Author: Fintech News Singapore

DBS Bank has become the first Singapore bank to integrate Mastercard’s Gamer Exchange into its rewards ecosystem, allowing customers to turn loyalty points into gaming credits across leading titles and platforms. Through the collaboration, DBS and POSB cardholders can now redeem their DBS Points for gaming credits via the DBS PayLah! app or DBS Rewards online. The feature covers popular games such as EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, PUBG, and Honor of Kings, as well as platforms like Steam, Roblox, Xbox, and the PlayStation Store. The partnership expands DBS’s digital rewards ecosystem with lifestyle-driven benefits, letting customers use even…

Kyrgyzstan has launched a national stablecoin and a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in partnership with cryptocurrency exchange Binance, President Sadyr Japarov announced on Saturday (October 25). According to Reuters, the mountainous Central Asian nation of around seven million people, long reliant on labour migrants in Russia, has in recent years sought to position itself as a regional leader in cryptocurrency innovation. Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, was appointed as an adviser on digital assets to the Kyrgyz president in May. In a post on X on Saturday, Zhao said the Kyrgyz national stablecoin had been launched on the BNB…

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has launched a public consultation on proposed measures to make it easier for investors to seek civil compensation for losses from market misconduct. The regulator noted that retail investors often face challenges in organising themselves and securing funds for legal costs. The proposals form part of the Equities Market Review Group’s wider efforts to boost investor participation, attract quality listings, and foster a pro-enterprise regulatory environment. MAS said it aims to strengthen investor recourse while guarding against frivolous lawsuits that could burden the market. One proposal would allow the appointment of an independent representative…

Standard Chartered has partnered with Dandelion Payments, a Euronet Worldwide company, to expand the Bank’s low-value global disbursement capabilities. The partnership will allow the bank to offer clients access to a wider range of destination currencies, covering both bank accounts and digital wallet endpoints. Dandelion’s payments infrastructure supports last-mile delivery via domestic ACH, instant payment systems, and direct digital wallets. The collaboration addresses the growing demand for cross-border payments and complements traditional bank account transfers. By combining Standard Chartered’s PrismFX platform with Dandelion’s network, clients can execute foreign exchange payments more efficiently across multiple markets and endpoints. “This strategic collaboration…

Fireblocks has announced its acquisition of Dynamic, a developer-first wallet infrastructure provider. The move aims to strengthen Fireblocks’ position as a key provider of digital asset and stablecoin infrastructure by integrating Dynamic’s embedded wallet technology into its enterprise-grade platform. The acquisition comes at a time when financial services are increasingly moving onchain, with payments, trading, and transfers operating on programmable, global networks. As regulatory clarity improves, demand is growing among enterprises and fintechs to safely offer digital asset services while maintaining compliance and user trust. Dynamic enables developers to embed digital asset functionalities directly into applications, handling user onboarding, authentication,…

Under the guidance of the Bank of Thailand, Ant International, National ITMX, and Krungthai Bank are collaborating to strengthen cross-border payment connectivity between Thailand and China via PromptPay. Krungthai Bank will serve as the settlement bank for the initiative, which will enable Chinese travellers to make payments at Thai merchants by scanning PromptPay QR codes using Alipay, an Alipay+ e-wallet partner. PromptPay, introduced by the Bank of Thailand in 2016 and operated by National ITMX, is the country’s national payment infrastructure supporting transactions across multiple channels, including regional cross-border payments. Chatchai Dusadenoad, Managing Director of National ITMX, said: “The launch…

US President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, the White House announced. Zhao, known as “CZ,” resigned as Binance chief in 2023 after the company pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering programme and paid a US$4.3 billion penalty. The Biden administration had prosecuted Zhao, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt describing it as part of a “war on cryptocurrency.” Zhao, a Canadian citizen born in China, personally paid a US$50 million fine and served nearly four months in prison for the same offence. He…

APP Fraud is a $331 billion global crisis exploiting instant payments and human trust. Learn how regulations and real-time account verification tools like LSEG’s Global Account Verification (GAV) can help businesses strengthen payment security across borders. APP Fraud could cost the global economy $331B by 2027, driven by scams exploiting instant payments and AI deception. Governments worldwide (UK, EU, US, Australia, Singapore) are enforcing stricter fraud liability, reimbursement, and verification rules. Real-time account verification tools like LSEG’s Global Account Verification reduce fraud risk, support compliance, and secure cross-border payments. APP Fraud: A $331 billion global crisis Authorised Push Payment (APP)…

Bluwhale, a decentralised AI network that powers agents on blockchains, has raised US$10 million in a Series A round led by institutional investors including UOB Venture Management. The funding reflects growing confidence in blockchain-based AI applications delivering personalised financial services. UOB Venture Management, a subsidiary of United Overseas Bank, joined existing investor SBI Holdings and blockchain platforms such as Sui, Tezos, Cardano, Arbitrum, and Movement Labs. New investors include PAID Network, Sublime Ventures, High Cosmos Capital, CMY Ventures, DataSpike, NewHeritage, and the Head of AI at Amazon. Bluwhale’s platform links users’ financial health scores to a marketplace where developers and…

Pave Bank announced that it has raised US$39 million in a funding round led by Accel. This latest raise brings the company’s total capital to over US$44 million. The round also drew participation from Tether Investments, Quona Capital, Wintermute, Helios Digital Ventures, Financial Technology Partners, Yolo Investments, Kazea Fund and GC&H Investments. The bank previously secured US$5.2 million in seed funding in December 2023, led by 468 Capital with participation from Quona Capital, FT Partners, BR Capital, W3.fund, Daedalus and several angel investors. The funds will be used to expand its regulatory reach, enhance product development, and scale its client…

X has rolled out a closed beta for its new API pricing model, offering developers a usage-based alternative to the current tiered plans. Announcing our beta launch: X API pay-per-use model. We are expanding a closed beta to both new & power users who want to ship amazing apps on X. All selected users will receive a $500 voucher to build with the X API. 🤑💻🚀 pic.twitter.com/Rc6KxMIPOZ — Developers (@XDevelopers) October 20, 2025 According to TechCrunch, the company is inviting both new and existing developers to apply through its developer portal. The new model charges based on actual API calls…

Coinbase is pushing agentic commerce forward with Payments MCP, a new tool that lets AI agents create wallets, access onramps, and make stablecoin payments via the x402 protocol without human setup. Developed by the Coinbase Developer Platform, Payments MCP allows AI agents to interact directly with the crypto economy through simple prompts. It supports wallet creation, sign-in with just an email, stablecoin transactions, and fiat-to-crypto onramps. Users can configure agents, set spend limits, and manage transactions through a local desktop interface built for speed and security. The tool also includes the x402 Bazaar Explorer and guest checkout in supported regions,…

E-commerce giant Shopee has partnered with Meta to launch new tools that help users discover products on Facebook and complete their purchases on Shopee. Through Facebook Affiliate Partnerships, a one-stop dashboard, creators can link their Facebook and Shopee affiliate accounts, tag products in posts and reels, and earn commissions when followers make purchases. Shopee, the first partner on this initiative, aims to help creators monetise their content, engage audiences, and connect brands with new customers. Affiliates under the Shopee Affiliate Programme can access higher commissions, free product samples, subscriber vouchers, and product sponsorships. Shopee also runs bootcamps and community events…

Singapore is taking early steps to govern agentic AI and quantum computing, launching new consultations to ensure innovation advances safely and securely. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said Singapore aims to take a proactive and practical stance in managing these technologies, which she described as requiring new thinking from policymakers and collaboration across sectors. At the Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) 2025, Teo announced two public consultations led by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA). One seeks feedback on Securing Agentic AI, an addendum to CSA’s 2024 Guidelines and Companion Guide on Securing AI Systems, while…

Imagine paying for a hotel in Bangkok, sending money to your family in Vietnam, or settling a bill in Phnom Penh simply by scanning a QR code on your phone — no international bank card, no hefty fees, and no long processing delays. This is exactly what Cambodia is now enabling through a series of landmark agreements with its regional partners. Driven by the National Bank of Cambodia, the country has connected its KHQR digital payment system with Vietnam’s VietQR, Thailand’s PromptPay, Malaysia’s DuitNow, and is now beginning integration with Japan’s JPQR. This shared infrastructure allows instant, secure, and low-cost…

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong Fintech Week x StartmeupHK Festival 2025 (HKFW x SMUF) recently, which will be held from 3 November 2025 to 7 November 2025. The landmark joint celebration will mark a decade of innovation, bringing together two of the city’s flagship events to create an expanded platform spanning the full spectrum of technology, entrepreneurship, and business transformation. The collaboration reaffirms Hong Kong’s commitment to driving the digital economy, leveraging its position as a leading international financial centre and a vibrant start-up hub. As Hong Kong’s premier innovation-focused event, HKFW x…

India’s Nucleus Software has appointed Nilanshuk Haldar as Vice President and Global Head of Partnerships and Alliances, effective 3 October 2025. He will oversee the company’s global partner ecosystem strategy, focusing on expanding strategic collaborations and driving growth across markets. Haldar has more than two decades of experience in fintech, financial services, and technology. He previously led regional partnerships at Backbase, where he contributed to revenue and pipeline growth, and helped drive Amazon Web Services’ financial services business across Asia through partner-led opportunities. Earlier in his career, he was a founding member of fintech platforms Mesitis, Canopy, and Bento, helping…

Mastercard has named Jill Kramer as its new Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, effective 1 December 2025. She succeeds Raja Rajamannar, who will transition to a senior fellow role at the company. Kramer was previously Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Accenture, where she led a global, integrated, and tech-driven marketing and communications function focused on brand relevance, market differentiation, and business growth across industries and geographies. Before that, she oversaw the stewardship of Accenture’s brand as head of its brand and advertising team, managing creative development, production, media planning, and buying. During her decade at Accenture, the company’s brand…

Paymentology has launched PayCredit, a credit ledger platform that helps digital banks and fintechs design and deliver tailored credit products faster and more efficiently. The solution integrates card issuing with credit ledger management to reduce complexity and accelerate time to market. Built specifically for credit processing, PayCredit supports revolving balances, instalments, and Buy Now, Pay Later models, offering built-in billing cycles and real-time tracking. Issuers can configure limits, interest rates, billing cycles, and repayment models in one place while accessing real-time transaction data, compliance tools, and global scalability through secure APIs. It also integrates with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and…

The SFF Fintech Excellence Awards, jointly organised by the Singapore Fintech Association (SFA) and supported by PwC Singapore, celebrate outstanding innovation and impact within the fintech ecosystem. The awards recognise exceptional fintech solutions implemented by fintech firms, financial institutions, and technology companies, as well as individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced the sector. This year, eight winners will be selected across six categories, following rigorous evaluation by an international panel of industry experts spanning multiple domains. Corporate awardees were assessed based on five key criteria, impact, sustainability, practicality, interoperability, and creativity, highlighting solutions that demonstrate meaningful, scalable innovation. Meanwhile, the…