World Bank's IFC Invests in Zetrix AI for Asian Digital Infrastructure
The World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation (IFC) is investing in Malaysia's Zetrix AI. The goal of the investment is to improve access to digital public infrastructure services across the ASEAN region. The project aims to modernize government, logistics, and financial systems using a combination of AI and blockchain technologies.
The International Finance Corporation's US$40 million equity investment provides Zetrix AI with capital to expand its digital identity and blockchain infrastructure platform across ASEAN. This funding will accelerate the development of blockchain-based applications and AI tools aimed at boosting digital inclusion and economic efficiency. The investment gives the IFC, the World Bank Group's private sector arm, a 2.5% stake in the company. Zetrix AI, formerly known as MY E.G. Services Berhad, is a prominent digital services provider in Malaysia, initially focused on e-government solutions. The company rebranded to reflect its strategic pivot towards trailblazing blockchain, AI, and robotics technologies across the ASEAN region and beyond. This investment aligns with Malaysia's national digital transformation goals, including the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan, 2026-2030. The company's core technology is Zetrix, a Layer-1 public blockchain that supports smart contracts and is designed for privacy and scalability. This infrastructure is engineered to connect governments, businesses, and citizens to the global blockchain economy. A key feature is its cross-chain integration with China's national public blockchain, Xinghuo BIF, positioning Zetrix as a gateway for international trade and Web3 services. In Malaysia, Zetrix's services will integrate with the national digital identity system, MyDigital ID, and the Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure (MBI). This national blockchain service network is a collaboration with MIMOS Berhad, Malaysia's national applied research and development centre. The goal is to make services like digital ID verification, customs clearance, and asset tokenization more secure and efficient. Zetrix has been actively forming strategic alliances to drive its mission. Collaborations with Hong Kong-based Web3Labs and venture capital firm Summer Capital aim to establish Zetrix as the preferred blockchain for applications aligned with Hong Kong's Web3 ambitions. These partnerships focus on innovative use cases like the tokenization of Real World Assets (RWA) and stablecoin issuance. The ASEAN region represents a rapidly growing internet market, with a digital economy projected to add an estimated $1 trillion to regional GDP over the next decade. However, digital readiness and infrastructure vary significantly across member states. The ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2026-2030 outlines a vision for "connected intelligence," leveraging AI, robotics, and IoT, but the region heavily relies on foreign-controlled technology to build this infrastructure. Beyond government and trade, Zetrix is exploring diverse applications for its technology. A partnership with the Miss Universe Organization introduced a global blockchain voting app, utilizing the technology for secure and transparent fan voting. The company has also launched NurAI, the world's first Shariah-compliant large language model, developed in collaboration with Islamic scholars.
