The Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF 2025) celebrates its tenth year and looks to the next decade with artificial intelligence (AI), tokenisation and quantum computing at the centre of the conversation. The 2025 edition will run from 12 to 14 November at the Singapore EXPO, bringing together over a thousand global leaders from finance, technology and policy, including senior ministers, central bank governors and industry heads, to explore how emerging technologies can strengthen the global financial system. Organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) and Constellar in collaboration with the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS), the event drew 65,000 participants from 134 countries last year. This year’s theme, “Shaping the Next Decade of Growth,” highlights how AI, tokenisation and quantum computing could drive the next phase of financial innovation. More than 70 sessions will address topics such as AI-driven risk management, regulatory compliance, financial inclusion, tokenisation in capital markets and new cybersecurity and encryption challenges posed by quantum technologies. Speakers include Dr Roy Fielding, Nandan Nilekani, Dr Paul Taylor, Eric Jing and Dr Agustín Carstens, alongside Charles Cascarilla of Paxos, cybersecurity expert Rafael Echemendia, SEON co-founder Tamas Kadar, Dyna.Ai co-president Tomas Skoumal, Professor Urbasi Sinha of the Raman Research Institute and Vijay Shekhar Sharma of Paytm. The festival will also feature insights from more than 20 founders from Singapore and across Asia who have shaped regional fintech ecosystems over the past decade. Networking and investment-focused programmes such as the Founders Peak, Capital Meets Policy Dialogue, Investor Hours and the SFF MeetUp will provide opportunities for collaboration. Attendees can also join the Innovation Lab Crawl to explore Singapore’s fintech ecosystem. The tenth Global Fintech Hackcelerator marks a decade of innovation, spotlighting early-stage innovators working with AI. SFF 2025 will also recognise the inaugural recipients of GFTN’s Global Impact Champions Awards, launched under the theme of financial health. An invite-only Insights Forum on 10 and 11 November at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre will gather regulators, policymakers and industry leaders ahead of the main event for two days of high-impact discussions focused on shaping actionable outcomes and setting the agenda for the year ahead. Registration for SFF 2025 is now now open, with complimentary tickets offered to government agencies, policymakers, central banks, multilateral agencies, academics, students, foundations and non-profit organisations. Kenneth Gay Kenneth Gay, Chief Fintech Officer of MAS, said, “SFF’s 10th anniversary represents a decade of convergence between financial services and technology. This journey mirrors the evolution of fintech from early digital innovations to today’s AI-driven transformation. Looking ahead, Singapore continues to provide a dynamic platform for innovation, setting the foundation for the next decade as we harness emerging technologies to create new possibilities for the global financial ecosystem.” Sopnendu Mohanty Sopnendu Mohanty, Group Chief Executive Officer of GFTN, said, “SFF 2025 marks ten years of public-private sector dialogue that has propelled the development of open banking, embedded finance, cross-border digital assets, and innovative models of financial inclusion. As we celebrate this milestone, SFF 2025 calls for urgent action to address persistent gaps in global finance and to build the next generation of trusted and inclusive infrastructure powered by AI, Quantum Computing, and Tokenisation. As the flagship event of GFTN’s global network of forums, SFF aligns innovation, regulation, and capital to foster resilient and inclusive financial systems, and create new growth opportunities connecting Singapore, Asia, and the world. We are proud to lead this global dialogue from Singapore.”   The post SFF 2025 Charts the Next Ten Years of Financial Innovation From AI to Quantum appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

MHC Digital Group, an institutional digital assets platform, has announced a joint venture with Catena Digital to establish Macropod, an Australian dollar-backed stablecoin platform. The stablecoin, to be listed under the ticker AUDM, will be issued on a one-to-one basis against Australian dollars held in trust with a major Australian bank. It will operate under regulatory oversight and provide monthly proof-of-reserves attestations. The venture combines MHC Digital Group, led by Mark Carnegie, with Catena Digital, founded by former National Australia Bank executives and headed by Chief Executive Drew Bradford. According to the partners, Macropod aims to provide a scalable and compliant framework for an institutional-grade stablecoin. Mark Carnegie “This is the missing piece of digital infrastructure in Australia,” said Mark Carnegie, Founder and Executive Chairman of MHC Digital Group. “Stablecoins are already the fastest-scaling asset class in financial history, and demand from exchanges, wealth platforms and fintechs for compliant Australian dollar rails is at an all-time high. Macropod will deliver the trust, scale and connectivity institutions have been waiting for.” The development reflects broader global momentum for stablecoins. Japan recently approved a licensed yen-backed token (JPYC), while in the US, the Genius Act has signalled regulatory recognition of stablecoins’ role in the financial system. MHC has previously worked with Circle, the issuer of USDC, to expand institutional access to digital dollars in Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Under the terms of the 50/50 joint venture, Catena’s leadership will move into Macropod’s senior management, with Drew Bradford as Chief Executive. MHC will contribute capital, strategic input and infrastructure, including trading, settlement and liquidity support through its trading platform, MHC Markets. The launch comes at a time when stablecoins are experiencing rapid growth. They enabled more than US$26 trillion in transactions globally in 2024, with volumes projected to exceed US$3 trillion annually by 2030. Increasingly, this activity is linked to practical applications such as payments, treasury operations and tokenised assets. Despite this, Australia has not yet developed a licensed, Australian dollar-denominated stablecoin, which Macropod intends to address. Regulatory guidance is evolving, supported by ASIC’s Info Sheet 225, the federal government’s pro-fintech position, and the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Project Acacia. Catena is leading one of the use cases within the project, focused on stablecoin settlement for tokenised financial markets. Macropod will begin by holding reserves in segregated trust accounts with an Australian authorised deposit-taking institution. It will offer real-time application programming interfaces to allow partners to issue or redeem AUDM and to integrate the stablecoin within their platforms. The stablecoin will initially operate on Ethereum and Redbelly, an Australian-developed blockchain. The venture will also operate under regulatory oversight, including an Australian Financial Services Licence and Digital Currency Exchange registration with Austrac. “Macropod is the only team in the market with the licences, partnerships and infrastructure to compliantly scale a stablecoin in Australia,” said Mark Carnegie. “Launching at a time of accelerating global adoption, we are providing the country with a trusted onshore option to meet surging demand. Together with Catena, this partnership is building the foundation for Australia’s digital asset economy.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by MMollaretti via Freepik The post MHC Digital, Catena Launch AUD-Backed Stablecoin Platform in Australia appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

GXS Bank, the digital lender backed by Grab and Singtel, has secured a fresh capital injection of US$60 million from its key shareholders, regulatory filings show. According to Deal Street Asia, the latest infusion came from A-5 DV Holdings Pte Ltd and SFG Digibank Investment Pte Ltd, both subsidiaries of Grab Holdings, which subscribed to new ordinary shares on 15 September. A-5 DV Holdings acquired 46.35 million shares, while SFG Digibank Investment picked up 30.9 million, filings with Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) revealed. This marks the third time in under two years that Grab has injected capital into GXS. The Southeast Asian technology firm invested US$142 million in mid-2024, followed by another US$109 million in January 2024. In total, Grab has now committed about US$311 million to the digital bank since the start of last year. GXS is among the four firms awarded a digital bank license by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Under MAS rules, fully digital banks begin operations in a restricted phase, starting with a minimum paid-up capital of S$15 million (US$11.7 million) and deposit limits of S$75,000 per individual. Over time, banks are required to grow their capital base to at least S$1.5 billion, at which point these restrictions are lifted, allowing them to compete directly with traditional retail lenders. Grab’s most recent second-quarter earnings showed that financial services remains its only segment yet to achieve positive EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA losses for the financial services division widened slightly to US$26 million in the quarter, compared with US$24 million a year earlier. In contrast, the mobility arm posted a positive adjusted EBITDA of US$164 million in Q2, up 8.7% from US$129 million last year, while the deliveries segment delivered US$63 million, compared with US$42 million in Q2 2024. In Grab’s first-half 2025 briefing, President and COO Alex Hungate highlighted “strong loan disbursal growth” across GXS Bank in Singapore and GX Bank in Malaysia as the group scaled new product launches, noting that retail loan customer drawdowns more than doubled between March and June 2025. Hungate added that Grab expects to exit 2025 with a loan book exceeding US$1 billion across its financial services business, including GXS Bank, and said the company is “on track to achieve adjusted EBITDA breakeven in the second half of next year” for the division.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by vector_corp via Freepik The post Grab Injects Additional US$60 Million into GXS Bank appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Foreign investment, sustainability, and artificial intelligence (AI) were the leading topics in Asia-Pacific (APAC) financial media in 2024, reflecting shifting capital flows, growing climate risks, and the rapid adoption of AI across the region’s financial sector, according to a new study by Carma, a media intelligence provider. The study analyzed 14,000 English-language print and online financial coverage from Tier-1 mainstream news and trade publications across Asia in 2024, to provide both localized insights and regional trends. Foreign investment tops coverage Across the six markets studied, namely Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan, cross-border capital flows were the most prevalent theme in 2024. This reflects rising investment in most jurisdictions. Data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) show that nearly all East and Southeast Asian markets recorded growth in inward foreign direct investment (FDI) last year. Southeast Asia attracted US$225.3 billion in FDI inflows, up nearly 10% year-over-year (YoY), and led by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. South Korea reported a remarkable 42% YoY increase to US$18.9 billion, while Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan posted YoY gains of 3%, 70%, and 70%, respectively. By contrast, inward FDI into Mainland China continued to decline, dropping by about 29% YoY to US$116.2 billion. Key 2024 headlines included Malaysia’s growing role in regional supply chain, notably semiconductors and data centers; renewed investor confidence in Hong Kong regarding cross-border access to Mainland China; and tax reforms, lower corporate tax rates, and expanded fiscal incentives in the Philippines. Sustainability as second topic in focus After foreign investment, sustainability was the second most-covered theme in Asian financial media. This comes as climate impacts increasingly affect lives, infrastructure, costs, and insurance. According to 2024 Climate and Catastrophe Report by Aon, APAC suffered US$74 billion in economic losses from disasters last year, up 13.8% from 2023. Events included flooding in India and China, typhoons in Southeast Asia, and earthquakes in Japan. Asia-Pacific catastrophe review, Source: 2025 Climate and Catastrophe Insight Report, Aon, Jan 2025 In 2021, APAC generated about half of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2021, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and without mitigation, climate damage could reach 41% of APAC’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2100. Investor demand for sustainable finance is also rising. Invesco’s Global Sovereign Asset Management Study 2024 reports that more than 70% of asset owners in APAC have adopted ESG policies, integration frameworks, and dedicated in-house ESG team. Adoption of ESG policies or investment approaches, Source: Global Sovereign Asset Management Study 2024, Invesco, Sep 2024 Key 2024 headlines included the ADB approving a US$500 million climate adaptation loan for the Philippines; Temasek-backed firms and green real estate investment trusts (REITs) accelerating sustainable finance initiatives in Singapore; and Japan’s planned JPY 1.6 trillion (US$11 billion) “transition”-labelled bond issuance. AI emerges as a key theme AI was another major focus in APAC’s financial landscape, with coverage emphasizing its role as a practical tool for fraud detection, personalization, and customer service rather than a transformative disruptor. APAC is rapidly emerging as a leader in AI adoption, particularly generative AI (genAI). A 2024 survey by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found that in both North America and APAC, 16% of firms are already realizing tangible value in genAI, suggesting that the technology has been in use for some time and delivering measurable impact. APAC firms also lead in investment, allocating 7.6% of annual revenue in digital and genAI in 2023, ahead of North American at 7.1% and the European Union (EU) at 4.3%. Deloitte estimates that continued adoption of AI could potentially generate between US$211 billion and US$512 billion in economic benefits across Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Key news in 2024 included Singapore cementing its role as a fintech and AI hub with major firms like Prudential; Hong Kong’s rollout of responsible AI guidelines for the finance sector in October 2024; and Japan’s Financial Services Agency issuing guidance for ethical adoption of AI across financial institutions. Editorial themes in Asia ranked by volume, Source: Asia Financial Snapshot 2024, Carma, Jul 2025 Beyond these three dominant themes, cryptocurrency was another key topic, reflecting booming adoption of the asset class across the region. According to data from Chainalysis, APAC was the fastest-growing region for cryptocurrency activity in the 12 months to June 2025, driven by strong engagement across South Asia, and Southeast Asia.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on images by user26823545 and freepik via Freepik The post Foreign Investment, Sustainability, and AI Dominate APAC’s Financial Media Coverage appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Banking and technology leaders from across Asia and the Middle East convened in Shanghai on 17 September for the Global Banking Summit 2025. Co-hosted by Sunline, a provider of core banking solutions, and Huawei, the event explored the critical role of technology in the next phase of banking modernisation. The summit drew attendees from Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Middle East and beyond, fostering a platform for cross-regional dialogue on the future of finance. Speakers emphasised the growing need for strategic partnerships between technology providers and financial institutions to accelerate large-scale digital transformation. A key highlight was the presentation by the CIO of SCB TechX, who shared first-hand insights from the bank’s core banking modernisation journey, detailing the challenges faced, critical success factors and lessons learned that are highly relevant to banks across the region. Sunline showcased updates to its DataMind platform for AI-ready data and real-time insights, demonstrated practical applications of AI in core banking from fraud detection to digital platforms, and introduced agile SaaS models designed to speed market entry and integration. It also highlighted enterprise-grade intelligent ledger solutions built to improve transparency, automation and operational control. Huawei offered its perspective on sustainable business enablement and application modernisation, illustrating how advanced technology can help financial institutions enhance agility and support long-term growth. The summit concluded with a Leaders’ Exchange session, where attendees discussed how technology acts as an enabler but meaningful transformation ultimately relies on collaboration, shared expertise and disciplined execution. As banks face mounting pressure to upgrade legacy platforms, meet rising customer expectations and deploy data and AI tools, the event underscored the urgency of coordinated action. Sunline said it remains committed to helping banks simplify complexity, accelerate digitalisation and build resilience at scale, supporting the industry’s shift toward more intelligent and customer-centric finance. The post Sunline and Huawei Drive Global Dialogue on Intelligent Banking at Shanghai Summit appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

United Overseas Bank (UOB) and UnionPay International have launched the SplendorPlus Campaign, giving UOB UnionPay cardholders up to 5% cashback on purchases made in mainland China until December 31. The initiative comes as travel between Singapore and China continues to expand. Changi Airport reported a 15.8% year-on-year increase in Singapore, China passenger traffic in the second quarter of 2025, nearly three times higher than the airport’s overall growth of 5.9% during the same period. The campaign is positioned against this backdrop of growing demand, with Singaporeans continuing to regard China as one of their most visited destinations. Under the scheme, UOB UnionPay cardholders are entitled to 2% cashback on eligible retail purchases both locally and overseas without any minimum spend requirement. An additional 3% cashback applies to eligible in-store and online purchases in mainland China when processed through the UnionPay network, excluding transactions made via third-party mobile wallets such as Alipay and WeixinPay. The maximum cashback on spending in mainland China is capped at S$50 per card each month. UOB and UnionPay maintain a long-term partnership focused on developing cross-border payment solutions and improving customer experiences across the region. UOB is one of the leading local banks in Singapore to issue a UnionPay credit card, contributing to the expansion of UnionPay’s presence in the market. UnionPay cards are widely accepted in Singapore, including across retail, dining, transport, and tourism sectors, supported by UOB’s merchant network.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra via Unsplash The post UOB and UnionPay Launch Cashback Scheme for Singapore Travellers to China appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Mastercard has introduced an embedded virtual card payment capability in Australia, with Westpac becoming the first commercial issuer in the country to activate the solution for clients using Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). The system integrates Mastercard’s virtual card technology with Oracle’s business-to-business platform, embedding payments directly within Oracle Cloud ERP. This gives businesses real-time visibility, greater control, improved working capital management, and streamlined supplier onboarding within their existing systems. Anouska Ladds “Manual commercial payments are the silent drag on growth, slowing operations, increasing exposure, and tying up capital that should be fuelling innovation,” said Anouska Ladds, Executive Vice President, Commercial and New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific at Mastercard. Catherine You “By embedding our virtual card technology into enterprise workflows like the Oracle Cloud ERP, we are removing long-standing friction and empowering organisations across Asia Pacific to operate at the scale and speed of today’s economy.” Catherine You, Group Vice President at Oracle, added: “Consumers have long enjoyed fast, frictionless transactions, but the business-to-business world has lagged behind with outdated, cumbersome processes. Through this collaboration, we’re reimagining how businesses transact by empowering mutual customers to streamline cash management, tap into credit, and arrange financing all from one unified platform within Oracle Cloud ERP.” The solution is intended to replace manual and fragmented processes with a centralised payment flow, offering automated reconciliation and detailed remittance data to reduce errors and improve transparency. It is embedded within customers’ existing Oracle Cloud ERP subscriptions, avoiding the need for additional technical integration.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by starline via Freepik The post Mastercard Launches Virtual Card in Oracle Cloud ERP with Westpac appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Global venture capital firm Antler has appointed fintech veteran Hiro Kiga as partner for Southeast Asia and Japan to strengthen its early-stage investment presence across both markets. Based in Singapore, Kiga will lead Antler’s strategy in Japan while coordinating with the Southeast Asia team to accelerate day-zero investing, increase founder mobility and drive cross-border collaboration. Kiga co-founded Wallex, a B2B foreign exchange and cross-border payments platform that became a regional fintech player before its acquisition by Singapore-based M-DAQ in 2022. He previously spent four years in venture capital at Strive VC (formerly GREE) and Yello Mobile after beginning his career as a software engineer at Macquarie Group. His track record includes an early Series A investment in Bukalapak, long before the Indonesian e-commerce firm went public. Antler said Kiga’s appointment coincides with its growing footprint in Japan, where it is running residency programmes to develop founder talent. The firm added that this expansion complements its work in emerging ecosystems such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia and supports its goal of building globally focused startups from day one. Hiro Kiga “Having experienced the full cycle of building and exiting a startup, I’m excited to return to the investor’s seat with a founder’s lens. I know first-hand how crucial early support and empathy are for founders at day zero. Antler’s mission of being a day zero backer with a truly global platform resonates deeply with me. I look forward to leveraging my Japan – Southeast Asia experience to back more founders, initiate more capital flows between these markets, and to support the next wave of entrepreneurs in building cross-border, globally ambitious startups.” said Hiro Kiga, on his appointment as Partner.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by karandaev via Freepik The post Antler Strengthens Asia Presence with Appointment of Hiro Kiga as Partner appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

A private dinner with DBS CEO Tan Su Shan drew a winning bid of S$18,900 (about US$14,800) at National Gallery Singapore’s gala. The auctioned experience became one of the standout lots at the gallery’s 10th-anniversary fundraiser, which Bloomberg reported raised a record S$2.8 million to support new exhibitions, research and education programs. Sotheby’s handled the auction of nearly 90 artworks and luxury experiences. The winning bidder secured a six-person private dinner with Tan at chef Damian D’Silva’s venue, preceded by a champagne reception at the Singapore Courtyard and followed by a private tour of the Gallery. Organisers said the strong bidding underscored a rising appetite in Singapore for exclusive encounters alongside traditional art collecting. Tan took over as CEO of DBS in March, becoming the first woman to lead Singapore’s largest bank. She joined DBS in 2010 after senior roles at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. The bank surpassed S$100 billion in market value earlier this year and has been a founding partner of the National Gallery since 2014. DBS described Tan’s participation in the fundraiser as an extension of its long-standing support of the arts. Sotheby’s confirmed the final bid but did not identify the winning bidder. The National Gallery said funds from the gala will be channelled into exhibitions, research and educational initiatives to expand public access to its collection.       The post Private Dinner With DBS CEO Fetches S$18,900 at National Gallery Singapore Fundraiser appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Luxury shoppers at LVMH stores worldwide are now tapping, swiping, and paying under one unified system as the group deepens its global partnership with Adyen. LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) is the French multinational conglomerate behind Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Fendi, Bulgari, Sephora and TAG Heuer. Adyen has been LVMH’s global payments partner since 2020 and its solutions now support nearly 50 of the group’s fashion, hospitality, beauty and retail Maisons. The rollout spans more than 1,000 stores across Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas, bringing mobile terminals, Tap to Pay, automated reconciliation and end-of-day processes to reduce manual entry and errors. A single partner now covers channels, geographies and payment methods through harmonised integration with boutique-by-boutique support. Arnaud Bodzon “This project is part of our broader ambition to deliver a flawless customer experience, reflecting the quality of our products and the craftsmanship of our Maisons. This applies not only to end customers but also to the sales advisors using the solutions. They can now focus fully on their core role—advising and supporting our clients—without having to worry about payment processing,” said Arnaud Bodzon, Group Payment Director, LVMH. Ethan Tandowsky “Our partnership with LVMH reflects a shared vision: creating meaningful and effortless experiences for customers in the world of high-end retail. Beyond facilitating payments, we’re working together to elevate every touchpoint across LVMH’s Maisons to make sure shoppers have an experience which matches the luxury goods they are purchasing. I cannot wait to see what we can achieve together with LVMH in this next chapter,” said Ethan Tandowsky, CFO at Adyen. LVMH says the ongoing rollout will preserve each Maison’s unique identity while standardising payments and creating a more consistent and seamless experience for customers worldwide.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by DC Studio via Freepik The post Adyen to Standardise Payments Across Over 1,000 LVMH Luxury Stores Worldwide appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Razorpay enables Apple Pay for cross-border sales, giving Indian merchants a one-tap checkout experience for overseas shoppers Razorpay has become the first Indian payment aggregator to support Apple Pay for international transactions. The service gives merchants access to hundreds of millions of iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch users worldwide, offering one-tap payments authenticated with Face ID or Touch ID. Industry data shows Apple Pay can lift conversions by up to 58 percent, while Razorpay said early adopters on its platform are already seeing success rates above 90 percent for international payments. Apple Pay is rolling out alongside Razorpay’s existing cross-border options such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners and international bank transfers. Businesses using Razorpay’s standard checkout or major e-commerce platforms will see Apple Pay enabled first, with custom integrations to follow.   The post Razorpay Enables Indian Businesses to Accept Apple Pay Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Stablecoins are quickly evolving from crypto-native assets to credible instruments for mainstream finance. In 2024 alone, stablecoin transaction volumes hit 27.6 trillion, surpassing the combined volume of Visa and Mastercard, according to the World Economic Forum. Signaling significant real-world interest from major players. But are stablecoins here to change finance forever? Join us to find out first-hand this and more at our webinar: What’s behind the rise of stablecoins? What are the potential success factors leading towards its adoption? How stablecoins are being used to make payment rails faster, cheaper, and programmable What banks and fintechs need to consider before integrating stablecoin solutions Speakers: Tianwei Liu, CEO & Co-Founder, StraitsX Evy Theunis, Head of Digital Assets, Institutional Banking Group, DBS Amy Zhang, Head of APAC, Fireblocks Sam Lin, COO, dtcpay Moderator: Vincent Fong, Chief Editor, Fintech News Network The post Are Stablecoins the Future of Finance in APAC? appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

OCBC is stepping up its push to finance women-led businesses, aiming to back 10,000 entrepreneurs across Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia by 2030. The bank revealed the expanded goal at a briefing covered by The Business Times, noting that more than 2,000 women-owned SMEs had already received close to S$600 million in social loans by mid-2025. The Women Unlimited programme started in Singapore in April 2024, offering up to S$100,000 in financing for early-stage businesses run by women. It targets companies in their first two years of operation and waives processing fees to lower entry barriers. OCBC later brought the programme to Hong Kong in early 2025 and to Malaysia in August, while a related scheme called Women Warriors has been running in Indonesia since 2020. The bank positions the initiative as a way to help close funding gaps for women-owned companies and improve their early growth prospects. According to OCBC data, female entrepreneurs generally borrow less in their first three years and record about 30 per cent lower turnover growth than male-owned firms. The bank said access to financing has already helped narrow this gap, particularly in Singapore, where loan commitments to women-owned SMEs grew more than 20 per cent year on year. Across all four markets, about a third of OCBC’s SME clients are now women-owned, with Singapore at 36 per cent. In Malaysia, Women Unlimited is delivered through OCBC Al-Amin Bank with collateral-free loans of up to RM600,000 supported by a RM100 million Islamic Portfolio Guarantee-i facility arranged with the Credit Guarantee Corporation. Loan amounts differ by market to match the needs of each country’s entrepreneurs, ranging from micro-business owners in Indonesia to more capital-intensive startups in Singapore and Hong Kong. Several entrepreneurs have highlighted how the programme has accelerated their growth. The Powder Shampoo tapped OCBC’s financing to move into the Philippines and projects that it will double its customer base by the end of 2025, with revenue rising by 150 per cent in 2026. The Plattering Co used its loan to build a halal-certified central kitchen and expects to increase its customer base by half and triple revenue by 2027.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by OCBC The post OCBC to Finance 10,000 Women-Led SMEs Across Four Markets by 2030 appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Singapore authorities are launching a crackdown to cut scam mules off from banks, mobile lines and digital IDs. The joint move by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) targets individuals who supply syndicates with local facilities. Scam losses reached S$456.4 million in the first half of 2025 across 19,665 cases. Authorities say scammers depend on bank accounts, phone lines and digital services bought from “mules,” and are increasingly exploiting cryptocurrency’s anonymity to move funds. The new framework will curb digital banking services including Internet and mobile banking, card-based transactions and ATM withdrawals. Singpass and Corppass use for high-risk services such as bank account openings will also be restricted. Police have seen a rise in scam phone lines, including those registered by corporate entities, with more than 11,000 linked lines and 15 per cent of subscribers repeat offenders. From October 2025, restrictions will be rolled out in phases, starting with banking services and new mobile line subscriptions. Singpass and Corppass limits will follow later. The measures will cover people warned, fined, prosecuted or convicted for mule offences, and those under investigation deemed at risk of reoffending. Authorities said restrictions will be calibrated to allow basic financial and communication needs. Affected individuals will be notified and can appeal. Enhanced sentencing guidelines have also been issued, meaning offenders could face tougher penalties including jail time.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by meshcube via Freepik   The post Singapore Moves to Cut Off Scam Mules From Core Financial, Telecom Services appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Singapore-based insurtech firm CXA Group, which secured about US$58 million in funding over nearly 12 years of operations, is preparing to liquidate its assets and wind down operations. Founder Rosaline Chow Koo confirmed this in a LinkedIn post, saying, “Happy to see that the CXA solution lives on throughout Asia through the deals completed with Pacific Prime in Singapore, HSBC Life in Hong Kong and a third party in China. While this is the right way to transition CXA, I would love to share my learnings with investors and founders later after I return from an extended trip to the US to care for elderly family members with healthcare issues.” According to a report by e27, CXA has called a shareholder meeting on September 25, 2025 to vote on voluntary liquidation under Singapore’s Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018. If approved, liquidators will be appointed to settle debts, distribute remaining assets, and formally dissolve the business. Founded in 2013 as Connexions Asia, CXA built a platform combining health insurance, wellness tools, HR support, and data analytics. Its services allowed employees to file claims, access wellness products, and for employers to monitor benefits usage. Investors included HSBC, Humanica, B Capital, EDBI, and others, with the last funding round (Series C) in 2020. Earlier in 2021, CXA sold its brokerage operations in Singapore and Hong Kong to Pacific Prime. Under its transition, parts of the business have continued via partnerships, even as it shifts focus toward licensing its platform rather than distributing directly.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Borin via Freepik The post CXA Group to Cease Operations After 12 Years and Enter Voluntary Liquidation appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The Commonwealth Bank’s venture-scaling arm, x15ventures, and fintech-focused fund Triple Bubble have formed a strategic partnership aimed at supporting innovation in Australia’s financial technology sector. The collaboration involves an investment, the exploration of new fintech opportunities using x15’s bank-compliant venture framework, and the establishment of a mentorship and talent exchange programme. This will enable startups to gain enterprise-level insight while providing Commonwealth Bank staff with experience in high-growth ventures. Toby Norton-Smith “We’ve built a model that’s proven effective in helping startups scale while deepening the CommBank proposition, but there’s always room to improve, especially in how we identify future ventures and talent,” said x15 Managing Director Toby Norton-Smith. “Partnering with Triple Bubble strengthens our role as a bridge between corporate and startup, opening venture opportunities that can benefit from our capability, while giving fintech founders and bank talent the chance to learn complementary skills.” Triple Bubble is described as Oceania’s first fintech-specific investment fund, established in 2024 by Dom Pym (Up Bank, Ferocia, Pin Payments), Brian Collins (Audacity Ventures, Startup Bootcamp), and Judy Anderson-Firth (Euphemia, Startup Victoria). Its model is designed to provide support at the startup, scale-up, and liquidity stages, which it terms the three ‘bubbles’ where fintechs often require the most assistance. Dom Pym “This partnership is a bold signal of leadership from Australia’s biggest banking institution,” said Pym. “Our fintech ecosystem is thriving but still underserved. What fintech founders need is capital, access to mentors, and large companies that believe in them. With CommBank stepping up, we’re bridging critical gaps in Australian fintech investment and showing real commitment to bold ideas and the entrepreneurs behind them.” According to Commonwealth Bank, the agreement reflects its wider strategy of combining startup agility with institutional scale to generate long-term outcomes in financial services.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by danykur via Freepik The post CommBank’s x15ventures Partners with Triple Bubble to Back Australian Fintechs appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

DBS and Franklin Templeton are joining forces with Ripple to offer accredited and institutional investors trading and lending services using tokenised money market funds and Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. Under the plan, eligible DBS clients will be able to trade Franklin Templeton’s sgBENJI token on DBS Digital Exchange (DDEx) using RLUSD. The sgBENJI token represents Franklin Templeton’s Franklin Onchain U.S. Dollar Short-Term Money Market Fund and will be added to the XRP Ledger, a public and enterprise-grade blockchain. Franklin Templeton said using the XRP Ledger strengthens interoperability across networks and offers speed, efficiency and low transaction costs for a high-volume, low-latency asset like a tokenised money market fund. DBS said the setup will help investors rebalance their portfolios between a regulated stablecoin and a yield-generating tokenised fund 24/7 and within minutes, allowing them to shift into a relatively stable asset and potentially earn yield during periods of market volatility. In the next phase of the partnership, DBS plans to explore unlocking liquidity by allowing clients to use their sgBENJI tokens as collateral. Potential use cases include obtaining credit either from the bank via a repurchase transaction (repo) or from third-party platforms where DBS will act as an agent holding the collateral, giving clients access to wider liquidity pools with their pledged assets kept under custody by a regulated bank. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin is a regulated, stable and liquid mode of exchange, designed to improve settlement and liquidity when paired with tokenised securities. Lim Wee Kian “Digital asset investors need solutions that can meet the unique demands of a borderless 24/7 asset class. This partnership demonstrates how tokenised securities can play that role while injecting greater efficiency and liquidity in global financial markets. Having been active in Asia’s blockchain ecosystem since 2021, this initiative strengthens our leadership position and represents a new front in DBS’ mission to provide our clients with trusted, institutional-grade solutions to build their digital asset portfolios.” said Lim Wee Kian, CEO of DBS Digital Exchange. Roger Bayston “Leveraging Franklin Templeton’s expertise in blockchain technologies and digital assets, we are excited to partner with DBS and Ripple to introduce cutting-edge trading and lending solutions for investors. This collaboration represents a meaningful advancement in the utility of tokenised securities and a significant step forward in the growth of Asia’s digital asset ecosystem,” said Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton.     Featured image: (From left) Rimy Gui, Head of Securities Services, Global Transaction Services, DBS; Evy Theunis, Head of Digital Assets, Institutional Banking Group, DBS; Lim Wee Kian, CEO, DBS Digital Exchange; Chetan Karkhanis, Senior Vice President, Strategic Ventures, Franklin Templeton; Nigel Khakoo, VP and Global Head of Trading and Markets, Ripple; Fiona Murray, Managing Director, APAC, Ripple.   The post DBS, Franklin Templeton to Blend Tokenised Funds with Ripple’s Stablecoin appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

A new tie-up between SBI Shinsei Bank, Partior and DeCurret DCP could reshape how yen and other currencies move across borders, using blockchain-backed tokenised deposits. The three companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to study multi-currency clearing and settlement through tokenised deposits and distributed ledger technology. SBI Shinsei, which has a large corporate client base, is considering introducing DCJPY, a yen-denominated tokenised deposit provided by DeCurret DCP, for both corporate and retail customers while also exploring tokenised deposits in other currencies. Partior’s digital money settlement platform is already used by banks including DBS, J.P. Morgan, Standard Chartered and Deutsche Bank and supports USD, EUR and SGD. As part of this collaboration, JPY is expected to be added to Partior’s list of supported currencies. DeCurret DCP plans to link its yen-denominated tokenised deposits to Partior’s international network to enable real-time settlement between JPY and other currencies, including interoperability with closed domestic chain environments. The three companies aim to create a settlement environment that is transparent, fast and available 24/7. They will define detailed roles with the goal of concluding a formal business collaboration agreement at an early stage.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by — via Freepik The post Partior Explores Adding Japanese Yen to Its Tokenised Deposit Platform appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

DBS Bank India has been authorised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as an Agency Bank to collect Goods and Services Tax (GST) payments, making it the only wholly owned subsidiary in India to receive this approval. Businesses can now make GST payments through its enterprise banking platform DBS IDEAL, via NEFT or RTGS, or over the counter at the bank’s branches. Customers can instantly download payment advice, track transactions in real time and access dedicated client service support to resolve queries. The approval is expected to help businesses streamline GST compliance. Since the introduction of GST in 2017, registered taxpayers have grown from about 6 million to 15.1 million in 2025. Many businesses still face operational hurdles such as fragmented approval workflows, manual challan uploads and time-consuming reconciliations, as well as delays from multi-level approvals and the lack of real-time alerts or mobile workflows, which can increase operational risk. DBS Bank India said its platform is designed to ease these challenges by providing instant acknowledgements and a consolidated view of payments. Divyesh Dalal Divyesh Dalal, Managing Director and Country Head – Global Transaction Services, Corporate Banking – Financial Institutions and SMEs, DBS Bank India, said, “GST compliance is a key priority for enterprises, and at DBS Bank India we are focused on making the process seamless and efficient. By integrating GST payments within DBS IDEAL, we now provide businesses with a secure, intuitive platform that delivers real-time visibility, seamless integration, and greater operational efficiency.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by DBS India The post RBI Greenlights DBS Bank India to Collect GST Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on banking supervision. The agreement builds on years of collaboration between the two regulators and will support the exchange of information and mutual assistance for supervisory purposes. The arrangement is aimed at improving oversight of banks with operations in both Singapore and Hong Kong, where lenders from each market have a significant presence. Chia Der Jiun Chia Der Jiun, Managing Director, MAS, said, “This MOU reaffirms the strong partnership between MAS and the HKMA and paves the way for deeper collaboration, fostering supervisory cooperation, exchange of information and sharing of best practices in key areas of mutual interest between the authorities.” Eddie Yue Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, said, “Hong Kong and Singapore are the two leading international financial centres in the region. The signing of the MoU reinforces the close ties between the two authorities and enhances supervisory cooperation and information sharing in respect of cross-border banking matters in both jurisdictions.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by paripat9298 via Freepik The post Singapore and Hong Kong Regulators Deepen Cooperation on Bank Oversight appeared first on Fintech Singapore.