity. If other corporate treasuries or ETF sponsors follow suit, particularly if today’s jobs data supports a dovish pivot, the market could stabilise above the US$82,800 threshold. Conversely, if payroll numbers come in hot and reinforce the Fed’s higher-for-longer stance, risk assets across the board may face renewed pressure, dragging crypto lower alongside tech equities.

I believe today’s decline is not an isolated event but a symptom of deeper structural imbalances. The next 48 hours, anchored by the US jobs report and central bank commentary, will likely determine whether this pullback evolves into a deeper correction or sets the stage for another leg higher on renewed institutional demand.

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The unfolding legal troubles surrounding Nadiem Makarim mark a pivotal moment for Indonesia’s reform-era governance narrative, particularly at the intersection of public sector digitalisation and accountability.

As a former tech founder-turned-minister, Makarim symbolised a new generation of leadership — data-driven, innovation-oriented, and closely aligned with global technology platforms. That symbolism now sits uncomfortably against allegations tied to major technology procurements during his tenure.

The Chromebook and Google Cloud cases, while legally distinct, point to a broader structural issue: how governments adopt large-scale digital solutions without robust safeguards, transparent procurement processes, and clear separation between policy intent and vendor influence. Digital transformation in education was both urgent and necessary during the pandemic years, but speed cannot substitute for governance discipline.

Equally important is the institutional dynamic on display. The coordination — and tension — between KPK (the corruption eradication commission) and the Attorney General’s Office reflects Indonesia’s ongoing recalibration of anti-corruption enforcement. The decision not to merge the Chromebook and Google Cloud cases underscores the complexity of prosecuting technology procurement, where overlapping timelines, decision-makers, and vendors blur conventional investigative boundaries.

For Indonesia, the stakes extend beyond one individual. This case will shape public trust in education reform, government-tech partnerships, and the credibility of digital procurement going forward. If anything, it reinforces a hard lesson: technological ambition in the public sector must be matched by equally sophisticated oversight, or reform risks being undermined by the very systems meant to modernise it.

REGIONAL

Gojek founder Nadiem Makarim also probed in Google Cloud graft case: The former education minister of Indonesia is suspected to be involved in a case linked to the procurement of Google Cloud services between 2020 and 2022.

Superbank IPO attracts over 1M orders, oversubscribed 318x: The Indonesian digital bank set its IPO price at US$0.04 per share, within its initial range of US$0.03 to US$0.04. It is offering up to 4.4B new shares, equal to 13% of its enlarged capital.

VinFast plans to raise investment up to US$1B in Indonesia: The company recently opened its first plant in Subang, West Java, with an initial production capacity of 50,000 cars a year. VinFast has invested US$300B in Indonesia so far and expects the new plant to reach full capacity in Q1 2026.

January Capital raises over US$130M to bring growth credit to Asia’s tech sector: The new fund provides senior secured loans to growth-stage tech firms seeking scale without dilution in an underdeveloped regional credit market.

Malaysian investment firm Halogen Capital raises US$3.2m funding: Investors include Kenanga Investment Bank, 500 Global, Digital Currency Group, and The Hive. The company will use the money to expand its tokenisation of real-world assets such as unit trust funds, bonds, sukuk, private credit, and real estate.

Turn Capital bets on influencer-driven fashion with FRND acquisition: The operator-led investor acquires Taiwan-based FRND to scale creator-led fashion brands, deepen community commerce, and expand its consumer technology footprint across Asia.

Malaysia to regulate major social media platforms from 2026: Services such as Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube, and Telegram will be automatically registered as licensees under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

StraitsX to launch XSGD, XUSD stablecoins on Solana in 2026: The integration is aimed at enabling real-time SGD and USD settlement on Solana, which is known for low-cost and fast transactions. StraitsX said its stablecoins have processed over US$18B in on-chain volume across multiple blockchains.

REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

AI-ready but not AI-proof: The skills gap Southeast Asia must close: The region is rapidly adopting AI, but lasting growth depends on closing skills gaps and scaling infrastructure beyond pilot-led experimentation.

AI is already in Asia’s legal sector — The question is who’s falling behind: AI adoption is surging across Asia’s legal sector, forcing firms to rethink skills, business models, and trust in rapidly evolving legal tech.

From search to suggestion: How AI is rewiring SEA’s path to purchase: AI-driven discovery is replacing linear search in Southeast Asia, reshaping how consumers explore, engage, and convert across media and commerce.

Web3 gaming evolves: Prioritising fun over blockchain hype in 2026: Mainstream adoption of Web3 gaming lags due to persistent hurdles. Many projects still struggle with onboarding, user experience, and scepticism.

Top 27 contributors of 2025: Voices that defined the year: These voices helped make 2025 smarter, clearer, and more connected. They challenged assumptions, shared practical lessons, and gave the ecosystem frameworks to act on.

INTERNATIONAL

Musk’s net worth hits US$600B as SpaceX prepares for IPO: Musk’s fortune rose after SpaceX, his rocket company, launched a tender offer that valued the firm at US$800B, up from US$400B in August.
Forbes estimates Musk owns 42% of SpaceX, making his stake in the company worth about US$336B.

South Korea to implement AI law in January 2026: The AI framework act includes the formation of a national AI committee, a three-year plan, and mandates on safety, transparency, and disclosure for certain AI systems.

Animoca Brands to take stake in Chinese investment platform’s unit: Animoca intends to acquire up to a 15% equity stake in GROW Investment Group’s unit GROW Asset Management (HK) Limited. It aims to offer both cryptocurrency and traditional finance investment products to family offices and UHNIs in Asia.

ByteDance tops China’s tech hiring as AI jobs surge, says report: The company, which owns TikTok, recorded a hiring index of 897, outpacing Meituan at 587, and Alibaba at 407. AI-related job postings across China jumped 543% year-on-year.

OpenAI communications chief to step down in January: Hannah Wong joined the AI firm in 2021 and took on the chief communications officer role in August 2024. During her tenure, she led OpenAI’s communications team through a period of rapid growth and the company’s internal leadership crisis in 2023.

SEC chair warns crypto could become financial surveillance tool: Paul Atkins said blockchains are effective at linking transactions to individuals, raising concerns about government overreach. He also said it is possible to balance national security needs with individual privacy.

SEMICONDUCTOR

South Korea to invest over US$20B in AI, chips in 2026: The fund is part of a US$102B initiative, one of President Lee Jae Myung’s key economic pledges, aimed at accelerating AI adoption and supporting key industries like chips, secondary batteries, and biotechnology over five years.

Nvidia acquires US AI software provider SchedMD: SchedMD’s Slurm software is used to schedule and manage large-scale computing jobs, and is widely adopted by researchers and companies working with high-performance computing and AI.

Intel said to in US$1.6B talks to buy US AI chip startup SambaNova: SambaNova, founded in 2017 by Stanford professors, designs custom AI chips and was valued at US$5B in a 2021 funding round. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is also chairman of SambaNova, and his venture firm Walden International was an early investor.

Global chipmaker STMicro ships 5B chips to Starlink: The Geneva-based chipmaker supplies specialised chips designed to withstand the demands of space, supporting Starlink’s user terminals across more than 150 markets.

AI

For Singapore, the real AI race is institutional, not just technological: The AI race isn’t just US versus China; adaptive states like Singapore can shape AI power by renewing state–enterprise compacts, scaling national champions, and broadening AI fluency.

AI fluency or disaster: Decide before it decides for you: Deloitte’s fabricated-citation scandals show AI didn’t fail; human processes did—organisations defaulted to automation without AI fluency, judgement, verification, and accountability, turning powerful tools into costly liabilities for high-stakes public work.

AI’s reality check: Why 95% of pilots fail and how to measure what actually matters: AI delivers real value only when embedded into existing workflows, measured through clear operational ROI, and supported by trust and governance.

Is AI replacing digital marketing agencies or just exposing the ones that needed to grow up?: AI automates marketing execution, forcing agencies to shift toward strategic judgement, cultural insight and creative direction.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SEA Founders, take note: Nvidia’s ecosystem strategy is your 2026 survival guide: Nvidia’s ecosystem strategy powers its AI computing lead and offers lessons Southeast Asian startups can use to scale globally.

Quiet confidence vs loud branding: What actually works in Asia?: In Asia, especially in markets with deeply ingrained local players and government dynamics, loudness alone doesn’t guarantee longevity. If you’re going loud, you’d better have the product and operations to back it up.

Why Bitcoin’s correlation with gold just hit a record high: Asian markets are retreating as AI-fuelled tech optimism fades, investors rotate to gold, and crypto shows hidden fragility—thin liquidity, weakening sentiment, and deleveraging leave Bitcoin stable-looking but increasingly brittle.

From CFO to founder: How I built a US$200M company by turning entrepreneurs into co-investors: A founder-stakeholder model shows how empowering entrepreneurial leaders can turn acquisitions into enduring, people-driven growth.

The age gap in startups: Why Southeast Asia needs both 22- year-old hackers and 40-year-old operators: The region often treats generations separately, yet the strongest companies emerge when youthful momentum meets lived experience.

Emerging sleeping giant: Why global investors can’t afford to overlook Bangladesh: The country is emerging as a compelling, underpriced investment market, driven by strong economic growth, rapid digital adoption, demographic dividends, and disciplined, mission-driven founders building sustainable startups.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: Nadiem Makarim probed in Google Cloud graft case; January Capital raises US$130M; Superbank IPO oversubscribed 318x; S Korea AI law set for 2026 appeared first on e27.

In a world where lifestyle-related diseases like obesity are becoming increasingly prevalent and placing a growing and unsustainable burden on our healthcare systems, innovative healthcare solutions are critical. Globally, we face a rising tide of obesity and, with this, an alarming increase in interconnected health issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension, which diminish quality of life and complicate patient outcomes. 

In 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 39 per cent of adults were overweight and 13 per cent were obese. What was once considered a high-income country problem, the issue of being overweight is now on the rise in low and middle-income countries. The problem in the region is becoming so significant that at the end of 2024, WHO called specifically on South-East Asian Nations to do more to tackle obesity.

“These trends have fuelled a surge in non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, which are now responsible for nearly two-thirds of all deaths in our Region,” said Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, speaking at an event to promote healthier living.

Singapore’s obesity problem reflects this growing trend — 30 per cent of people in the country are overweight, and 12 per cent are obese, contributing significantly to the consequences of the disease on the community, including health, social, and economic costs.

It is also a leading risk factor for other serious conditions with nearly one in three deaths in Singapore the result of cardiovascular disease while the country has one of the highest rates of end-stage renal disease in the world, with over 6,000 patients on dialysis, a number that continues to rise each year. Meanwhile diabetes contributes to more than 20 per cent of deaths in Singapore.

To tackle this, a multi-pronged approach is needed including promoting physical activity and better diets and increasing access to healthcare professionals who can support people with the right interventions on what is often a complex journey.

A flexible, patient-centred approach

With these challenges in mind, the hybrid weight management care model recently launched by ORA Group in Singapore represents a significant step forward in offering, personalised care to individuals struggling with obesity and its associated chronic conditions. Having partnered with Arden Endocrinology Specialist Clinic, one of the key aspects of the hybrid model is its adaptability, combining both in-person options and virtual healthcare services to cater to the diverse needs of patients.

By blending virtual healthcare with in-person consultations, ORA’s approach reflects the importance of offering flexible access in order to break down barriers and deliver effective, sustainable weight management solutions tailored to the needs of patients.

Also Read: Decoding digital preferences: A glimpse into the future of health tech ecosystem in SEA

Services that now offer convenient options to patients are particularly important in a fast-paced society like Singapore, where time constraints and busy schedules can often prevent individuals from seeking the care they need.

The option to have consultations via telehealth ensures that patients who may struggle to attend physical appointments due to tight schedules, mobility issues, or social anxiety or stigma are still able to access expert advice and support. On the other hand, patients who prefer face-to-face interactions or require more hands-on care can opt for in-person visits. 

This is crucial, particularly when managing something as complicated and deeply personal as weight and obesity. It’s important to create an environment where patients feel supported on their weight management journey, which is vital for long-term success.

A holistic approach to weight management

Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) lists obesity, and the closely associated conditions of hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol), hypertension (high blood pressure), and diabetes as the top four health burdens on society.

To address this, Singapore has adopted a nationwide approach that promotes healthy eating and physical activity through a strategy that includes public education campaigns, policies to limit unhealthy food promotion, expanded access to exercise facilities, and the integration of healthy choices into school programs.

Led by the Health Promotion Board, initiatives such as the “National Steps Challenge” and the “Healthier Choice Symbol” on food products aim to make healthier options more accessible and available to people of all ages. With a focus on a holistic approach, the “Healthier SG” programme encourages people to take note of key vitals like weight and blood pressure and to set health goals with a healthcare provider. 

ORA’s hybrid model supports the Singapore government’s approach which is to go beyond simply encouraging weight loss and delve deeper into the underlying factors contributing to obesity, such as poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and hormonal imbalances.

By also integrating evidence-based anti-obesity medical treatments with lifestyle modifications, we are now seeing more services providing a comprehensive solution that addresses all aspects of weight management which is vital in tackling the explosion of obesity-related problems globally.

Maintaining quality in both virtual and in-person care

Singapore’s government has expressed growing concerns about the rise of telehealth providers, particularly in terms of ensuring the quality and safety of services delivered remotely. While telehealth offers convenience and greater access to care, the government has recently warned of the potential for misdiagnosis, lack of regulatory oversight, and compromised patient data security, while also citing telehealth as having an important role to play.

Also Read: What telemedicine and Health Tech holds across SEA amidst COVID-19

In response, authorities have been working to establish clear guidelines and regulations to ensure that telehealth services meet the same high standards as traditional healthcare, including ensuring proper accreditation, protecting patient privacy, and promoting ethical practices. Balancing innovation with safety remains a key priority for the government as telehealth continues to grow in Singapore

A common concern with telehealth services is ensuring the same level of quality and care as in-person visits. In a healthcare environment as advanced as Singapore’s, where quality standards are high, maintaining consistency in care across both virtual and physical consultations is essential.

But in the face of any concerns, the MOH has recognised the role technology and telehealth can play in breaking down barriers to access saying “It is important to recognise that telemedicine can bring tremendous benefits to patients, especially those who are immobile, or doing regular follow-ups. It makes healthcare much more accessible and convenient to our patients.”

Expanding the hybrid model to address chronic disease

Looking beyond Singapore, the potential for a hybrid care model to be adopted in other countries facing similar obesity-related challenges is immense. Countries across Asia, where obesity rates are rising rapidly, could benefit greatly from such a scalable and adaptable model.

By offering a hybrid solution that integrates virtual consultations, in-person care, and multidisciplinary expertise, this model can be customised to fit the unique needs of each country and healthcare system, ultimately contributing to the global effort to combat obesity and chronic diseases.

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the future of weight management lies in the integration of technology, patient-centred care, and multidisciplinary expertise. With the rise of chronic diseases linked to obesity, it is crucial that innovative solutions become more widespread, not only in Singapore but globally.

The hybrid care model has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals struggling with obesity, enabling them to achieve sustainable weight loss and better management of chronic diseases, ultimately improving overall public health outcomes.

The future is one where healthcare is flexible, accessible, and tailored to the individual—ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight for better health.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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It has become the quiet cry of a generation: “Kabur aja dulu”, or “just run away first.” Among Indonesia’s youth, it captures both the frustration and the fragile hope of a population caught between ambition and stagnation.

Despite being one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and youthful societies, millions of young Indonesians are struggling to find meaningful work. They are educated, tech-savvy, and globally aware, yet trapped in an economy that still leans heavily on primary industries and low-value exports.

In a system built around extraction rather than innovation, the sheer number of university graduates has become a double-edged sword.

The economy is producing more diplomas than it can absorb. The result? A widening skills mismatch, where degree holders chase scarce white-collar roles while global opportunities in the digital and creative sectors remain out of reach.

Meanwhile, regulatory friction and outdated labour policies continue to make it difficult for startups and freelancers to thrive. Complex licensing procedures, uncertain digital taxation, and rigid employment frameworks discourage innovation at a time when flexibility should be Indonesia’s greatest strength.

Adding to this, capital bottlenecks have stifled momentum. After the venture-capital slowdown in 2022, many promising SMEs and digital startups saw their runway vanish just as demand for online services surged. High-profile cases of fund mismanagement, most notably the eFishery scandal, have also made investors wary of committing large sums to promising startups for fear of a repeat.

Local capital markets remain shallow, and risk appetite among investors conservative, making it hard for new players to scale.

All of this points to a single truth: Indonesia’s youth are not running away because they want to… they are running because the system gives them no space to grow.

Indonesia’s turning point: From resilience to renewal

Yet, despite the turbulence, a quiet revolution is taking place. Across Indonesia, young people are rewriting their own futures — not by waiting for the system to change, but by changing how they participate in it.

Digital-first re-skilling

A growing number of Indonesians are turning to online education as their bridge to global relevance.

Platforms like Coursera, RevoU, Dicoding, and LinkedIn Learning have become the new universities of the digital age, teaching marketing, data, UX, project management, and freelancing skills that align with global demand.

This movement signals a profound shift: the most valuable degree today is adaptability.

Also Read: Building Indonesia’s green momentum: What comes after 2025’s lessons

Remote work normalisation

With the normalisation of remote work, geography is no longer destiny.

Thousands of Indonesians now work for regional employers in Singapore, Malaysia, or the Philippines without ever leaving home, creating cross-border income streams that fuel local economies.

Each new contract signed abroad is a small act of economic independence, a rejection of the old belief that opportunity only exists outside Indonesia.

Platform-driven entrepreneurship

At the same time, digital platforms are turning individuals into micro-enterprises.

From content creators on TikTok and YouTube, to freelance designers and developers on Fiverr, Upwork, and Toptal — Indonesians are monetising their creativity and skills directly.

They are no longer waiting for companies to hire them; they are hiring themselves. The once passive “job seeker” has evolved into an active “job creator.”

Policy awakening

Even the government is catching up. Initiatives like Kartu Prakerja, the Digital Talent Scholarship, and the IKN tech zones mark an acknowledgement that the next chapter of Indonesia’s growth will be written not by oil or palm exports, but by the export of human capability.

As the fourth most populous country in the world, in an era of global declining birthrates, the nation’s greatest resource is not in its ground, but in its people.

Also Read: What new digital solutions mean for Indonesia’s F&B sector

What the individual can do

While macroeconomic winds shift slowly, individuals can move fast, and this is where the transformation begins.

• Build skills the world needs

Don’t wait for government certification. Earn globally recognised credentials in coding, design, digital marketing, or remote project management. Online learning platforms are your passport to relevance.

• Create income streams without borders

Freelancing and remote roles are no longer niche; they are the new normal. A polished profile, clear portfolio, and proof of execution can unlock clients in ASEAN and beyond.

• Plug into global networks

The new job markets exist in digital communities: on LinkedIn, Slack, and Discord. Show your work, share insights, and collaborate across borders. Opportunities now travel through relationships, not résumés.

• Think like a founder, even as a freelancer

Treat yourself like a business: brand well, deliver consistently, and reinvest earnings into tools and new skills. The mindset of ownership is what separates those who survive from those who scale.

The larger picture

If 2025 was the year of frustration, 2026 can be the year of awakening.

Indonesia stands on the edge of a transformation where its youth are not simply workers, but builders of value in the global economy.

Each skill learned, each client served, and each collaboration formed across borders becomes part of a new growth engine: one powered by agency, adaptability, and ambition.

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