Telcoin Bank has received approval to establish Nebraska’s first Digital Asset Depository Institution, while KKR and Gaw Capital are in discussions to sell the Hyatt Regency hotel in Tokyo to Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corp. Separately, Japanese logistics firm Kyotsu Co. Ltd. has acquired a 67% stake in Indonesia’s PT Arrow Chain Management Logistics.
Telcoin gets nod from Nebraska’s banking dept
Singapore-headquartered fintech firm Telcoin, through Telcoin Bank, has received conditional approval from Nebraska’s Department of Banking and Finance to establish the state’s first Digital Asset Depository Institution, making it the US’s first regulated crypto bank.
Telcoin Bank aims to disrupt the $200-billion stablecoin market by offering bank-issued stablecoins and blockchain-integrated financial services.
Launching early this year, Telcoin Bank will introduce eUSD, the first bank-issued stablecoin, as part of its multi-currency Digital Cash strategy. The company said this initial launch will provide the foundation for a wider suite of digital financial products.
Under the Nebraska Financial Innovation Act, Telcoin Bank will also expand into crypto deposits, DeFi staking, and digital asset loans, further integrating blockchain into mainstream finance.
In Singapore, Telcoin operates as a licensed Major Payment Institution, while the group’s subsidiaries are also registered as a European virtual asset service provider in Lithuania and a money services business in the US, Canada, and Australia.
KKR, Gaw may sell Tokyo Hyatt Regency for over $640m
Global private equity KKR and Gaw Capital are in discussions to sell the Hyatt Regency hotel in Tokyo to Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corp. for more than 100 billion yen ($640 million), as reported by Bloomberg.
The two investment firms bought the hotel in Shinjuku for approximately 60 billion yen less than two years ago. The potential sale highlights the surging demand for Japanese hotels, driven by a tourism boom, a weaker yen, and favourable borrowing conditions.
Japan Hotel REIT, which owns 51 hotels, has been actively investing in the sector amid heightened interest in Japanese hospitality assets. The industry has benefited from a record 37 million visitors to Japan in 2024, fuelled by the yen’s depreciation.
Hotels are considered resilient against inflation since room rates can be adjusted more frequently than long-term lease contracts for other types of real estate. In 2024, the average daily rate for hotels in Japan was over 40% higher than in 2019, according to real estate analytics firm CoStar.
Kyotsu buys 67% stake in Indonesia’s ACML for $1.1m
Japan’s logistic firm Kyotsu Co. Ltd. has acquired a 67% stake in Indonesia’s PT Arrow Chain Management Logistics (ACML) for 18.2 billion rupiah ($1.11 million). The transaction was completed at the end of 2024.
Following the acquisition, ACML announced significant changes in its management and shareholder structure, which the company believes will accelerate the company’s expansion and development plans in 2025.
With its ongoing achievements and strategic initiatives, ACML aims to strengthen its position in both the domestic and international logistics industry. The company’s revenue is primarily driven by two core business lines: FMCG distribution logistics and multimodal goods delivery.
As part of its strategic growth plan, ACML plans to expand its service offerings by entering customs clearance logistics, which is expected to add significant value to its customers and solidify ACML’s position in the national logistics sector.
Additionally, ACML has pursued inorganic growth by acquiring PT Arrow Chain Management Distribusi, a subsidiary that focuses on the distribution of ice cream and frozen foods in the Serang and Pandeglang regions.