This is the first of the three-part series on the fledgling, yet fast-growing, BNPL sector in SE Asia.
The buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) model continues its upward growth trajectory in Southeast Asia — a region with a growing middle class and a 50% population outside the ambit of formal banking — with venture-backed startups dominating the scene. This is at a time when BNPL giants operating in more mature markets globally are facing headwinds ranging from mounting interest rates, tepid consumer demand and rising debt concerns.