Author: Fintech News Singapore

Visa has introduced a series of new products and partnerships at its Asia Pacific Media Showcase in Singapore, marking a shift toward AI-enabled commerce across the region. Central to the announcement is Visa Intelligent Commerce, a new initiative that opens the company’s payments network to developers and engineers building AI-powered experiences. It includes integrated APIs and a commercial partner programme designed to connect AI platforms securely to Visa’s infrastructure. Visa said it is in discussions with Ant International, Grab, and Tencent to explore AI-driven payment use cases and streamline the checkout experience. As AI agents increasingly take on tasks like…

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced plans to block access to five unlicensed crypto trading platforms—Bybit, 1000X, CoinEx, OKX, and XT.COM—starting 28 June 2025. The move is in line with the Royal Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Technology Crime (No. 2) B.E. 2568, which came into effect on 13 April 2025. The decree authorises the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to restrict access to illegal online services. Following an investigation, the SEC found that the five platforms were operating without licenses under the Digital Asset Business Act B.E. 2561 and has filed charges…

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced that the Corporate Governance Advisory Committee (CGAC) will lead a review of the Code of Corporate Governance. The review aims to build on established good practices and strengthen governance and disclosure standards among listed companies. It also complements the work of the Equities Market Review Group to enhance the country’s equities market. Two sub-committees will support the initiative—one focused on providing practical guidance and examples to help companies implement the Code in ways tailored to their size and industry. The other will look into potential updates related to board effectiveness, corporate culture,…

Singapore-based stablecoin infrastructure provider StraitsX has unveiled a refreshed brand identity as it expands its role in enabling compliant, real-time payment settlements. The company, originally founded as a payment gateway called Xfers to support treasury and settlement needs for SMEs, has evolved into a regulated platform enabling purpose-built, fiat-backed stablecoins designed for real-world payment use cases. It said the brand update reflects its growing function as an infrastructure layer for institutional money movement. StraitsX reports having processed over US$10 billion in on-chain stablecoin transactions and operates under a Major Payment Institution licence issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS),…

In Cambodia, booming adoption of digital payments is driving a surge in e-commerce activity, with QR code payments and more broadly the Bakong real-time payment system gaining significant traction, according to a new report by Profitence, a corporate finance firm-based in Cambodia. The report, released in February, offers a comprehensive analysis charting the remarkable evolution of Cambodia’s digital marketplace. It identifies key growth drivers and draws insights from a national survey of more than 1,100 consumers to understand the dynamics shaping Cambodia’s e-commerce landscape. According to the report, Cambodia’s e-commerce market grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of…

In Asia, stablecoins are gaining significant attention, prompting governments to step in with efforts to regulate the sector. While the region’s approach remains fragmented, progress is unmistakable, according to a new report by global crypto research firm Four Pillars, released in April 2025. The report, released in April 2025, explores Asia’s rapidly evolving stablecoin landscape, noting that different countries are taking varied approaches to stablecoin integration. While jurisdictions like Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong are actively developing regulations, others like China and India are taking a restrictive stance, favoring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) over private stablecoins. Singapore leads in…

Singapore-based insurtech firm bolttech is integrating generative AI tools from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to improve customer service, automate workflows, and reduce costs across its global operations. The company has built a generative AI platform called the “bolttech Gen AI Factory” using Amazon Bedrock. It enhances bolttech’s existing omnichannel call center, which is already running on Amazon Connect and Amazon Lex, by incorporating agentic AI features. One new capability is the integration of multilingual speech-to-speech chatbots, currently piloted in Korean. These bots enable real-time, personalised responses to customer policy questions across both simple and complex inquiries. By automating routine tasks…

ACI Worldwide has unveiled ACI Connetic, a new cloud-native platform designed to streamline payment processing for banks and financial institutions. The platform integrates multiple payment types, including Swift cross-border payments, real-time gross settlement systems like Target2, and SEPA Instant payment networks such as RT1 and TIPS. ACI said additional capabilities will be added over time. ACI Connetic combines account-to-account transactions, card payments, and AI-powered fraud prevention into a single platform. The company said this unified approach can help financial institutions reduce complexity, improve efficiency, and modernise legacy payment systems. The platform is reportedly already gaining traction in Europe and the…

SEON has announced growth across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The company attributes this expansion to an increased demand for unified, real-time fraud detection and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions. SEON has recently added new clients in the APAC region, including Salmon Group Ltd, CryptoGaming.com, and Forever Network. These companies are utilising SEON’s Know Your User (KYU) and Know Your Customer (KYC) features to address fraud risks within the region’s digital markets. SEON has expanded its teams in Singapore and Jakarta with new technical, sales, and support specialists to support its regional activities. The company intends for this expansion to offer localised…

Aspire, a finance platform for businesses, has integrated with Stripe to allow users to accept credit card payments for invoices and payment links, aiming to improve cash flow and shorten payment cycles. With the new integration, Aspire users can now accept payments through credit and debit cards, as well as digital wallets including Apple Pay, Google Pay, GrabPay, and WeChat Pay. Aspire said the collaboration provides businesses with greater flexibility in how they receive payments and enables faster access to funds, reducing settlement times from the standard seven days to as little as three. The integration also makes it easier…

InsureTech Connect (ITC) Asia, one of the region’s largest insurance ecosystem conferences, is returning to the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore from 3 June 2025 to 5 June 2025. This event promises to bring together the global insurance community to explore innovative solutions, gain access to unique and impactful education, and forge meaningful business relationships. Now in its fourth flagship edition, ITC Asia 2025 is expected to host over 2,000 industry participants from around the globe, including 70% VP-level and above decision-makers, as well as more than 250 visionary speakers. These will convene to explore the most pressing…

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is stepping up efforts to help local businesses adopt emerging technologies. It has announced new partnerships to expand the use of generative AI (Gen AI), cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity tools among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As part of the Digital Enterprise Blueprint launched in May 2024, IMDA is collaborating with Alibaba Cloud, Prudential Singapore, and ST Engineering to support local SMEs in building digital capabilities. The initiative has already benefitted over 10,000 enterprises to date. Under the new agreements, Alibaba Cloud will support up to 3,000 SMEs and digital solution providers through its…

Google and FS-ISAC have launched a new collaboration aimed at improving fraud prevention in the financial services sector. The initiative introduces a dedicated Financial Services branch under Google’s Priority Flagger Programme. FS-ISAC, a member-driven nonprofit focused on advancing cybersecurity in the global financial system, will manage a dedicated channel for its members to report fraud and malicious activity involving Google platforms, such as Google Workspace and Google Ads. The programme streamlines the process of identifying, reporting, and mitigating these threats, allowing Google to investigate and remove abusive accounts more efficiently. The pilot phase was launched with a select group of…

Alibaba Group and SAP have announced a strategic partnership aimed at helping enterprises modernise their operations through cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence. As part of the collaboration, Alibaba Cloud has joined SAP’s Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Certification Program and will support customers running SAP’s enterprise cloud solutions. Alibaba Group will also use SAP Cloud ERP Private as part of its enterprise infrastructure. The partnership will initially focus on the China market, with plans to expand into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Enterprises in these regions will be able to implement SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and access…

Arta has unveiled Shariah-compliant investment portfolios that provide accredited investors and institutions with access to stock strategies aligned with Islamic finance principles. The portfolios are now available through Arta’s platform. Structured as satellite strategies, the portfolios are curated baskets of individual stocks built around specific investment themes. Unlike traditional products, these can be tailored by investors, with allocations adjusted to reflect market perspectives or to exclude stocks that do not align with personal values, all while maintaining Shariah compliance. The initial suite includes portfolios focused on six U.S. mega-cap firms in AI, mobility, and cloud infrastructure; companies driving AI infrastructure…

OCBC Bank has appointed Elaine Heng as its next Head of Global Commercial Banking, effective 1 October, as reported by The Business Times. She will take over the role from Linus Goh, who is set to retire on 30 September after two decades with the bank. Heng currently serves as OCBC’s Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, a role she assumed in November 2024 after joining the bank earlier that year. Her professional background includes a long tenure in banking as well as senior leadership positions at FairPrice Group, where she was Deputy Group CEO and CEO of Retail Business.…

Circle Internet Group has launched its initial public offering (IPO) of 24 million shares of Class A common stock and has applied to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CRCL.” The company is offering 9.6 million shares, while existing shareholders are selling 14.4 million. Underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to 3.6 million additional shares. The offering is expected to be priced between US$24 and US$26 per share and could raise approximately US$624 million, targeting a valuation of around US$6.71 billion. Circle is the issuer of the USDC stablecoin and operates within the…

Mambu has introduced Mambu Payments, extending its cloud banking platform to cover end-to-end payment services. The launch follows the company’s acquisition of payments technology provider Numeral in December 2024. With this development, Mambu aims to help financial institutions modernise outdated infrastructure and integrate payments alongside lending and deposit functions. The new offering is designed to support regulatory compliance, instant payments, and messaging standards such as ISO 20022, while addressing the limitations of legacy systems that can hinder digital transformation. Mambu Payments brings composable capabilities that integrate into various core banking environments. Acting as a universal gateway, it connects institutions to…

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has partnered with Wise, an international payments service, to encourage more Malaysians to visit Singapore and help them better manage their money while travelling. The partnership aims to boost tourism spending by combining STB’s destination marketing with Wise’s cross-border payment services. Malaysia remains a key market for Singapore, with 1.19 million Malaysians visiting in 2024—a 9% increase from the year before. Tourism Malaysia ranked Singapore as the third most visited destination by Malaysians in 2023, after Thailand and Indonesia, and among the top five planned destinations in 2024. As part of the campaign, a dedicated…

Southeast Asia’s rapid digital growth is creating major opportunities for high-growth enterprises, but when it comes to managing cross-border payments, many businesses are still held back by fragmented infrastructure, currency complexities, and inefficient payment processing systems. Cross-border payments remain a critical barrier to regional scale, especially for companies operating across multiple currencies and regulatory environments. Ershad Ahamed, newly appointed Head of Southeast Asia at Airwallex, speaks about how the fintech company is tackling these challenges through enterprise payment solutions that are scalable, integrated, and built for regional expansion. Drawing on his experience at Grab and Rakuten, Ershad shares how Airwallex…