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Prudential forms new business partnership to offer instant doctor booking and pre-authorisation. Technology-enabled collaboration connects healthcare, InsurTech and payment capabilities to deliver a more seamless customer journey while supporting Hong Kong's InsurTech ecosystem. Key highlights * Prudential partners with local InsurTech firm MediConCen and global payment solutions provider Mastercard to enhance Medical Expenses Direct Billing. * Integrated digital journey on MediConCen's platform, from doctor booking and pre-authorisation to expense settlement, with no upfront payment required from customers for approved medical expenses. * Chiron Medical Group as the first provider partner, with broader rollout planned. * Driving innovation across healthcare, InsurTech, and payments. HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 29 October 2026 - Prudential Hong Kong Limited ("Prudential") today announced a collaboration with Hong Kong-based InsurTech start-up MediConCen ("MCC") and global payment solutions provider Mastercard to further enhance the medical experience for Prudential customers. Powered by MediConCen technology, which digitally connects medical appointment booking, expense pre-authorisation and B2B payment by Mastercard virtual card, the collaboration provides customers with a faster, more secure and seamless journey from accessing medical services to settling eligible medical expenses. Chiron Medical Group joins as inaugural provider partner In the initial phase, Chiron Medical Group ("Chiron") will serve as an inaugural provider partner, deploying the capability across their networks. This platform will expand to gradually include more providers including clinics, hospitals and medical networks across Hong Kong in the coming months, bringing the same effortless experience to even more customers. The collaboration marks another step in Prudential's efforts to enhance its Medical Expenses Direct Billing Service through technology and strategic partnerships. Eligible customers can benefit from: * Instant appointment booking, making it easier to access medical services when needed. * Instant pre-authorisation, providing earlier confirmation of eligible coverage before treatment. * Cashless settlement of approved medical expenses, reducing the need to pay upfront and submit claims for reimbursement afterwards. Together, these enhancements simplify the healthcare journey from booking and pre-authorisation to payment. Once an eligible medical expense is approved by Prudential, MCC facilitates settlement with the provider partner through the Mastercard virtual card. Provider partners will also have access to a dedicated portal for case handling and settlement, enabling prompt payment of approved claims with minimal paperwork. Bringing together healthcare, InsurTech and payment expertise Candy Au Yeung, Chief Customer Operations and Health Officer, Prudential Hong Kong Limited, said: "This collaboration goes beyond direct billing by extending the journey upstream to appointment booking and pre-authorisation. It is an example of guided care in action, connecting the different parts of the customer journey across healthcare, technology and payments to further enhance our services and deliver a simpler, more convenient experience. We are also pleased to support home-grown InsurTech innovation as we continue to explore new solutions that provide customers with better experiences and greater peace of mind." "Nobody should have to worry about the bill when they are seeking treatment," said William Yeung, Co-founder and CEO, MediConCen. "We built the technology that makes the payment journey invisible. Booking, approval and settlement flow as one. The patient never pays upfront, the provider is paid securely, and Prudential Hong Kong keeps full control of every coverage decision. That is what cashless should feel like." Enhancing efficiency and transparency in healthcare payments "At Mastercard, we are committed to helping businesses move money more efficiently, securely and seamlessly. Through our virtual card capabilities, this collaboration enables a secure and streamlined digital settlement flow between insurers and healthcare providers, delivering greater efficiency, visibility and control to the claims process," said Helena Chen, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Hong Kong & Macau, Mastercard. "Together with Prudential and MediConCen, we are demonstrating how commercial payments innovation can simplify complex B2B payment flows and support a more connected healthcare ecosystem." Wallace Wong, Chief Executive Officer, Chiron Medical Group, said: "We are extending the starting point of care even further - quality healthcare begins before patients even step into the clinic. From online appointment booking and consultation to claims settlement, the entire journey is seamlessly connected, allowing our teams to focus on clinical care." Supporting Hong Kong's innovation ecosystem Beyond this collaboration, Prudential continues to support Hong Kong's innovation ecosystem by working with local technology and InsurTech companies to bring home-grown solutions into real-world insurance applications, helping drive industry innovation while delivering enhanced experiences for customers. Technology connects appointment booking, pre-approval and payment to enable a more streamlined medical expenses direct billing journey. With minimal change required on their part, customers benefit from enhanced backend connectivity that helps make the overall experience more seamless and efficient. Hashtag: #Prudential The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Prudential Hong Kong Limited. Prudential has been serving the people of Hong Kong since 1964. Through Prudential Hong Kong Limited and Prudential General Insurance Hong Kong Limited, the Company provides a range of financial planning services and products, including individual life insurance, investment-linked insurance, retirement solutions, health and medical protection, general insurance, and employee benefits to protect over 1.41 million customers in Hong Kong. Beyond Hong Kong, Prudential serves the Macau community through its branch, offering health insurance and financial solutions to complete its footprint in the Greater Bay Area. Visit www.prudential.com.hk for more information.

Airtm partners with Mastercard's BVNK for stablecoin payments. Oct 29, 2026 at 01:00 PM GMT+1 Airtm has partnered with Mastercard-owned stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK to introduce wallet-based payments for users in emerging markets through a new integration built on the Stellar blockchain. * Airtm has partnered with Mastercard's BVNK to allow users in emerging markets to pay participating retailers directly from their digital wallets. * The integration will operate through the newly launched Airtm Connect platform, which connects digital asset companies with Airtm's existing user network. * Stellar will serve as the blockchain payment network for the integration, with the companies planning to begin rolling out the service in Q4 2026. * The partnership will give Airtm access to Mastercard's Global Money Platform, which supports traditional currency accounts, stablecoin payments and international money transfers. * BVNK will become another infrastructure provider for Airtm, giving the company more options for handling customer deposits, incoming transfers and payments across different markets. According to an announcement made at the Stellar Meridian Conference on Oct. 29, the partnership will allow Airtm customers to pay participating retailers directly from their digital wallets using BVNK's payment infrastructure. The service will operate through Airtm Connect, a newly launched product that allows digital asset companies to connect their services with Airtm's existing user network. Both companies expect to begin rolling out the integration in the fourth quarter of 2026, with new options for customers to fund their wallets, receive payments and spend their balances at supported merchants. Airtm Connect will support direct wallet payments. Under the agreement, Airtm users will be able to make purchases at retailers supported by BVNK without having to move their funds to a separate payment service first. Airtm Connect will provide the connection between the company's digital wallet network and external financial service providers, including BVNK. The integration will use Stellar as its underlying blockchain payment network, allowing transactions to be processed through infrastructure designed for low-cost transfers. Airtm operates in emerging markets where customers often use digital dollars and alternative financial services to receive international payments, hold funds and access global commerce. The company said its partnership with BVNK would help address difficulties customers face when moving money between digital wallets and conventional payment systems. Rubén Galindo Steckel, CEO of Airtm, said the company has spent the past decade developing financial infrastructure that connects users in underserved markets with the global dollar economy. "We believe payments should move natively on-chain - it's simply a better way to move money," Steckel said. He explained that reliable funding services need to work alongside payment options that allow customers to spend their money. According to Steckel, BVNK's existing banking connections and stablecoin funding infrastructure will complement Airtm's network of users and local payment services. The partnership will provide Airtm with another infrastructure provider as it continues operating across jurisdictions with different banking systems, stablecoin regulations and access to liquidity. Mastercard Global Money Platform joins the integration. Airtm will gain access to Mastercard's recently launched Global Money Platform through its partnership with BVNK. The platform allows financial technology companies and businesses to manage traditional currencies, stablecoins, international transfers and payment accounts through a single application programming interface. As previously reported by crypto.news, Mastercard introduced the service in October following its acquisition of BVNK earlier this year. Nuvei, Marqeta, Ontop, Beem and Almond FinTech were among the first companies preparing to integrate the platform. Its services include multicurrency accounts, currency conversion, payment cards and local bank transfers, allowing participating companies to select the functions they need. Mastercard expects local bank payouts through Mastercard Move to support more than 40 currencies across over 200 countries and territories in 2027. For Airtm, access to the platform will provide additional payment and banking infrastructure while allowing the company to maintain its existing relationships with customers. The acquisition brought BVNK's technology for stablecoin settlements, international payouts and treasury operations into Mastercard's payments business. Kimberly Mescal Julien, global head of partnerships at BVNK, said the Airtm agreement demonstrates how financial technology companies can connect digital wallets with everyday commerce. She described Airtm Connect as a way for wallet providers to offer customers more opportunities to spend their funds through existing payment infrastructure. Stellar will handle blockchain transactions. The Airtm integration will use Stellar, which BVNK added to its stablecoin payments platform in September. BVNK's Stellar network integration made the blockchain available to business customers through its existing API, supporting payments, remittances and treasury transfers across more than 130 markets. Customers can access Stellar without developing separate blockchain connections or replacing their current payment systems. The network supports transfers between blockchain accounts and provides infrastructure for businesses handling digital asset payments across different markets. BVNK's existing Stellar connection will serve as the blockchain component of its arrangement with Airtm, while the companies' respective services will handle wallet access and payment connectivity. The announcement did not identify the stablecoins that Airtm customers will initially be able to spend through the integration. Airtm plans to expand its payment infrastructure. Beyond merchant payments, the partnership will give Airtm additional options for handling customer deposits and incoming transfers across its supported markets. The company currently works with multiple financial infrastructure providers to serve users across different countries and payment systems. According to Airtm, BVNK will become another provider within that network, allowing the company to offer different funding routes depending on customer needs and local availability. Steckel said Airtm does not intend to depend on a single payment provider or blockchain network as it develops its international services. "Our infrastructure strategy has always been about choice for Airtm and for our users," he said. The companies have scheduled the initial rollout for Q4 2026, although they have not announced which countries or participating retailers will receive access first.