AMTD Digital has its 15 minutes of meme stock fame.

The Chinese company you probably never heard of until very recently blasted the screens of traders around the world during the normally calm North American summer, exploding up more than 15,000% since its introduction on the stock market in mid-July.

Apparently the management is as perplexed as anyone by this parabolic climb. On Monday, AMTD said, “To our knowledge, there are no material circumstances, events or other matters relating to the business and operational activities of our company since the date of the IPO.”

Stock market machinations may be responsible for the stock’s stunning performance, but curious minds want to know if there’s anything important payment professionals need to know about AMTD.

The IT company says it offers a wide range of disparate digital services and solutions, including financial services, media/content/marketing and ecosystem. It also invests in other digital businesses. The most relevant offerings for the payments industry include digital banking, insurance and risk management solutions. And the company’s Airstar Bank is one of only eight virtual banks licensed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

Notable insurance lines of business with potential applications in the supply chain and logistics industry include property, marine, freight, trade credit, and factoring. The company also offers construction industry comprehensive insurance and a myriad of other coverages, including General Bank Bond (BBB) ​​and General Liability.

The company touts a management team made up of “industry leaders, academics, and experts in their fields.”

Is there a “there” there?

But the famous cosmopolitan author Gertrude Stein once said of her hometown: “There is none there. Investors, as well as payments professionals, might well ask a similarly worded question about AMTD Digital.

Although the company does not mention the B2B sector on the company’s online site, its financial offerings seem to fit, and the combination of banking and insurance can help build the trust needed to digitally accelerate. from the supply chain to the margins. eliminating friction and reducing red tape.

The company’s Chinese pedigree offers crucial potential to operate as a facilitator of trans-Pacific trade, the greatest route in world history. Any contribution to maintaining stability in the face of turbulent political waters would add tremendous value to the payments, logistics and supply chain ecosystem.

On the surface, at least, it seems that if the sizzle has been amplified to mind-boggling decibel levels by Mr. Market, there may be reason to believe that AMTD is worth monitoring by payment professionals.