DBS Bank has launched instant remittances to Weixin Pay, expanding cross-border transfers into the Chinese mainland. Introduced with TenPay Global, Tencent’s cross-border payment platform, the service enables DBS customers to send funds through DBS Remit on the digibank app. Customers can transfer money directly to a recipient’s Weixin Pay wallet or linked bank cards. Funds are credited almost immediately and can be used for transfers, top-ups and spending within the Weixin ecosystem, which serves more than one billion users globally. TenPay Global supports remittances from over 100 countries and regions into Weixin Pay. Customers add recipients using their Weixin or WeChat registered phone number and complete a one-time 12-hour cooling period before the first transfer. Subsequent payments are processed instantly after the amount and purpose are submitted. The launch comes ahead of Chinese New Year, when DBS typically sees about a 30% increase in remittances to China. DBS and TenPay Global are also working to link DBS PayLah! with Weixin Pay, allowing more than three million users to scan or present QR codes at tens of millions of merchants across the Chinese mainland. Sanjoy Sen Sanjoy Sen, Group Head of DBS Consumer Bank, said, “We’ve been seeing consistent double-digit year-on-year growth in DBS Remit funds sent to China, reflecting the strength of cross-border ties between Singapore and the Chinese mainland. The launch of this service is timely with Chinese New Year approaching. During this festive season, we typically see around a 30% increase in remittances to China. Through our partnership with TenPay Global, we’re glad to be able to offer customers a trusted, seamless way to move money instantly and with confidence, at scale and with zero fees.” Wenhui Yang Wenhui Yang, CEO of TenPay Global Singapore, said, “By connecting Weixin Pay with DBS’ trusted banking and payment platforms, we are delivering compliant and user-centric cross-border solutions that simplify how money moves and how payments are made across borders. This partnership reflects our shared ambition to unlock new possibilities for economic exchange and to support secure, everyday digital payment experiences in an increasingly connected world.”     Featured image: DBS Group CEO Tan Su Shan (centre in red) and Forest Lin (fifth from right), Corporate Vice President of Tencent and Head of Tencent Financial Technology   The post DBS Launches Instant Remittances to Weixin Pay in China appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) concluded on 27 January 2026, marking a success for Hong Kong’s financial ecosystem as it showcased the city’s strengths in empowering the industry. Jointly organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the forum served as a super-connector, attracting 4000+ global leaders from more than 60 countries and regions to deliberate on the theme “Co-Creating New Horizons Amid an Evolving Landscape.” A Global Stage for Strategic Dialogue & Cooperation The two-day event featured a high-powered lineup of 150+ speakers, including financial institution representatives and leaders of multilateral organisations. The forum also launched the inaugural Global Business Summit to promote greater integration between finance and key industries, supporting innovation and economic development. The initiative is intended to contribute to Hong Kong’s continued development in the year ahead, in its latest chapter, by reinforcing its role through financial empowerment. At the Keynote Luncheon on the first day of AFF, Dr José Manuel Barroso, Former President of the European Commission, Former Prime Minister of Portugal, and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Goldman Sachs International, delivered a keynote speech on Hong Kong’s role in promoting regional cooperation. He also spoke about how Asia can learn from Europe’s experience to strengthen economic integration. Dr Barroso said: Dr José Manuel Barroso “What we are seeing now is a technological race. This creates instability. And so, the major companies in the world – American, European, but also in Asia – the leaders want to see how they can position their corporations in a favourable position facing the geopolitical risk and the technological risk.” Next, at the Panel Discussion on the Global Economic Outlook, Dr Zhu Min, Member of the Senior Expert Advisory Committee of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, discussed the opportunities that renminbi internationalisation could bring to Hong Kong. He said: Dr Zhu Min “I see competition among the three major currencies. RMB internationalisation requires liquidity and a bond market – Hong Kong is perfectly positioned to provide this service.” The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau also signed a cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Gold Exchange to strengthen collaboration between the Hong Kong and Shanghai gold markets. The agreement set up a high-level cooperative governance framework for Hong Kong’s central gold clearing system. It explored opportunities for coordinated development of physical infrastructure and enhanced market connectivity. This marked progress in Hong Kong’s development as an international gold trading hub. Highlighting Hong Kong’s Role in Cross-Border Collaboration The inaugural Global Business Summit was held as part of AFF. It was jointly organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau of the HKSAR Government, the HKTDC, and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES). The event started with opening remarks from Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, and Professor Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC. Prof Ma said that the financial services segment helped industries and investors maximise their investments and their impact. This, in turn, would generate far-reaching benefits, including continued technological advancement, deeper integration and sustainable development. He continued, Professor Ma “In this sense, the Global Business Summit reflects the greater emphasis we are placing on co-creation at this year’s AFF.  In these unpredictable times, working together on shared goals adds to the agility and resilience of our economies, our industries and businesses, and our communities.” He added on, saying that through the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, Hong Kong is well-suited to host such discussions and encourage collaboration across sectors, serving as a super-connector, super-collaborator and super-value-adder. He noted that the city is home to businesses worldwide and is a “bustling two-way gateway between the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world.” In doing so, Hong Kong supports high-growth Mainland enterprises in expanding overseas while aiding high-growth foreign enterprises to access China. Commitment to Global Expansion and Cross-Border Collaboration Source: HKTDC A Pledging Ceremony was held to show the commitment by the HKSAR Government, the HKTDC and the AFF Partners in collaborating to help Chinese Mainland enterprises in expanding globally via Hong Kong and to integrate with overall national development goals. AFF Partners consisted of EY, HSBC, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Standard Chartered, UBS, CICC, Huatai Securities, Bank of Communication (Hong Kong and China CITIC Bank International. During the summit, a series of plenary sessions were held. These comprised Business Plenary I – Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global and Business Plenary II – Strategic Collaboration for Shared Growth. Both plenary sessions focused on emerging opportunities in global market expansion as well as inbound foreign investment. Business Plenary I on “Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global” was chaired by Victor Chu, Chairman and CEO of First Eastern Investment Group. Business leaders from XPENG, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, LONGi Green Energy, Wusawa Advisory, Alibaba Group, Seres Group and Shanghai Investment (Holdings) took part too. The discussion centred on how Chinese Mainland Enterprises were developing global expansion strategies in response to changes in the macroeconomic environment. The speakers examined the challenges these companies faced and emerging opportunities in their efforts to grow internationally. Senior representatives from XPENG, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, LONGi Green Energy, Wusawa Advisory, Alibaba Group, Seres Group, and Shanghai Industrial Investment Holdings also took part. The discussion focused on how Chinese Mainland enterprises are developing global expansion strategies in response to changes in the macroeconomic environment. Speakers examined the challenges these companies face as well as the opportunities emerging in their efforts to grow internationally. Next, for Business Plenary II on “Strategic Collaboration for Shared Growth,” leaders from global investment institutions and business executives shared their perspectives and strategies for entering the Chinese Mainland market. The session talked about how national policies promoted stronger domestic demand and high-quality development, and in doing so, the Chinese Mainland offered ample opportunities for international companies to strengthen cross-border collaboration while expanding their presence across industry value chains. The session addressed how national policies aimed at boosting domestic demand and promoting high-quality development are creating opportunities for international companies to strengthen cross-border collaboration and expand their presence across industry value chains. Business Plenary II featured remarks by Liu Haoling, President, China Investment Corporation. It was chaired by Lincoln Pan, Chief Executive Officer, Jardine Matheson. Speakers included representatives from Banking Circle, Infineon AG, Investcorp, JP Morgan, Revolut and Triton Partners. During the session, Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman, Investcorp, said, Mohammed Alardhi “The China-Gulf Cooperation Council corridor is vital. We’re connecting companies throughout the corridor, implementing Chinese technology there, and buying Chinese vehicles for logistics. It bridges the world’s second-largest economy and the Gulf region, which is transforming with vast opportunities and capital. When you compare the valuations of Chinese companies and technologies with those from the West, there’s no comparison. There is a significant appetite in the Gulf region to partner with them.” The speakers discussed in-depth on how international firms can create new business roadmaps in the Chinese Mainland through investment, partnerships and joint ventures, while also examining Hong Kong’s crucial role as a gateway for companies entering the Chinese Mainland market. Strategic Insights in High-Growth Sectors The Asian Financial Forum held a series of in-depth discussion sessions targeting high-growth, high-value sectors. This included biomedicine and healthcare, green energy, new consumer trends, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Featuring a powerful lineup of speakers, the event focused on the critical intersections of technology and market evolution. In the featured session, “Biomedicine 2026: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities,” industry leaders from Amgen and Merck highlighted the most pressing challenges currently facing the sector, specifically the high costs and lengthy cycles in research and development. To address these hurdles, the speakers emphasised the need for diversified and internationalised financing channels, which would allow financial services to serve an empowering, multiplier role in accelerating technological translation and commercialisation. Next, the event continued with high-level discussions in the sessions “AI Infrastructure: Powering the Intelligent Supply Chain” and “AI Driven Robotics and Autonomous Technologies Revolutionising Industry”. These panels featured a distinguished roster of business leaders, including representatives from DexForce Technology, JD.com and Pictet Group. The speakers explored scalable application strategies, key investment priorities and the growth momentum that was catalysed by deep ecosystem collaboration. The second session, chaired by Dr Allan Wong, Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer, VTech Holdings Limited, and leaders from AI² Robotics, Galbot and Tencent, offered the latest insights into how AI-driven robotics could integrate into the real economy. It had the potential to fundamentally transform sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and services. Polling Future Technology Trends and Strategies During the summit, AFF conducted real-time polling across multiple sessions. The aim was to capture participant perspectives on the global economic outlook, their expectations on future financial and technological trends, and their asset-allocation strategies. More than 70% of attendees expressed a neutral to optimistic outlook for the global economy throughout the current year. Next, 51.2% of participants believed that the development of AI and AI-driven applications was the top priority, especially given today’s rapidly evolving international landscape. This percentage was followed by energy transition and sustainable development at 20.3% This emphasis on digital transformation significantly outpaced other critical areas, with energy transition and sustainable development following at 20.3%. Strategic On-Site Deal-Making Sessions and Regional Synergy Source: HKTDC The HKTDC continued to position the AFF as a vital hub for international investment and substantive cooperation, proactively bridging the gap between global enterprises and potential partners through business-matching opportunities. This year, in collaboration with the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, the AFF Deal-making sessions attracted 280+ investors and 600+ investment projects. These sessions resulted in more than 800 one-on-one meetings, effectively funnelling global capital with investment opportunities. Success stories emerged from diverse regions, including a returning Thai participant who identified several promising co-investment partners, and an Australian food processing project owner shared that the platform helped in identifying potential partners that could provide support beyond financial investment, including practical expertise and technical guidance. To ensure the momentum continued, the matching services transitioned to an online platform on 28 January 2026  and 29 January 2026, allowing for extended networking beyond the physical event. Complementing these private deals, the Project Investment Sessions showcased Hong Kong’s strategically essential development initiatives. Key presentations focused on the Northern Metropolis, which is designed to drive cross-sector industry upgrading, and SKYTOPIA, the Airport City development aimed at solidifying the Hong Kong International Airport as a future-ready international aviation hub. Additionally, updates on the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park highlighted the city’s commitment to accelerating the I&T ecosystem within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Representatives of the respective organisations provided participants with recent project updates and investment opportunities on-site, offering participants a glimpse into the city’s long-term regional connectivity, innovation‑driven development and infrastructure enhancement plans. The tangible impact of the forum was further exemplified by a landmark collaboration in the food-tech sector. On the first day of the AFF 2026, Hong Kong-based Techvalue International and Australia’s Gryph Holdings signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a joint venture. This partnership, facilitated by the HKTDC Sydney Office through connections made at previous forums, aims to launch innovative plant-based products that can be instantly prepared with either hot or cold water. The venture plans to debut its products in Papua New Guinea before expanding into the Australian and New Zealand markets. This agreement serves as a testament to Hong Kong’s role in enabling cross-border innovation and high-tech commercialisation. Thematic Showcases Driving Green Innovation and Investment The AFF expanded its physical presence this year through four distinct thematic zones: the FutureGreen Showcase, FintechHK Start-up Salon, InnoVenture Salon, and Global Investment Zone. These hubs hosted approximately 150 exhibitors, including major institutions such as EY, which was AFF’s Knowledge Partner, as well as HSBC, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Standard Chartered, CICC, and Huatai Securities. A significant highlight was the debut of the FutureGreen Showcase, which focused on the current advancements in green finance and technology. By enabling capital matching for sustainable development, this zone addressed the rising global demand for green transformation. Exhibitors presented comprehensive solutions covering green certification and standards, climate-risk assessment and reporting, carbon-credit trading and management, and ESG monitoring. These presentations demonstrated the robust market demand for green transformation across different sectors. High-Level Roundtables Fostering Deep, Strategic Connections Beyond the exhibition floor, the forum featured two pivotal roundtable meetings designed to foster deep industrial connections. The Hong Kong International Fundraising Roundtable 2026 convened senior executives from the Chinese Mainland and overseas alongside leaders, as well as leaders from Hong Kong’s financial and professional services sectors. The session focused on practical strategies to address the diverse financing needs of various industries. Simultaneously, the first-ever “Attracting Strategic Enterprises: Roundtable on Hong Kong Opportunities” was co-organised by the HKTDC and OASES. This session provided a dedicated platform, which allowed key international and Chinese Mainland enterprises looking to enter or expand within the Hong Kong market to network directly with local financial or professional service providers, reinforcing the city’s role as a primary gateway for strategic business growth. The 19th Asian Financial Forum effectively consolidated the perspectives of global financial leaders and industry innovators, centring on the integration of emerging technologies and sustainable practices. By facilitating direct deal-making and outlining clear development roadmaps for regional infrastructure, the event served as a comprehensive barometer for international investment sentiment. As the forum concluded, the shift toward online matching platforms and the formalisation of cross-border agreements signalled a continued focus on maintaining momentum in global financial cooperation throughout 2026. Featured image edited by Fintech News Singapore based on image by the Asian Financial Forum The post AI Ranked No 1 Priority at Hong Kong’s Asian Financial Forum 2026 appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

DBS has become the first bank in Asia Pacific to pilot Visa Intelligent Commerce, testing AI agents that can complete payments on behalf of customers. The pilot, conducted with Visa, examines how agent-initiated transactions can run on existing card networks through secure, issuer-controlled processes. Visa Intelligent Commerce combines integrated APIs and partner tools on Visa’s infrastructure to support consent-based payments initiated by artificial intelligence. The two parties completed live food and beverage transactions using DBS and POSB credit and debit cards, showing that AI agents can execute routine purchases within established authentication and control frameworks. Reference of an agentic transaction with DBS Visa Altitude The trials will expand to use cases such as online shopping and travel bookings. DBS is also validating new authentication measures and transaction controls for agent-led payments, with safeguards overseen by both the issuer and the network. The exercise will assess how AI-driven transactions can be integrated into existing systems while maintaining regulatory, operational and security standards. Ananya Sen “AI agents are unlocking a new phase in digital payments, where routine transactions can be completed efficiently and reliably, helping customers save time and simplify everyday tasks. Our collaboration with Visa shows how agent-led payments can be deployed securely and safely at scale, giving customers confidence in how transactions are made in an AI environment. By building these capabilities across our regional footprint, we are shaping the next generation of cards and payments, setting new standards for intelligent, trusted and seamless commerce.” said Ananya Sen, Group Head of Regional Consumer Products, DBS Bank. T.R. Ramachandran “Through Visa Intelligent Commerce and Trusted Agent Protocol, we’re building the foundation that will make agentic commerce safe, secure and scalable — from AI‑ready credentials to advanced authentication. This sets the stage for how trusted, AI‑powered experiences will come to life for consumers and partners across the region.” said T.R. Ramachandran, Head of Products & Solutions, Asia Pacific at Visa.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post DBS First APAC Bank to Pilot AI-Powered Agent Payments with Visa appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

SBI Holdings has moved to acquire a majority stake in Singapore digital asset platform Coinhako. The Japanese financial group said its wholly owned Singapore unit has signed a letter of intent to inject capital into Coinhako and purchase shares from existing shareholders. The deal would make Coinhako a consolidated subsidiary of SBI Holdings, subject to regulatory approvals and final terms. Coinhako operates regulated digital asset services in Singapore through Hako Technology, a Major Payment Institution licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. It also operates Alpha Hako, a registered virtual asset service provider in the British Virgin Islands. SBI said the proposed acquisition forms part of its global digital asset strategy and strengthens its presence in Asia. Yoshitaka Kitao “In this era of tokenisation, the importance of global infrastructure for digital assets is growing ever greater. Bringing Coinhako into the SBI Group as a consolidated subsidiary is not merely an investment in a single platform. By integrating it with the digital space ecosystem SBI Group have built, this is a solid step toward realising the SBI Group’s strategy: expanding the global corridor for digital assets and creating next-generation finance including tokenised stock and stablecoin.” said Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, Chairman & President of SBI Holdings. Yusho Liu “Our alignment with the SBI Group accelerates our mission to be the premier digital asset hub for Asia. Mr. Kitao’s vision for a global digital corridor perfectly mirrors our own ambitions. With SBI Group’s extensive network and resources, Coinhako will scale its institutional-grade infrastructure to meet the surging demand for tokenised assets and stablecoins, ensuring Singapore remains at the heart of the world’s next-generation financial system.” said Yusho Liu, Co-founder and CEO of the Coinhako Group.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by mkmult via Freepik The post SBI Holdings Moves to Acquire Majority Stake in Coinhako appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Grab Holdings Limited (Grab) announced its unaudited financial results for Q4 2025 and shared that it delivered its first full year of net profit. For Q4 2025, Grab’s revenue grew by 19% YoY to $906 million. Anthony Tan, Group CEO and the Co-Founder of Grab, shared, Anthony Tan “We exited 2025 with a record fourth quarter, delivering our first full year of net profit and crossing 50 million Monthly Transacting Users.” He added on, saying that Grab intends to elevate itself based on this momentum via a multi-year strategy. The said strategy would “focus on further expanding its addressable market through greater affordability and reliability, while harnessing product-led innovations”. Alex Hungate, COO and President for Grab, shared on LinkedIn, “As we enter what feels like a third era, we’re determined to show that we can continue to innovate with heart, leaning into AI-first technologies, to become the platform of choice across the region, while expanding possibilities for our partners – not just the gap with our competitors.” A $1.18 Billion Net Loan Portfolio The most significant takeaway from Grab’s Q4 2025 and FY 2025 results is Grab’s rapid maturation into a regional financial player. This transformation is anchored by customer deposits across GXS Singapore and GXBank Malaysia, which reached $1.6 billion at the end of Q4 2025, up from $1.2 billion in the previous year’s fourth quarter. Source: Alex Hungate, LinkedIn Grab attributes this growth to customer growth, and notes that a large share of these depositors came from Grab users. This indicates that Grab is converting substantial super-app engagement into regular banking relationships and sticky funding, which could effectively lower the cost of capital for its lending expansion. Next, the Grab Q4 2025 results also indicated that the company’s net loan portfolio doubled YoY to $1.18 billion compared to $536 million in Q4 2024. After removing credit loss provisions, Grab shared that its gross loan portfolio was $1.278 billion in Q4 2025, up from $586 million in the prior year. Source: Grab For the full year 2025, its financial services revenue increased by 37% YoY to $347 million. Grab attributes this YoY growth to more contributions from its lending business, a key driver. The economics of this segment are also stabilising. Adjusted EBITDA losses for Grab’s financial services segment showed improvement by as much as 6% YoY to -$25 million in Q4 2025. On a full-year basis, the same segment’s Adjusted EBITDA losses grew by 5%, which Grab highlights was due to higher credit loss provisions as its loan portfolio continued to expand. To sustain this momentum, Grab resolves to strengthen its credit risk models to scale its loan portfolio further, stating that 90-day non-performing loans are “well within its risk appetite” and that the loan portfolio “generates healthy risk-adjusted returns.” 1 out of 15 Southeast Asians Uses Grab Every Month Today, roughly 1 in 15 Southeast Asians use Grab monthly. In the regional market, Grab reached a record 50.5 million monthly transacting users (MTUs) in Q4 2025, up 15% YoY from Q4 2024. Source: Alex Hungate, LinkedIn MTUs are the monthly number of unique users who transact using Grab’s apps, either paying for or using any of Grab’s products or services. This is a metric Grab uses to evaluate and manage its business, and its management believes is necessary for investors to understand and evaluate its business, too. Grab recently acquired Stash, an investing platform based in the United States, for US$425 million in enterprise value at closing. Featured image edited by Fintech News Singapore based on image by Grab and freepik on Freepik The post Grab’s Digital Banking Deposits Hit US$1.6B in Malaysia and Singapore appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) requires banks to implement multifactor authentication for online banking security, in response to a parliamentary question. He was responding to a question on whether the government would work with digital-only banks to provide alternative biometric or non-facial verification options for Singpass. The question focused on ensuring accessibility for medically vulnerable users who rely on nasal ventilation masks or other medical equipment that may obstruct facial recognition. Gan said that for banks that use Singpass face verification (SFV) as one of the authentication factors, MAS expects them to offer alternative verification methods. This applies to customers who are unable to use facial recognition technology, such as those with medical conditions. Customers of banks, including digital-only banks, who encounter face verification issues can contact their bank’s customer service team for assistance.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by digitizesc via Freepik   The post Banks Must Offer Non-Facial Singpass Verification for Medically Vulnerable Users appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Citigroup approved US$42 million in total compensation for CEO Jane Fraser for 2025, up about 22 percent from the prior year, a regulatory filing cited by Reuters showed. Fraser’s total compensation for 2024 stood at US$34.5 million. For 2025, the package consists of a US$1.5 million base salary and US$6.075 million in cash incentive pay, with the remaining portion granted as deferred awards. In the filing, Citigroup said the decision reflected record performance across its core businesses, progress in resolving regulatory issues and an evaluation of CEO compensation against industry rivals. Citigroup shares climbed 65.8 percent in 2025, outperforming major U.S. banking peers as well as an index tracking bank stocks. The pay award comes as Citi continues executing a multi-year workforce reduction strategy. In January, the bank moved ahead with about 1,000 job cuts, according to people familiar with the matter and a Bloomberg report at the time. The reductions form part of a broader plan first outlined in 2023 to eliminate 20,000 roles by the end of 2026 as the lender works to simplify its organisational structure and lower expenses. Citigroup reported approximately 229,000 full-time employees as of 31 December 2024, underscoring the scale of the restructuring still underway.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Frolopiaton Palm via Freepik The post Citigroup Raises CEO Jane Fraser’s Pay to US$42 Million Amid Mass Layoffs appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has expanded its Equity Market Development Programme from S$5 billion to S$6.5 billion under Budget 2026. The increase follows an announcement by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong that the Financial Sector Development Fund will be topped up to support the programme’s expansion. Launched in February 2025, the programme was introduced based on recommendations from the Equities Market Review Group to strengthen Singapore’s local fund management industry and increase investor participation in Singapore equities. MAS has allocated S$3.95 billion across nine appointed asset managers to date and said the initiative continues to see strong interest and a robust pipeline of applications. With the higher funding cap, MAS will be able to support more high-quality asset managers whose strategies invest significantly in Singapore equities. The regulator said the expansion is expected to catalyse additional third-party investments and anchor deeper pools of capital for listed companies with strong fundamentals, supporting a well-functioning equities market. The next batch of asset managers under the programme is expected to be appointed around mid-2026.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by MAS via LinkedIn The post Singapore Raises EQDP Funding to S$6.5 Billion to Support Local Equity Markets appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

MariBank has added Weixin Pay to its Overseas Transfers service through a partnership with TenPay Global, Tencent’s cross-border payments platform. Customers in Singapore can send salaries or savings directly to their own or close relatives’ Weixin Pay wallets in China. MariBank said the expansion follows growth in its Chinese yuan transaction volumes, which it attributed partly to promotional pricing and exchange rate offerings. Users will receive competitive exchange rates and a transfer fee waiver until 30 June 2026, subject to terms and conditions. Transactions that do not proceed will not be affected by exchange rate fluctuations. The bank provides remittance services to retail customers and small and medium-sized enterprises. The addition of Weixin Pay expands its Singapore-China payment corridor. Natalia Goh Natalia Goh, EO of MariBank, said, “Through our partnership with TenPay Global, we’re making cross-border remittances to Weixin Pay as seamless as a local transfer. We’re removing the friction from international payments and managing global transfers and expenses instantly.” Wenhui Yang Yang Wenhui, CEO of TenPay Global Singapore, said, “At TenPay Global, we are committed to helping our users stay connected no matter where they reside. Through this partnership with MariBank, we look forward to becoming a bridge for individuals sending money home. We will continue to develop solutions that will enhance cross-border connectivity with our customers at the heart of it.” MariBank Overseas Transfers supports transfers to more than 40 countries in 20 currencies, with funds credited almost instantly or within one to three business days depending on destination.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Weixin Pay  The post MariBank Adds Weixin Pay to Overseas Transfers for Retail, SME Users appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The US$2.5 trillion SME credit gap in the Asia Pacific remains a significant challenge for traditional banks. Joe Udomdejwatana of Axe Finance joins us to discuss how the Axe Credit Portal (ACP) is transforming lending infrastructure. Key Highlights Composable architecture avoids high-risk “rip and replace” projects. Tools like Axe Studio and Axe BPM empower compliance officers to manage regulatory shifts. Predictive scoring with explainability models replaces “black box” AI with a transparent “glass box” approach. Lending 3.0 focuses on “intelligent adaptability” to process data in real time. The post How to Solve the US$2.5 Trillion SME Credit Gap in Asia Pacific appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Aspire has partnered Antler to reach more early-stage founders as it targets a 2.3x increase in startup customers in 2026. The Singapore-based finance platform recorded 46 percent year-on-year growth among startups globally last year. The partnership gives founders access to Aspire’s financial infrastructure at inception as they begin operating across markets. Antler invests in hundreds of startups across Southeast Asia and Japan each year. Andrea Baronchelli “Partnering with Antler lets us reach founders at the exact moment they’re making critical infrastructure decisions. We’re seeing exceptional momentum — because founders increasingly understand that fragmented financial tools slow you down. When you’re moving money in multiple currencies and hiring across continents, you need one platform that just works.” said Andrea Baronchelli, CEO and co-founder of Aspire. Aspire said activity across its startup base has accelerated. Artificial intelligence companies accounted for about 30 percent of new additions, in line with funding patterns that saw AI capture close to half of global venture funding in 2025. Startup customers are processing 50 percent more in annual payments than two years ago, despite tighter funding conditions. New customers are also executing 30 percent more foreign exchange transactions in their first 30 days compared with earlier cohorts. Hiro Kiga “At Antler, we are the first institutional investor for hundreds of startups across Southeast Asia and Japan each year, many of which are global from day one. As these teams build and operate across multiple markets early on, the need for integrated systems that can support cross-border operations becomes clear very quickly. This partnership strengthens the support system around how founders work today, and our commitment to ensuring they have the right foundations in place as they scale internationally.” said Hiro Kiga, Partner at Antler Southeast Asia and Japan. The expansion forms part of Aspire’s broader growth across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States, supported by new regulatory licences, market launches and partnerships.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by LensMastersCollection via Freepik The post Aspire Aims to More Than Double Its Startup Clients Through Antler Partnership appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

OCBC customers can now make payments at Weixin Pay merchants in mainland China directly through the bank’s app. The new feature allows users to scan Weixin Pay QR codes in China without using a separate payment app, expanding the bank’s overseas QR payment coverage. Customers can also use the app to pay Alipay+ and UnionPay merchants through the same interface. Alipay+ and Weixin Pay account for more than 90 percent of mobile payment transactions in China. The app displays exchange rates in real time before confirmation, and the bank said there are no additional fees for these transactions. OCBC said it is the only bank in Singapore that enables customers to scan and pay across all major merchant QR codes in mainland China. The capability is supported through its collaboration with UnionPay International. Its Scan and Pay function is available in 57 destinations, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. China is the top overseas market for the feature. Last year, one in five overseas Scan and Pay transactions made through the app took place in China. The average transaction value in China is nearly double that of other overseas markets. Regina Lim Regina Lim, Head of Card Payments and Personal Loans at OCBC, said, “Our customers have a strong appetite for travel. With the Lunar New Year looming, this service will especially benefit customers travelling to China for the festivities. In China, where cashless payments are the default and not the exception, our customers do not even need to download another payment app.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by OCBC The post OCBC Only Singapore Bank to Cover All Major China QR Payment Networks appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Asia is no longer simply following global payment trends. Across India, Southeast Asia, and other fast-growing digital economies, local payment rails, instalment models, stablecoins, and AI-driven commerce are increasingly shaping how online transactions work, and they are often ahead of mature markets. That is one of the central conclusions of EBANX’s Beyond Borders 2026 study, which analyses how payment behaviour in high-growth digital markets is redefining global commerce models. According to Sean Yu, Vice President of Commercial APAC at EBANX, Asia has moved beyond adoption to innovation, becoming an early testing ground for future global payment architectures. Sean Yu “The core takeaway is that emerging markets are no longer catching up, but actually leading in payment innovations,” Sean Yu said. For companies across Asia-Pacific, the findings offer a preview of how global commerce infrastructure is evolving, and what they must adapt to remain competitive. Local Payment Rails Are Becoming Asia’s Commerce Backbone One of the clearest structural shifts is how payments scale in Asia’s digital economies. Rather than global card networks driving adoption, domestic schemes and mobile-first payment rails are increasingly becoming the default layer of commerce. “What we are seeing is that local rails are becoming the default layer of commerce in these markets, not an alternative,” Sean mentioned. In India, UPI now processes more than 21.7 billion transactions per month, accounting for the majority of e-commerce payment volume. Domestic card schemes and instant-payment-linked credit products are expanding faster than international networks, with local credit cards tied to instant rails expected to grow at a 23% compound annual growth rate through 2028. Southeast Asia is following a similar trajectory. Wallets and account-to-account rails now account for over half of e-commerce transaction volume in markets such as Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, as consumers bypass traditional card infrastructure. Global digital companies expanding into Asia face a structural shift in how payments must be approached. It seems like cards alone are no longer enough, and success increasingly hinges on integrating the local payment rails consumers use at scale. Instalments Are Reshaping Asia’s Digital Commerce Economics But that is not to say that cards don’t have a role in Asia’s digital markets. It does still, just not enough. The study highlights however, that there’s a different shift toward debit-led and instalment-based consumption models. Instalments, once concentrated in retail and travel, are spreading into digital services such as SaaS, streaming platforms, and online education. EBANX data shows that enabling instalments can materially increase conversion and order value, and more than 60% of digital consumers in high-growth markets prefer to split payments for higher-ticket online purchases. Subscription businesses are also rethinking billing models. Failed recurring card transactions can account for up to 26% of subscription volume, while securing longer-term commitments upfront through instalments can significantly reduce involuntary churn. These dynamics are particularly relevant in Asia, where price sensitivity and cash flow management strongly influence purchasing decisions. As a result, global digital companies are redesigning pricing, billing cycles, and checkout flows to align with instalment-driven behaviour in Asia-Pacific. Stablecoins Are Moving Into Asia’s Financial Infrastructure Crypto adoption in Asia is also evolving beyond speculation. Stablecoins are increasingly used to preserve value and move money across fragmented financial systems. Data analysed in the EBANX study shows that more than 15% of the population in Thailand and Vietnam owns digital currencies, with adoption expanding across India and Southeast Asia. Between 2023 and 2025, regulatory frameworks across multiple Asian markets matured, allowing enterprises to explore stablecoins as treasury and payments tools. For multinational companies operating across Asia’s fragmented regulatory and currency environments, stablecoins offer a potential way to move funds instantly with lower operational friction, particularly in markets with currency volatility and capital controls. Asian SMEs Are Becoming Global Digital Buyers Small and medium-sized enterprises remain the backbone of Asia’s digital economies, but their role in global commerce is expanding beyond selling online. Increasingly, Asian SMEs are purchasing global digital services such as cloud infrastructure, SaaS tools, digital advertising, and online education platforms. In India, a global SaaS provider that enabled UPI Autopay via EBANX attracted more than 4,000 new customers per day in its first three months, highlighting how local payment methods can accelerate enterprise adoption at scale. Across Southeast Asia, wallets such as GCash, ShopeePay, and GrabPay are expanding their ecosystems, accelerating digital adoption among micro and small businesses. “SMEs are not just selling globally anymore. They are buying globally, and they want to pay the same way they do locally,” said Sean. This shift positions Asian SMEs as a growing driver of cross-border B2B digital commerce, often preferring local payment methods over traditional corporate cards. AI-Driven Commerce Is Changing How Transactions Happen in Asia Beyond Borders 2026 also points to AI as a structural shift in commerce. Research from McKinsey shows that around 10% of consumers already start their shopping journey with AI tools, and one in five would be comfortable letting an AI agent complete a purchase. Deloitte estimates that agentic AI could influence 30% of global e-commerce transaction value, or roughly US$17.5 trillion, by 2030. As AI agents become more autonomous, merchants will compete less on interface design and more on pricing logic, data quality, and system accessibility. “AI will change how transactions are discovered and executed. Companies will compete less on user interfaces and more on pricing logic, data, and connectivity,” Sean pointed out. EBANX is working with partners, including Google Cloud, on the Agent Payments Protocol, an open standard designed to allow AI agents to securely initiate and complete payments across multiple methods. Rethinking Risk in Asia’s High-Growth Payment Markets High-growth Asian markets have traditionally been viewed as higher-risk environments for online payments, but AI-driven models are reshaping fraud management and approval strategies. EBANX data shows that combining signals across multiple payment rails can increase approval rates by around four percentage points while keeping chargebacks flat, while closer collaboration with local issuing banks can lift performance by another five percentage points. These models allow merchants to distinguish genuine risk from unfamiliar customer behaviour, enabling global brands to scale across Asia without sacrificing security or conversion. Asia as a Blueprint for the Future of Global Commerce Beyond Borders 2026 positions Asia as an early blueprint for the future of global digital commerce. Local payment rails, instalment-driven commerce, stablecoins, AI-driven purchasing, and SME-led B2B growth are converging across the region, testing models that could become global standards. For Asia-Pacific companies, these developments offer a preview of how cross-border commerce will evolve. Success will depend less on front-end experience and more on pricing logic, data capabilities, local payment connectivity, regulatory alignment, and AI-ready infrastructure. As an infrastructure partner operating across Asia and other emerging markets, EBANX aims to help global merchants navigate these shifts. “Our role is to help global companies plug into these local realities at scale, without having to rebuild their payments stack market by market,” said the Vice President of Commercial APAC at EBANX. The Beyond Borders 2026 study is available online, offering deeper insights into how Asia and other high-growth markets are shaping the next phase of global digital commerce. Click the photo below to download the report. Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore based on an image by musmanofficial00 via Freepik. The post Asia Is No Longer a Follower in Payments Innovation appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Nium is expanding its C-suite with new technology, marketing and risk leaders to support its next phase of global payments growth. The cross-border payments infrastructure provider has appointed Amaresh Mohan as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Sekhar Cidambi as Chief Technology Officer and Danielle Gotkis as Chief Marketing Officer. The appointments come as the company positions its platform for greater use of digital assets, stablecoins and AI-driven payment flows. Amaresh Mohan Mohan, who will be based in Singapore, will oversee enterprise risk management, regulatory strategy and governance across Nium’s markets. He brings more than 25 years of experience in fintech and financial services, including senior roles at Stripe, PayPal and GoTo. He will work alongside Chief Revenue Officer Anupam Pahuja in Singapore, which serves as a hub for the company’s revenue and compliance functions. Sekhar Cidambi Cidambi, based in San Francisco, will lead the company’s global technology organisation, including platform engineering, network resilience and payments innovation. He has previously held roles at Coinbase, Visa, FIS, Amazon and Symantec, where he worked on large-scale financial and technology systems. Danielle Gotkis Gotkis, also based in San Francisco, will oversee global marketing strategy and go-to-market execution. She has held senior leadership roles at dLocal, Recurly, Feedzai, PayNearMe and Pecan AI. Nium operates a payout network that spans more than 190 countries and holds over 40 regulatory licences. The company supports more than US$50 billion in annual transaction volume for banks, financial institutions, travel companies, payroll providers and digital platforms.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by mkmult via Freepik   The post Nium Appoints New Tech, Marketing and Risk Chiefs appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Malaysia and India will introduce two-stage QR interoperability under a new agreement between Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) and NPCI International Payments Limited. The partnership links Malaysia’s DuitNow QR system with India’s Unified Payments Interface. The initiative builds on earlier payment connectivity discussions between the two countries during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Malaysia. In the first phase, Indian travellers will be required to use UPI-enabled applications to pay at participating DuitNow QR merchants across Malaysia. The DuitNow QR network covers more than 2.9 million merchant touchpoints nationwide, including retail outlets, restaurants and tourist locations. The second phase will allow Malaysians visiting India to scan UPI QR codes and pay using their local banking apps or e-wallets at millions of UPI QR-enabled merchant outlets. Beyond merchant payments, the linkage is also expected to support low-cost cross-border remittances, benefiting students, small businesses and individuals who transact frequently between the two countries. Praveen Rajan Praveen Rajan, CEO of PayNet said, “Once enabled, the linkage between Malaysia’s DuitNow QR and India’s UPI will strengthen payment connectivity for travellers, merchants, banks and the wider financial services ecosystem. In the context of Visit Malaysia 2026 and growing two-way travel, this collaboration contributes to broader trade and economic activity between Malaysia and India.” Ritesh Shukla Ritesh Shukla, MD and CEO of NPCI International, said, “Under the guidance of the Government of India and Reserve Bank of India, we aim to expand the global footprint of UPI by building interoperable, real-time payment ecosystems with leading payment networks worldwide. Our partnership with PayNet marks an important step in enabling seamless QR-based merchant payments between India and Malaysia, offering travellers a familiar, secure, and convenient payment experience.” Malaysia is targeting more than two million Indian tourist arrivals under Visit Malaysia 2026.   The post Malaysians and Indians Will Soon Have Access to Cross-Border QR Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Grab has agreed to acquire U.S. investing platform Stash at an enterprise value of US$425 million at closing. The deal gives Grab a 50.1 percent stake initially, with the remaining shares to be acquired over three years at fair market value, marking its entry into the U.S. mass-market investing segment. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. Payment at closing will be made in cash and stock, with subsequent payments in cash and or stock at Grab’s discretion. Stash manages more than US$5 billion in assets and serves over one million subscribers through a subscription-based app offering investing, banking and financial education tools. Grab said Stash is adjusted EBITDA and cash flow positive and has been profitable on that basis since its Series H fundraising round in 2025. Based on current performance, the company expects it to generate more than US$60 million in adjusted EBITDA in the 2028 calendar year. Anthony Tan Anthony Tan, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Grab, said, “This acquisition brings more than just recurring, high-margin subscription revenue; we will strengthen Grab’s fintech knowhow with Stash’s AI-powered investing app, designed with existing U.S. regulatory requirements at its core. While we remain operationally focused on Southeast Asia and scaling our regional loanbook, this move reinforces our mission of democratizing financial services for everyone.” A central feature of Stash’s platform is AI Money Coach, which provides personalised financial guidance. The company said interactions are auditable and governed by defined policies and controls. Since launching in late 2024, about one in two users have taken a financial action on the same day, with that figure up nearly 40 percent in 2025. After closing, Stash will continue operating as an independent brand in the United States under its existing leadership, including Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Brandon Krieg and Ed Robinson. Grab said it will support Stash’s U.S. growth while exploring whether to introduce its investing capabilities in Southeast Asia over time. Brandon Krieg Brandon Krieg said, “Grab has a track record of ecosystem-building through harnessing user data and a culture of entrepreneurship that will serve our growth ambitions. This acquisition gives us the best of both worlds: the capabilities to double down on growth in the U.S., and the resources of a technology powerhouse to accelerate our vision of personalised, AI-driven financial guidance for millions of people across all parts of their financial lives.” Grab reported its first full year of net profit in 2025, posting positive net income after previous years of losses, alongside continued growth in revenue and user engagement.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by yrmahim11 via Freepik   The post Grab Breaks Into U.S. Investing Segment With Stash Acquisition appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Standard Chartered appointed Peter Burrill as interim Group CFO as Diego De Giorgi steps down with immediate effect. De Giorgi had been viewed by some as a potential successor to Group Chief Executive Officer Bill Winters, according to Reuters. That perception heightened market sensitivity around his exit, with shares in Standard Chartered falling following the announcement. The lender’s London-listed stock dropped 4.1 percent at the open, while its Hong Kong-listed shares slid as much as 6.4 percent before paring losses to trade about 1.7 percent lower. The move underperformed the broader Hang Seng Index, which was up nearly 0.6 percent. De Giorgi is leaving after around two years in the role to join Apollo Global Management as Head of EMEA. The bank said Burrill will be based in London and report directly to Winters, with an update on a permanent appointment to be made in due course. Burrill currently serves as Group Head of Central Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer, a role he has held since joining Standard Chartered in 2017. His previous experience includes senior finance roles at Deutsche Bank, and earlier in his career, nearly two decades at KPMG working across the United States and Germany. He is also Chair of the SCB AG Supervisory Board, a position he has held since March 2025. Bill Winters Bill Winters, Group CEO said, “As deputy CFO, Pete has extensive sectoral experience. He likewise provides valuable continuity to the leadership of our finance function and takes on the position as a well-regarded member of our global leadership team. Under his interim stewardship we remain well-positioned to capitalise on the strategic focus and momentum of our business. I thank Diego for his contribution as GCFO, including his valuable support in executing on our strategy. We wish him well for the future.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by user16639364 via Freepik   The post StanChart Names Peter Burrill Interim CFO After De Giorgi Exit appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

HSBC Singapore has named its Group Chief Operating Officer Suzy White as a new board director, effective 30 January 2026. White joined HSBC’s senior management team in October 2024 and sits on the Group Operating Committee. She has spent more than 25 years with the bank, holding senior roles across global banking, markets, risk and operations. Her previous positions include Chief Operating Officer for Global Banking and Markets, Regional Chief Operating Officer for Global Markets in the Americas, and Chief Risk Officer for Global Banking and Markets and Commercial Banking in the United States. She has also served on several boards, including HSBC Securities Inc. and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Market Risk Advisory Committee. Singapore remains a key market for the HSBC Group, serving as a regional base for wealth management and treasury activities.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by mrsiraphol via Freepik   The post HSBC Singapore Appoints Group COO Suzy White to Board appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Google has announced new investments to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) efforts in Singapore, covering research and development, enterprise collaboration, workforce training and online safety. The announcement was made at the Google for Singapore event, 19 years after the company opened its first local office. Google will scale its local research and development teams across software engineering, research science and user experience design. This follows the recent opening of its DeepMind research lab in Singapore. The company will also set up a Google Cloud Singapore Engineering Center to work directly with Singapore-based enterprises on complex technology projects, including in areas such as robotics and clean energy. To support startup innovation, Google will launch Startup School: Prompt to Prototype. The programme is designed to help founders turn ideas into working AI prototypes using its Gemini models. Workforce initiatives will be consolidated under a renewed effort called Majulah AI. Google said its training programmes have reached nearly 350,000 Singaporeans since 2020. It aims to equip 50,000 students and educators with AI skills by 2027 through physical AI Living Labs across education institutions. Google is working with the Infocomm Media Development Authority to train 500 graduates and professionals through the Skills Ignition SG AI Challenge. It is also collaborating with the Ministry of Education to support wider AI skills adoption across schools and tertiary institutions. Separately, Google.org will provide an additional US$1 million in funding to AI Singapore’s Project Aquarium to improve Southeast Asian datasets and make them open source for developers in the region. Google will also establish an AI Center of Excellence for security in Singapore. The centre will study emerging risks linked to new AI technologies. The company has begun rolling out age assurance tools locally to apply safer default settings for users under 18 across Search, YouTube and Google Play.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Google   The post Google Expands AI Investments in Singapore appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

If you’re looking at your bitcoin portfolio and seeing red, chances are you’re witnessing one of the fastest unravellings in crypto history. Bitcoin’s slide has been brutal. After peaking at a euphoric US$126,000 in October 2025, Bitcoin has entered a relentless free fall, touching lows of US$59,000 to US$60,000 in February 2026. But why is Bitcoin falling? Investors are panic-searching for answers, seeking far and wide. Is this a buy-the-dip moment or the start of a multi-year crypto winter? In this breakdown of the great Bitcoin Freefall from 2025 to 2026, we cover key events leading to Bitcoin’s latest fall and critical insights from Zhong Yang Chan, Head of Research at CoinGecko, to find out if the worst is over. A US$19 Billion Washout and the Warsh Paradox While the recent volatility has captured headlines, the roots of the current dislocation began months earlier. Back in early October 2025, Bitcoin was trading at an euphoric all-time high of approximately US$126,000. However, when President Trump announced threats of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports in October 2025, it triggered a massive “liquidity shock” across global markets, hitting risk assets simultaneously. Over a few days, the market witnessed an US$18+ billion crypto sellout through liquidations, which the market has yet to recover from.  “Since then, BTC has slipped from its all-time high of US$126,000 on 6 October 2025 to US$87,000 by 1 Jan 2026,” Zhong shares. The next leg of the decline came in late February 2026, when President Trump announced the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chairman. This move signalled a potential regime shift in how Bitcoin is traded, and acted as a second hammer blow. Analysts have shared with Reuters that having Warsh at the helm could lead to a smaller Fed balance sheet, which poses a risk for assets like cryptocurrencies that thrive on liquidity. Warsh reportedly has a tendency to favour higher interest rates and inflation concerns. Zhong shares further, saying, “His (Warsh’s) nomination triggered a simultaneous decline across Gold, Silver, US equities and crypto. BTC’s drastic dip reflects a loss in conviction from sellers, as most of the selling has come from the spot market. But the current rebound could indicate that a floor has been found, and traders are cautiously rebuilding confidence and support for BTC.” As of 10 February 2026, the bitcoin market is now near US$70,000. Source: Coingecko, figures are subject to change The recent bitcoin rebound has been fuelled by a stabilisation in tech stocks and short covering from traders who had bet on a further collapse, among other factors. However, the structural damage remains. The question on every investor’s mind is whether this is a genuine recovery or a “dead cat bounce” before the next leg down. Michael Burry, an investor who’s renowned for betting against America’s housing market during the 2008 financial crisis, has issued a stark warning for miners should it fall below US$50,000.  Burry said that miners will go bankrupt and be forced to sell, and added that tokenised metal futures could collapse into a black hole with no buyers. While his remarks reflect broader market anxiety, they also underscore how tightly Bitcoin has become linked to liquidity conditions across risk assets. Digital Asset Treasury Companies Enter a Stress Test By late January and early February 2026, the damage spread to the equity markets, creating a correlation crisis. The “software-mageddon” saw major AI and software stocks plummet as investors began to question the return on investment for massive capital expenditures in artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 software and services index shed roughly US$1 trillion in market value, dragging NASDAQ down with it. Now, as institutional investors hold significant amounts of tech equities and crypto via ETFs, the two asset classes have become glued together. So when hedge funds faced margin calls on their tech portfolios, they sold their most liquid assets to raise cash, and often that asset was Bitcoin. This correlation meant that as AI stocks crashed, they dragged Bitcoin down in tandem, shattering the narrative that crypto would act as a haven during an equity market correction. In his commentary, Zhong shares that Digital Asset Treasury Companies (DATCos) are facing an unprecedented test of conviction right now. Based on CoinGecko’s Crypto Treasuries tracker, most DATCos are currently facing significant paper losses on their crypto holdings, and their share prices now trade below the 1.0 mNAV level, which Zhong explains means that their enterprise value is now below the value of their crypto holdings. Source: CoinGecko Crypto Treasuries Tracker as of 10 February 2026, subject to change Notably, Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy® Incorporated) is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, and it reported a staggering US$12.4 billion Q4 loss, driven by impairment charges on its Bitcoin holdings. If Strategy’s stock price continued to plummet, would the company be forced to liquidate its treasury to satisfy shareholders or debt covenants? According to Yahoo Finance, the company’s management has “framed this as an accounting effect from fair value marks rather than a cash drain.” When posed on whether corporate treasury “diamond hands” are being tested in a way that could create risk for BTC, Zhong had more to share. The good news, he says, is that most of these companies were funded by equity issuances, with only a relatively small debt element. Therefore, there should not be any instances of force-selling to pay down debt. “However, we are already seeing consolidation happen within the DATCo space (Strive acquiring Semler Scientific), and certain DATCos are already pivoting to other businesses to survive (ETHZilla selling ETH to pivot into aeronautics and tokenization). In the meantime, the two largest DATCos, Strategy and BitMine Immersion, are still regularly acquiring crypto through equity issuances, demonstrating their continued commitment to accumulate more crypto, Zhong shares. Stablecoins as the Market’s Waiting Room While Bitcoin has struggled, stablecoins have quietly emerged as one of crypto’s strongest growth stories, with market capitalisations reaching all-time highs and signalling a clear shift in investor behaviour. Source: CoinGecko 2025 Annual Crypto Industry Report Rather than exiting the ecosystem entirely, capital appears to be pausing on-chain, reflecting a deliberate wait-and-see approach amid heightened volatility. Zhong shares that stablecoins have been a major bright spot for crypto in 2025, especially with the passing of the US GENIUS Act, which created a pathway for the legal issuance of USD stablecoins. “Since then, we have seen numerous announcements from TradFi players in the US indicating their interest in jumping into the fray to either issue their own stablecoin or integrate stablecoins into their respective businesses. At the same time, crypto has gone multi-asset, with plentiful avenues to trade stocks and commodities on-chain, meaning that investors need not withdraw their capital to switch asset classes.” He continues, saying that the strong sustained growth in stablecoins reflects not just continued investor interest in the crypto industry, but also the crypto industry’s enlarged scope to keep capital on-chain, as well as the increased and impending adoption of blockchains as payment rails. While there has been a slight dip of about US$4 billion in total stablecoin market cap in recent days, Zhong shares that they only expect this segment of the market to continue to grow as more issuers jump into the fray and more use cases get built out. While volatility is likely to persist, the continued conviction of large treasury holders and the steady rise of stablecoins suggest that capital is repositioning. Whether this marks the end of the downturn or merely an intermission will depend less on sentiment, and more on how global liquidity conditions evolve in the months ahead. Featured image edited by Fintech New Singapore based on images by tohamina and Dmitry Akreev on Freepik The post Is the Worst Over Yet For Bitcoin’s Freefall in 2026? appeared first on Fintech Singapore.