Kenanga Investment Bank Ups Stake in KDX, Establishing Malaysia’s First Bank-Backed Digital Asset Exchange

Kuala Lumpur, 19 March 2026 — Malaysia’s leading independent investment bank,  Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (“Kenanga” or “The Group”) has increased its  equity stake in Kinetic DAX Sdn Bhd (“KDX”) to 81.70% up from 19%, making the fully  licensed and regulated digital asset exchange, a subsidiary of Kenanga, and  strengthening its position as Malaysia’s first and only bank-backed digital asset  exchange.

The transaction was undertaken through the Group’s wholly‑owned subsidiary,  Kenanga Private Equity Sdn Bhd (“KPE”), as part of a fundraising and capitalisation  exercise carried out by KDX. Upon completion, Kenanga’s ordinary shareholding in  KDX increased to 81.70%. 

The enhanced capital position following the transaction will support KDX’s continued  growth and resilience, including scaling its platform, expanding its range of offerings,  and advancing strategic initiatives aligned with Kenanga’s broader digital strategy. Additionally, Kenanga will support and accelerate KDX’s next phase of growth with the  Group’s more well-resourced technology, marketing and governance capabilities. 

“This step marks a significant milestone in Kenanga’s digital journey, allowing us to  further integrate new capabilities and drive the evolution of a technology-driven  investment ecosystem. By bringing KDX directly into Kenanga, beyond a financial  investment, we look forward to accelerating innovation, strengthening market  infrastructure, and delivering long-term value for investors as digital assets become  an increasingly important part of the investment landscape,” said Datuk Chay Wai  Leong, Group Managing Director of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad. 

“Backed by Kenanga, a home-grown financial institution that has been thriving for over  50 years in the Malaysian capital market, we are uniquely positioned to not only drive  commercial expansion, and support the development of digital asset trading in  Malaysia, but also to strengthen our position as a trusted gateway for investors to  participate in the digital asset market within a regulated and secure environment,” said  Chan Wei Chi, Chief Executive Officer of Kinetic DAX Sdn Bhd. 

This expansion of Kenanga’s digital asset footprint also follows the Group’s  announcement last month at the Blockchain Summit 2026 in Japan, where Kenanga and the Stellar Development Foundation (“Stellar”) unveiled Myrra, a dedicated token  platform built on the Stellar blockchain to support the tokenisation of real‑world assets.  The platform’s inaugural deployment features the tokenisation of the Kenanga Money  Market Fund and the Kenanga Islamic Money Market Fund—Malaysia’s first tokenised  money market funds—managed by the Group’s asset and wealth management arm,  Kenanga Investors Berhad.  

Combined with KDX’s strengthened role within the Group, these milestones further  reinforce Kenanga’s leadership in Malaysia’s evolving digital asset space while  enhancing its capacity to deliver innovative, technology‑driven offerings to clients  across the country. 

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