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Halogen Capital Completes RM13.3 Million Funding Round, Led by Kenanga Investment Bank and 500 Global, to Drive Digital Asset Innovation in Malaysia

Asia Pacific

Halogen Capital Completes RM13.3 Million Funding Round, Led by Kenanga Investment Bank and 500 Global, to Drive Digital Asset Innovation in Malaysia
Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific

Halogen Capital Completes RM13.3 Million Funding Round, Led by Kenanga Investment Bank and 500 Global, to Drive Digital Asset Innovation in Malaysia

2025-12-15 13:30 Last Updated At:13:42

Kenanga leads the funding round, with participation from global and regional investors.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 December 2025 – Halogen Capital Sdn Bhd ("Halogen Capital"), Malaysia's first and only licensed digital asset fund manager, today announced the successful completion of its RM13.3 million (USD3.2 million) funding round, with Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad ("Kenanga"), Malaysia's leading independent investment bank, as the lead investor, alongside 500 Global, a leading global venture capital firm, and other investors. Following this, with its 14.9% stake, Kenanga now holds the largest institutional shareholding in Halogen Capital.

From left to right: Lucas Ooi Ki Siong, Founder & Chief Business Officer of Halogen Capital; Ng Moon Ho, Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Halogen Capital; Liew Ooi Hann, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Halogen Capital; Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad, Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Investors Berhad (“KIB”), Ranjit Singh Gill, Director & Head of Product & Market Development of KIB; Datuk Kenny Yong Foo Ken, Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Private Equity Sdn Bhd From left to right: Lucas Ooi Ki Siong, Founder & Chief Business Officer of Halogen Capital; Ng Moon Ho, Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Halogen Capital; Liew Ooi Hann, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Halogen Capital; Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad, Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Investors Berhad (“KIB”), Ranjit Singh Gill, Director & Head of Product & Market Development of KIB; Datuk Kenny Yong Foo Ken, Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Private Equity Sdn Bhd

The funding, made through Kenanga's wholly-owned subsidiary, Kenanga Private Equity Sdn Bhd, will support Halogen Capital to advance its Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenisation strategy, including onshore unit trust funds, bonds, sukuk, private credit, and real estate, creating broader access to investment opportunities that have traditionally been available primarily to institutional and high-net-worth investors. Building on Halogen Capital's expertise in asset tokenisation and digital asset fund management, and combined with Kenanga's institutional strength, brand recognition, and regional partnerships, the initiative will provide innovative investment opportunities for investors in Malaysia and beyond.

"This funding round represents an important step in advancing Kenanga's digital asset ecosystem," said Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad. "Our investment in Halogen Capital—alongside our other investments in digital-first businesses such as KDX, Helicap and Merchantrade—reflects our conviction that the future of finance will be defined by innovation, supported by strong governance and transparency. By leveraging blockchain and tokenisation, as well as strengthening our network of digital platforms, we aim to redefine how investors engage with capital markets, making them more efficient, accessible and globally competitive. Together, these initiatives are laying the foundation for products that anticipate the evolving needs of investors and businesses in a rapidly changing financial environment," concluded Datuk Chay.

"The completion of this round marks an important milestone as we continue building Malaysia's institutional digital asset investing landscape," added Liew Ooi Hann, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Halogen Capital. "We are encouraged by the confidence shown by Kenanga, as well as our other notable investors, which include 500 Global, Digital Currency Group, The Hive Southeast Asia, Jelawang Capital, and Mythos Venture Partners. Their support reinforces the growing recognition of digital assets as an integral part of global capital markets. Institutional participation is rising steadily worldwide, with more than RM744 billion (USD181 billion) now held in corporate crypto treasuries. Malaysia is experiencing the same shift, and demand for regulated, professionally managed exposure has accelerated over the past three years. With the backing of leading investors, we are well-positioned to accelerate product innovation and expand access to institutional-grade digital asset investments," said Liew.

Since launching in 2023 as the pioneer of the world's first Shariah-compliant cryptocurrency funds, Halogen Capital has grown its assets under management (AUM) to around RM400 million as of November 2025. This includes the Halogen Shariah Bitcoin Fund, which has emerged as one of Malaysia's top-performing funds since its inception, as reflected in the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Lipper data. Today, Halogen Capital serves a fast-growing investor base numbering in the thousands, including high-net-worth individuals, family offices, corporates, and institutional investors, across eight wholesale funds and private mandates—supported by a network of more than 15 distributors including commercial banks and Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia (FIMM)-approved distributors.

Leveraging Halogen Capital's expertise and growing investor base, alongside Kenanga's investment, the initiative will offer broader, differentiated product offerings—including new digital asset investment products, safer access to crypto yield generation, and tokenised securities backed by onshore Malaysian assets. These initiatives are complemented by the Securities Commission Malaysia's ongoing efforts to tokenise securities and develop regulatory guidance for blockchain-based investments and distributed ledger technology, ensuring that the development of digital asset solutions remains secure, compliant, and aligned with regulatory standards.

Hashtag: #Kenanga

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (197301002193 (15678-H))

Established for over 50 years, Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad ("The Group") is a leading financial group in Malaysia, offering a wide range of services, including equity broking, investment banking, treasury, Islamic banking, listed derivatives, investment management, wealth management, structured lending, and trade financing. The Group's digital innovations include the launch of KDi GO, a wealth-centric app, along with game- changing products such as Rakuten Trade, Malaysia's first fully digital stockbroking platform, and Kenanga Digital Investing, an A.I. robo-advisor.

The Group has garnered multiple awards, including top honours at the Bursa Excellence Awards 2024 and The Edge Malaysia Centurion Club 2023. The Group also secured the Top 20 Overall Excellence and the Niche Cap Excellence Award at the National Corporate Governance and Sustainability Awards 2024. As one of the highest- scoring constituents of the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index and a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact, Kenanga continues to drive collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in the financial industry.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 December 2025 – Halogen Capital Sdn Bhd ("Halogen Capital"), Malaysia's first and only licensed digital asset fund manager, today announced the successful completion of its RM13.3 million (USD3.2 million) funding round, with Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad ("Kenanga"), Malaysia's leading independent investment bank, as the lead investor, alongside 500 Global, a leading global venture capital firm, and other investors. Following this, with its 14.9% stake, Kenanga now holds the largest institutional shareholding in Halogen Capital.

From left to right: Lucas Ooi Ki Siong, Founder & Chief Business Officer of Halogen Capital; Ng Moon Ho, Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Halogen Capital; Liew Ooi Hann, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Halogen Capital; Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad, Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Investors Berhad (“KIB”), Ranjit Singh Gill, Director & Head of Product & Market Development of KIB; Datuk Kenny Yong Foo Ken, Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Private Equity Sdn Bhd

From left to right: Lucas Ooi Ki Siong, Founder & Chief Business Officer of Halogen Capital; Ng Moon Ho, Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Halogen Capital; Liew Ooi Hann, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Halogen Capital; Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad, Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Investors Berhad (“KIB”), Ranjit Singh Gill, Director & Head of Product & Market Development of KIB; Datuk Kenny Yong Foo Ken, Chief Executive Officer of Kenanga Private Equity Sdn Bhd

The funding, made through Kenanga's wholly-owned subsidiary, Kenanga Private Equity Sdn Bhd, will support Halogen Capital to advance its Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenisation strategy, including onshore unit trust funds, bonds, sukuk, private credit, and real estate, creating broader access to investment opportunities that have traditionally been available primarily to institutional and high-net-worth investors. Building on Halogen Capital's expertise in asset tokenisation and digital asset fund management, and combined with Kenanga's institutional strength, brand recognition, and regional partnerships, the initiative will provide innovative investment opportunities for investors in Malaysia and beyond.

"This funding round represents an important step in advancing Kenanga's digital asset ecosystem," said Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad. "Our investment in Halogen Capital—alongside our other investments in digital-first businesses such as KDX, Helicap and Merchantrade—reflects our conviction that the future of finance will be defined by innovation, supported by strong governance and transparency. By leveraging blockchain and tokenisation, as well as strengthening our network of digital platforms, we aim to redefine how investors engage with capital markets, making them more efficient, accessible and globally competitive. Together, these initiatives are laying the foundation for products that anticipate the evolving needs of investors and businesses in a rapidly changing financial environment," concluded Datuk Chay.

"The completion of this round marks an important milestone as we continue building Malaysia's institutional digital asset investing landscape," added Liew Ooi Hann, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Halogen Capital. "We are encouraged by the confidence shown by Kenanga, as well as our other notable investors, which include 500 Global, Digital Currency Group, The Hive Southeast Asia, Jelawang Capital, and Mythos Venture Partners. Their support reinforces the growing recognition of digital assets as an integral part of global capital markets. Institutional participation is rising steadily worldwide, with more than RM744 billion (USD181 billion) now held in corporate crypto treasuries. Malaysia is experiencing the same shift, and demand for regulated, professionally managed exposure has accelerated over the past three years. With the backing of leading investors, we are well-positioned to accelerate product innovation and expand access to institutional-grade digital asset investments," said Liew.

Since launching in 2023 as the pioneer of the world's first Shariah-compliant cryptocurrency funds, Halogen Capital has grown its assets under management (AUM) to around RM400 million as of November 2025. This includes the Halogen Shariah Bitcoin Fund, which has emerged as one of Malaysia's top-performing funds since its inception, as reflected in the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Lipper data. Today, Halogen Capital serves a fast-growing investor base numbering in the thousands, including high-net-worth individuals, family offices, corporates, and institutional investors, across eight wholesale funds and private mandates—supported by a network of more than 15 distributors including commercial banks and Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia (FIMM)-approved distributors.

Leveraging Halogen Capital's expertise and growing investor base, alongside Kenanga's investment, the initiative will offer broader, differentiated product offerings—including new digital asset investment products, safer access to crypto yield generation, and tokenised securities backed by onshore Malaysian assets. These initiatives are complemented by the Securities Commission Malaysia's ongoing efforts to tokenise securities and develop regulatory guidance for blockchain-based investments and distributed ledger technology, ensuring that the development of digital asset solutions remains secure, compliant, and aligned with regulatory standards.

Hashtag: #Kenanga

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (197301002193 (15678-H))

Established for over 50 years, Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad ("The Group") is a leading financial group in Malaysia, offering a wide range of services, including equity broking, investment banking, treasury, Islamic banking, listed derivatives, investment management, wealth management, structured lending, and trade financing. The Group's digital innovations include the launch of KDi GO, a wealth-centric app, along with game- changing products such as Rakuten Trade, Malaysia's first fully digital stockbroking platform, and Kenanga Digital Investing, an A.I. robo-advisor.

The Group has garnered multiple awards, including top honours at the Bursa Excellence Awards 2024 and The Edge Malaysia Centurion Club 2023. The Group also secured the Top 20 Overall Excellence and the Niche Cap Excellence Award at the National Corporate Governance and Sustainability Awards 2024. As one of the highest- scoring constituents of the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index and a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact, Kenanga continues to drive collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in the financial industry.

** The press release content is from Media OutReach Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

MUMBAI, INDIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 May 2026 - Vinpearl Joint Stock Company has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Thomas Cook India, SOTC Travel, and MakeMyTrip, three of India's leading travel and tourism companies. The strategic partnerships are aimed at directly and comprehensively reaching all customer segments, helping position Vietnam as a "preferred destination" in the world's most populous country.

The agreements were signed at the Vietnam–India Business Forum, held as part of the State visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to India, in the presence of General Secretary and President To Lam and Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis.

The partnerships are expected to open direct access channels to all customer segments, stimulate travel demand and experiential tourism, and ultimately position Vietnam as a "preferred destination" for India's 1.47 billion people.

Representing India are three of the country's most influential and trusted travel distribution channels: Thomas Cook India, SOTC Travel, and MakeMyTrip. Thomas Cook India has strong expertise in group travel, corporate travel, and large-scale MICE tourism. SOTC Travel is well known for family vacations, group tours, and mid- to high-end leisure travel. Meanwhile, MakeMyTrip, India's leading online travel platform, has a strong advantage in reaching younger travelers, independent tourists, and digitally-driven booking behaviors.

Representing Vietnam is Vinpearl, the country's leading hospitality, tourism, and entertainment brand, operating nearly 60 properties nationwide. Its diverse five-star "all-in-one" ecosystem offers accommodation, shopping, dining, entertainment, golf, and MICE services, making it particularly well-suited to the travel preferences of Indian visitors, including large group travel, multi-generational family vacations, and experience-rich holidays.

Through these partnerships, the parties aim to maximize each other's strengths, enhance tourism development capabilities, and shape tailored travel products, gradually positioning Vietnam as a "preferred destination" for Indian travelers in the near future.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Ngo Thi Huong, CEO of Vinpearl, said: "India is one of the key markets in Vinpearl's international expansion strategy. Through partnerships with leading industry players, we are not only broadening our market reach but also proactively developing products tailored to each customer segment. Vinpearl aims to strengthen its presence in the Indian market while contributing to positioning Vietnam as an attractive and distinctive destination on the global tourism map."

Mr. Anubhav Bansal, Vice President of MakeMyTrip and representative of the three Indian partners, added: "Vinpearl operates one of the region's leading integrated tourism and hospitality ecosystems, with a scale, product diversity, and destination experience portfolio that increasingly align with the preferences of Indian travelers. We believe Vinpearl is playing an important role in positioning Vietnam as an attractive destination for this market. Combined with the extensive distribution strengths of both sides, this partnership is expected to significantly boost Indian tourist arrivals to Vietnam in the coming years."

India is currently the world's most populous country, with 1.47 billion people. The country's rapidly expanding middle class is driving a strong surge in demand for international travel.

Recognizing the strategic importance of the Indian market, Vinpearl has not only leveraged its scale and integrated "all-in-one" ecosystem but has also continuously developed specialized offerings for Indian travelers, including luxury wedding tourism, MICE travel, multi-generational family holidays, group trips, and couple getaways. In 2025, the number of Indian guests staying within the Vinpearl system surged by a record 402% year-on-year, followed by a further 335% increase during the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.

The signing of MoUs with these three major market access partners marks the next step in Vinpearl's strategy to sustainably grow its visitor base from the 1.47 billion-population Indian market, while also helping position Vietnam as a "preferred destination" for Indian travelers.

Hashtag: #Vinpearl

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Vinpearl

Vinpearl is Vietnam's leading hospitality, tourism, and entertainment brand, currently operating 60 properties across 20 provinces and cities nationwide. Its ecosystem includes a network of five-star hotels and resorts in 35 provinces and cities with more than 17,300 rooms; 15 VinWonders theme parks offering attractions for all age groups; six world-class golf courses; and three international-standard convention centers and theaters under the VinPalace brand. The ecosystem also features two semi-wildlife conservation and care parks, an equestrian academy, and spectacular multi-million-dollar live performance shows in destinations such as Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, attracting millions of visitors each year.

About Thomas Cook India

Founded in 1881, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL) is one of India's leading omnichannel travel and tourism groups, operating across foreign exchange, corporate travel, MICE, leisure travel, and value-added services.

TCIL owns and operates several major B2C and B2B brands, including Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, SITA, Sterling Holiday Resorts, Asian Trails, and Desert Adventures. The group has a presence in 28 countries across five continents and is one of the largest travel service networks headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region.

About SOTC Travel

Established in 1949, SOTC Travel is one of India's oldest and most reputable travel and tourism brands. The company is part of Fairfax Financial Holdings through Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL).

Operating through an omnichannel model, SOTC offers a wide range of services across leisure travel, incentive travel, and corporate travel. With more than 75 years of experience, SOTC has served millions of travelers across destinations worldwide and is recognized for its deep understanding of Indian travelers' preferences and behaviors.

About MakeMyTrip

MakeMyTrip is India's leading online travel booking platform, holding a dominant position in flight bookings, hotel reservations, and travel packages. With tens of millions of users and a strong digital ecosystem, MakeMyTrip covers the entire customer journey while maintaining a strong advantage in reaching younger travelers and independent tourists.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Vinpearl Partners With Three Leading Indian Travel Companies, Unlocking Access To A 1.47 Billion-Person Market

Vinpearl Partners With Three Leading Indian Travel Companies, Unlocking Access To A 1.47 Billion-Person Market

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