AUGUSTASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9NEWSROOMSYNAGISTICS LAUNCHES SDFG TO BOOST ASIA'S DIGITAL FINANCESouth Korean AI chipmaker Rebellions has secured a strategic investment from Samsung, as part of its current funding round aimed at raising between US$150 million and US$200 million, according to CFO Sungkyue Shin.While Samsung's contribution amount has not been disclosed, it marks a significant endorsement from one of the world's largest semiconductor firms. Founded in 2020, Rebellions has now raised US$220 million in total. The startup gained significant traction following its 2023 merger with Sapeon, another South Korean chipmaker. The combined entity has focused on developing AI inferencing chips, which are designed to interpret real-time data using pre-trained artificial intelligence models--an area currently dominated by Nvidia.Rebellions has positioned itself as a competitive alternative to Nvidia, catering to growing demand from data centers and edge computing environments. The company is backed by major investors including SK Hynix, SK Telecom, Korea Telecom, and Saudi Aramco. It was last valued at US$1 billion, and the current funding round is expected to increase that valuation significantly.The company also revealed plans to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) following the successful completion of the round. As global interest in AI infrastructure and custom silicon solutions grows, Rebellions is aiming to carve out a leadership position in Asia and beyond.This funding not only enhances Rebellions' R&D capabilities but also signals growing confidence in Asia's homegrown alternatives to US-based chipmakers. Synagistics Limited, Southeast Asia's top AI-driven digital commerce platform, has formally entered the programmable finance arena with the establishment of Synagistics Digital Finance Group (SDFG). The endeavor aims to create multi-currency stablecoins and tokenization solutions for real-world assets to construct Asia's future digital finance infrastructure.SDFG will connect conventional finance and blockchain technologies by allowing the tokenized settlement of assets like trade receivables, inventory, and future cash flows. These settlements will be made with stablecoins that are pegged to different Asian currencies, including the HKD, offshore RMB (CNY-H), and SGD, enhancing cross-border liquidity, interoperability, and efficiency in trade finance.Olive Tai, CEO of Synagistics Limited said, "As Asia hurtles toward digital integration, the financial rails that fuel trade need to change. With SDFG, we're establishing critical infrastructure to unlock efficiencies and financial inclusion along Asia's rapidly growing trade corridors."SDFG will be headed by Katherine Tsang, ex-Chairperson Greater China at Standard Chartered and present Independent Non-Executive Director at China CITIC Bank International and Fidelity Emerging Markets. "Our mission is to build a trusted, scalable platform that enables sovereign currencies, increases regional liquidity, and empowers businesses with 24/7 programmable money," Tsang said.Supported by Synagistics' current relationships with China Post Hong Kong and Jiangsu Soho, SDFG is investing programmable finance into AI-driven trade platforms. These moves will benefit SMEs and exporters by speeding up real-time payments and settlements, particularly in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) markets.With Southeast Asia's e-commerce GMV projected to exceed USD 295 billion by 2025, and intra-Asia trade at over USD 700 billion, SDFG is well-positioned to be a leading player in addressing increasing demand for compliant, tokenized finance solutions. SAMSUNG BACKS AI CHIPMAKER REBELLIONS IN $200M ROUND· South Korean AI chipmaker Rebellions receives investment from Samsung.· Part of an ongoing funding round of US$150M­$200M· Rebellions has raised US$220M since 2020.· Synagistics launches SDFG to develop multi-currency stablecoins and tokenized real-world asset solutions across Asia.· SDFG aims to bridge traditional finance with blockchain, enhancing cross-border liquidity and trade efficiency.· Led by Katherine Tsang, the initiative will leverage AI-powered platforms to fast-track adoption in BRI and Southeast Asian markets.
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