Advance Intelligence Group has made a fresh US$149 million capital injection into its subsidiary Atome Financial, months after the consumer finance business secured an upsized debt facility. The capital was injected through a share subscription, DealStreetAsia reported, citing regulatory filings with Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. Advance Intelligence subscribed to about 38 million ordinary shares in Atome Financial at US$3.90 per share, according to the filings. Atome Financial operates the group’s consumer finance business, including the buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform Atome. The capital injection follows Atome’s renewed and upsized US$345 million syndicated debt facility announced in January. The facility was larger than Atome’s US$200 million debt package from 2024. Atome Financial reported its first full-year profit in 2024, with operating income rising 63% year-on-year to US$236 million. Gross merchandise volume exceeded US$2 billion, up 50% from 2023. Advance Intelligence Group’s wider business spans consumer finance, digital lending, credit scoring, fraud detection and enterprise AI solutions. Its investors include SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Warburg Pincus, Northstar Group and EDBI. DealStreetAsia reported in October that Advance Intelligence was considering a new equity fundraising of more than US$200 million at a possible valuation of about US$3 billion. In 2021, Advance Intelligence raised more than US$400 million from investors including SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Warburg Pincus, valuing the group at more than US$2 billion. It later secured US$80 million in 2023 from a consortium led by Warburg Pincus and Northstar Group.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by wahyu_t via Magnific The post Atome Financial Secures US$149 Million Capital Injection From Advance Intelligence appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

KAST has launched USD stablecoin cashback, allowing users to earn up to 3% cashback on card spending. The feature sits alongside KAST’s existing points-based rewards and comes as stablecoins are being used beyond crypto trading. Cashback rates vary by membership tier. Standard users can earn 1.5% cashback on the first US$2,000 of monthly card spend. Premium members can earn 2% cashback on up to US$10,000 in monthly spend, along with 1% in KAST Points on eligible transactions. Private members can earn 3% cashback on monthly spend of up to US$40,000. They also receive 2% in KAST Points on eligible card transactions and access to a gold card. Rewards are subject to terms and conditions. Premium and Private members also receive a Visa Infinite card, which includes travel accident insurance of up to US$1.5 million, 180-day purchase protection, 30-day price protection and access to more than 1,200 airport lounges worldwide through the Visa Airport Companion app. Raagulan Pathy Raagulan Pathy, Founder and CEO of KAST, said,  “We know users want rewards to feel like real money, not something you have to manage over time. Stablecoin cashback is a step in that direction – what you earn is what you get, and you can use it on your KAST card along with your typical spend. Over time, that’s where rewards are heading.” The launch follows KAST’s US$80 million Series A funding round last month, co-led by QED Investors and Left Lane Capital. KAST also plans to introduce savings products, credit and KAST Business later this year.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by KAST The post KAST Launches Up to 3% Stablecoin Cashback on Card Spend appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Chocolate Finance is wrapping up The Chocolate Games today with more than 7 million HeyMax Miles unlocked by players. More than 8,000 participants have taken part, completing over 88,000 games. The total is equivalent to more than 10 round trips to Tokyo, along with flights to Hong Kong and Bali, and travel and hotel vouchers. For the final 24 hours, Chocolate Finance has doubled referral rewards to 400 miles when a referred friend signs up and plays their first game. Walter de Oude Walter de Oude, Founder of Chocolate Finance, said, “This experience grew bigger than we expected, not just in scale but in how naturally people have made it part of their day. What stood out was not only how many people played, but how often they came back. This behaviour tells us that the experience struck the right balance between being simple enough to jump into, competitive enough to stay interesting, and rewarding enough to keep people coming back. With less than 24 hours left, there’s still plenty to play for.” Referrals have contributed more than 250,000 miles. Chocolate Finance has also introduced Walter’s Challenge for the final stretch, with Walter playing both the Blink Game and Tap Game at the same time and inviting users to beat his high score. The first 50 new users to do so will receive an additional 500 miles each. The campaign will close on 6 May at midnight. The top players will compete in the in-person finals on 10 May for the title of Chocolate Games champion and 250,000 HeyMax Miles.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by freepik via Magnific The post Chocolate Games Crosses 7 Million HeyMax Miles as Campaign Nears Close appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Coinbase layoffs will cut about 14% of the crypto exchange’s workforce as the company lowers costs in a down market and reorganises around AI. The cuts were announced in a blog post by CEO Brian Armstrong, who linked the move to market volatility and changes in how teams work with AI. Armstrong noted that Coinbase remains well-capitalised, but its business is still exposed to quarter-to-quarter swings. The company is now adjusting its cost base as it navigates a down market. Coinbase also plans to flatten its organisation to a maximum of five layers below the CEO and COO. Leaders will be expected to manage larger teams while remaining active contributors. The company will focus more on smaller AI-native teams, including experiments with one-person teams that combine product, design and engineering responsibilities. Affected employees will lose access to Coinbase systems on the day of the announcement, a step Armstrong described as necessary to protect customer information. US-based employees will receive at least 16 weeks of base pay, plus two weeks for each year of service, their next equity vest and six months of COBRA health coverage. Employees on work visas will receive additional transition support, while staff outside the US will receive support based on local factors and consultation requirements. Coinbase will provide more details on its expense outlook during its Q1 earnings call on Thursday.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by tahantanha10 via Magnific The post Coinbase CEO Says Layoffs Will Affect 14% of Workforce Amid AI Shift appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

In today’s AI landscape, most platforms still compete on isolated improvements – faster inference, better benchmarks, incremental gains. Agnes AI is a Singapore-based company that has developed and trained its own multimodal AI models in-house, positioning itself as a locally built player in the global AI ecosystem. Agnes AI is taking a different approach. With its model suite now available on Zenmux through API token access, Agnes AI is expanding developer access to its proprietary models while separately launching Agnes Token Plans through its official website. Together, these moves reflect a broader strategy: making full-stack AI more accessible, predictable, and practical for real-world usage. From Models to Systems The shift Agnes is betting on is simple: developers no longer need better models in isolation – they need systems that work in practice. Most AI workflows today are fragmented. One tool for reasoning, another for generation, another for execution. Integration becomes the real bottleneck. Agnes addresses this by packaging its capabilities into a single environment where reasoning, generation, and action are tightly connected. The result is less about model selection and more about workflow execution. This approach reflects the company’s core principles – AI neutrality, parity, and inclusion – now applied at the infrastructure level. Instead of limiting access through pricing or ecosystem lock-in, the platform is designed to be accessible, cost-efficient, and globally deployable. From API Access to Subscription-Based AI Usage Through Zenmux, developers can access Agnes’s model suite using API token access, enabling integration into external products, workflows, and developer environments. Separately, Agnes has launched Agnes Token Plans through its official website. Starting at US$4 per month, the subscription structure is designed for high-frequency, lightweight workloads, while also supporting more advanced professional use cases. This pricing model reflects a strong focus on cost efficiency, making multimodal AI more accessible without the cost barriers that have historically limited adoption across similar platforms. The key shift is not only economic, but practical: AI becomes something users can integrate into ongoing workflows with more predictable costs. The platform supports high-throughput processing, access across Agnes’s text, image, and video models, OpenAI API compatibility, and scalable usage from everyday productivity to more complex production workflows. The Zenmux Launch and Early Developer Traction The Zenmux launch includes access to Agnes’s agent-based models and multimodal generation capabilities, forming a pipeline across text, image, and video. What stands out is not just the coverage, but the adoption signal. Within the first week, API usage surged beyond several comparable model providers, suggesting that demand is shifting toward integrated systems rather than standalone models. This aligns with a broader market movement: developers are optimising less for theoretical performance and more for how quickly systems can be deployed and used. New Applications Powered by Proprietary Models: Pavo and Echo Beyond infrastructure, Agnes is extending its capabilities into the application layer with two new products: Echo and Pavo, both powered by its proprietary multimodal models. Echo is positioned as an immersive AI character interaction platform, where users can create digital personas and engage in narrative-driven experiences. The system generates synchronised video and voice in real time, enabling interactive storytelling and personalised, cinematic interactions. Pavo focuses on AI-powered image and video creation for creators and businesses. Built on Agnes’s proprietary models, it enables fast generation of cinematic content from simple inputs, supporting workflows such as marketing asset creation, social media production, and rapid prototyping. Together, these applications demonstrate how Agnes’s model ecosystem extends beyond infrastructure into real user-facing experiences. A Shift Already Underway The Zenmux release and the official Token Plans launch reflect a structural shift in AI adoption. As model capabilities converge, differentiation is moving toward usability, integration speed, and cost efficiency. Agnes positions itself directly in this transition. Instead of competing model-by-model, it is building an environment where AI becomes part of a working system – one that developers can deploy, extend, and scale without rebuilding infrastructure around it. At the same time, the company has reached approximately US$20 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), signaling commercial traction as it expands its global developer and application ecosystem. Developed, trained, and deployed in Singapore, Agnes also reflects the growing capability of locally built AI technologies to compete on a global stage.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Agnes The post Agnes AI Opens Zenmux API Access, Launches Token Plans for Developers appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Temenos is expanding its SaaS offering on AWS beyond core banking to include digital banking and payments. Banks can now deploy Temenos’ core banking, digital banking and payments capabilities as a SaaS offering on AWS. The offering is designed for retail, business and corporate banking. Banks can adopt individual components, use an end-to-end service, combine both approaches, or integrate Temenos with their existing systems. Temenos can also provide a pre-configured and pre-integrated deployment. The company said the SaaS model can help banks launch products faster and reduce the need to manage underlying technology infrastructure. AWS infrastructure supports regulated and sensitive workloads, with security standards and certifications used across regulated industries. Barb Morgan Barb Morgan, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Temenos, said, “We’re delighted to expand our Temenos SaaS offering on AWS, further strengthening our SaaS capabilities and giving banks greater flexibility in deploying Temenos solutions as SaaS in line with their technology strategy and market requirements.” Scott Mullins Scott Mullins, Managing Director, Worldwide Financial Services at AWS, said, “Expanding Temenos Digital Banking and Payments on AWS enables institutions to adopt new capabilities at their own pace. Whether modernising incrementally or going end-to-end, Temenos SaaS on AWS meets banks where they are — with the security, scalability and regulatory alignment that financial services demands.” Temenos and AWS have worked together since 2019. Banks that have deployed Temenos solutions on AWS include MidWestOne Bank in the US, Credem in Italy, WeLab Bank in Hong Kong and Bank ABC’s Ila Bank in Bahrain. AWS’ geographical coverage also helps banks address local data residency requirements and support high availability within their chosen regions.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by ganzevayna1 via Magnific The post Temenos Adds Digital Banking and Payments to SaaS Offering on AWS appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Grab Q1 2026 results showed accelerating momentum across its lending business, as the company’s financial services arm disbursed more than $1 billion in loans in a single quarter for the first time. Source: Alex Hungate, LinkedIn Alex Hungate, Grab’s President and COO, shared on LinkedIn that this has been a strong quarter financially in an otherwise “usually seasonally quieter period.” Grab now has 52 million monthly transacting users, up both YoY and QoQ. He explained more about Grab’s financial services performance, saying, Alex Hungate “The power of AI is reshaping Financial Services. AI underwriting is unlocking formal credit to more driver- and merchant-partners, responsibly. We were able to lend over $1 billion in a single quarter for the first time, even while improving credit quality YoY.” According to the Grab unaudited Q1 2026 results announcement, its financial services segment posted revenue growth of 43% YoY to US$107 million in Q1 2026, driven by increased contributions from lending across GrabFin and Grab’s Digibanks. Segment adjusted EBITDA also improved by US$13 million YoY to negative US$17 million in Q1 2026, narrowing from negative US$30 million in the prior year period, on the back of stronger lending revenue contributions. Source: Grab Total loans disbursed, meanwhile, grew by 67% YoY, hitting an all-time high of US$1.1 billion for the quarter. Grab’s gross loan portfolio grew 130% YoY to US$1.438 billion in Q1 2026, up from US$625 million a year earlier, reflecting robust credit demand across GrabFin and its Digibanks. Combined customer deposits across GXS Bank (Singapore) and GX Bank (Malaysia) remained broadly stable QoQ at US$1.630 billion as of the end of Q1 2026. AI-Driven Gains for Drivers, Merchants, and Users Source: Alex Hungate LinkedIn Grab recently showcased 13 AI-powered experiences at GrabX 2026, pushed by plans to “empower millions across SEA to live smarter, travel with less friction, and grow their businesses.” These products, ranging from a Driver AI Assistant that offers real-time guidance to help drivers improve efficiency and grow daily earnings to a Virtual Store Manager for merchants and GrabMaps for Consumers, are powered by the Grab Intelligence Layer, the company’s AI infrastructure built on insights from 20 billion rides and orders. Anthony Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Grab, shared, Anthony Tan “As we look ahead to the rest of the year, we remain committed to delivering durable, profitable growth while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our communities — leaning deeply into AI to outserve our users with hyper-personalised experiences, while simultaneously unlocking more sustainable earnings opportunities for our ecosystem partners.” The Grab Q1 2026 results came just days after Grab received the first Cross-Border Ride-Hail Service Operator Licence on 30 April 2026 under the enhanced Cross-Border Taxi Scheme jointly announced by Singapore and Malaysia. This would allow the company to pilot a door-to-door taxi booking service between Singapore and select areas in Johor from 4 May 2026. Featured image edited by Fintech News Singapore based on an image by Grab The post Grab’s Loanbook Exceeds US$1 Billion in Single Quarter for The First Time appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Money20/20 Asia 2026 concluded its third Bangkok edition with more than 4,500 attendees, up 40% from last year. The event was held from 21 to 23 April 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, bringing together delegates, sponsors and exhibitors from 90 countries. The programme featured more than 360 speakers and over 100 hours of content across four stages, covering AI, cross-border payments, digital banking, stablecoins, tokenisation and central bank digital currencies. Danny Levy Danny Levy, EVP and MD for Money20/20 Asia and Middle East, said, “Money20/20 Asia is where Asia does business. The record attendance we’re seeing, combined with our relentless focus on quality – of audience, conversations, content, and experience – is translating into real partnerships and outcomes for the leaders shaping the future of financial services in the region. It’s why we are firmly established as Asia’s #1 quality fintech show.” Sessions also examined how banks, fintechs and regulators are responding to shifts in financial services, from AI in banking to interoperable payment systems and digital asset adoption. The event featured senior executives from KASIKORNBANK, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan, Citi and DBS Bank. Money20/20 and FXC Intelligence also presented findings from The New Era of Asia’s Cross Border Payments, which looked at Asia’s growth in cross-border finance and payment interoperability. The event highlighted five startups, Boost Capital, TrustPlus AI, Continuum, Eazy Digital and zkMe, during its Startup Media Panel. It also hosted a Startup and Investor Park, where APAC startups met global investors and competed for a Golden Ticket to the 2026 Startupbootcamp Sustainability Singapore Accelerator. Policy20, held as part of Money20/20 Asia 2026, brought together more than 80 policymakers, regulators and industry leaders to discuss sovereign intelligence in global finance. Money20/20 Asia 2027 will return from 27 to 29 April, with the event set to take place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Money 20/20 Asia  The post Money20/20 Asia 2026 Draws 4,500 Attendees as Stablecoins, AI Top the Agenda appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Western Union has tapped Fireblocks to support USDPT as the company prepares to settle with agents using its first stablecoin this year. USDPT is Western Union’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin. Fireblocks will provide the wallet, settlement and financial operations infrastructure, with support from Dynamic’s embedded wallet technology and TRES’ financial platform. Dynamic and TRES were both recently acquired by Fireblocks. Western Union plans to roll out USDPT operations on Fireblocks first in the Philippines and Bolivia, before expanding across its global network through 2026. The company said USDPT will allow customers in selected markets to hold value in U.S. dollars, convert funds into local currency, and use the balances for spending and transfers through Western Union’s network. Fireblocks will support USDPT treasury operations, custody, policy controls, issuance and movement through its Payments Engine. Its network connects to more than 2,400 institutional counterparties across more than 100 countries for liquidity and settlement. Dynamic will provide non-custodial embedded wallets for Western Union’s agents, while TRES will convert on-chain data from USDPT operations into SWIFT MT940 and MT942 bank statement formats used by Western Union’s treasury and finance systems. Malcolm Clarke, Global Head of Digital Assets at Western Union, said, “Stablecoins are the foundation of how we deliver the next generation of settlement and consumer services in an evolving digital ecosystem. It puts a programmable dollar into our vast ecosystem and provides Western Union a platform from where we can continue to deliver customer utility and value. Working with Fireblocks, Dynamic and TRES provide a key part of our infrastructure enabling us to operationalise safely and securely at scale from day one.” Michael Shaulov Michael Shaulov, CEO and Co-Founder of Fireblocks, said, “Every major shift in financial services requires infrastructure that can keep pace. Western Union has operated the rails of global money movement for more than 170 years. Building USDPT on Fireblocks represents a generational modernisation of that infrastructure, and we’re proud to be the platform they’ve chosen to build it on.” The rollout is part of Western Union’s broader plan to modernise settlement infrastructure as the payments industry moves on-chain.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by noob via Magnific The post Western Union Taps Fireblocks to Support USDPT Stablecoin Rollout appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

MariBank Singapore Private Limited and its subsidiary reported total assets of S$4.23 billion in FY2025, as the Group pushed deeper into lending and recorded sharp growth in deposits, loans and income. The consolidated results include MariBank Philippines, Inc. (A Rural Bank), which was listed as the Group’s subsidiary in the audited accounts. The balance sheet grew at speed, supported by higher customer deposit balances and a much larger loan book, while income rose as more assets were deployed into interest-earning activities. The pace of expansion also brought a heavier risk bill, with credit loss allowances rising sharply as lending accelerated. Despite stronger revenue momentum, MariBank remained in the red. The results show MariBank using its growing deposit base more actively, with the Group putting more capital into loans and absorbing the provisioning costs that follow when a young lender scales quickly. Balance Sheet Growth Reflects Expanding Lending Activity MariBank’s consolidated balance sheet expanded significantly in 2025 as deposits rose and the loan book grew much faster. Total assets increased by more than 80% year-on-year, from S$2.33 billion in 2024 to S$4.23 billion in 2025, based on the comparative figures presented in the audited accounts. Loans to customers increased more than eightfold, from S$103.7 million in 2024 to S$896.7 million on a consolidated basis in 2025, making lending the clearest driver of MariBank’s asset growth. The increase gives MariBank a more conventional banking profile, with credit now carrying a larger share of its earnings potential. MariBank Group Balance Sheet Comparison (2025 vs 2024) Customer deposits rose more than 80% to S$2.82 billion on a consolidated basis, giving MariBank a deeper pool of funding as its loan book expanded. The larger deposit base should also help the bank support lending growth with customer balances, rather than relying too heavily on wholesale or external funding. Income Surges as Interest Earnings Rise The larger loan book flowed through to the Group’s income statement in 2025, with interest earnings rising sharply as more of the balance sheet was deployed into credit. MariBank Group Profit and Loss Summary (2025 vs 2024) Total income rose more than sevenfold between 2024 and 2025, while net interest income climbed particularly quickly as loans became a larger part of the Group’s asset mix. For a bank still building scale, that marks an important change in the quality of revenue, since more income is now coming from core lending activity. Expenses also increased, but at a much slower pace than revenue. The heavier drag came from credit provisions, which rose far faster than day-to-day operating costs and absorbed much of the benefit from stronger income. Credit Provisions Increase Alongside Loan Growth MariBank’s rapid consolidated loan growth came with a much heavier provisioning charge, as credit loss allowances rose sharply to cover potential future losses. Allowances for Credit Losses Credit loss allowances rose from S$4.4 million in 2024 to S$133.4 million in 2025, putting credit risk at the centre of MariBank’s performance for the year. A jump of that size is significant, but it needs to be read against the pace at which the loan book expanded. Rapid loan growth usually forces a bank to recognise more expected credit losses early, particularly when the portfolio is still young. The increase does not, on its own, show that asset quality has weakened. It points instead to the heavier risk cost that comes with scaling credit quickly. Funding Base Strengthens With Continued Deposit Growth Customer deposits remained MariBank’s main source of funding in 2025, with higher balances giving the Group more room to support loan growth. Customer Deposits Growth Deposits rose from S$1.54 billion in 2024 to S$2.82 billion in 2025, deepening the bank’s funding base as lending activity accelerated. Deposit depth matters even more for a digital bank trying to build a larger loan book, since customer balances are usually a steadier source of funding than wholesale or market borrowing. The stronger deposit base gives MariBank more flexibility as it expands credit, although funding costs will remain an important factor as the balance sheet grows. Capital Remains Strong Despite Rapid Asset Growth MariBank Group’s capital position remained strong in 2025, although the expansion of risk-weighted assets pulled its capital adequacy ratio lower. Capital Ratio and Risk Metrics Risk-weighted assets grew more than fivefold as the bank expanded lending, bringing the capital adequacy ratio down from 170.84% in 2024 to 43.41% in 2025. The fall was steep, but it came from a very high base and coincided with an increase in eligible total capital. Even after the decline, the ratio remained well above regulatory minimum requirements, leaving MariBank with room to support further growth. Cost Structure Shows Early Signs of Operating Scale Operating expenses rose in 2025, though nowhere near the pace of income growth. Operating Expenses Breakdown Staff costs were broadly stable year-on-year, suggesting MariBank expanded its balance sheet without a corresponding jump in personnel costs. Other operating expenses climbed more sharply, likely as the bank spent more on the systems and controls needed to support a bigger lending business. The cost profile points to a bank stretching its operating base while still investing for scale. Revenue is beginning to move faster than expenses, but profitability remains constrained by the sharp rise in credit provisions. Losses Narrow Slightly Despite Higher Risk Costs MariBank remained loss-making in 2025, although its net loss narrowed as stronger income began to absorb part of the increase in expenses and provisions. Net Loss Trend Net loss fell from S$51.3 million in 2024 to S$46.6 million in 2025, even after credit loss allowances rose sharply during the year. The improvement shows how much the bank’s earnings profile has changed. Revenue is growing at a much faster pace, but credit costs are still taking a large share of that progress. Trust Bank’s profitability milestone in March 2026 adds pressure to Singapore’s digital banking market. MariBank has shown that lending income can scale quickly, but its next challenge is to keep that momentum from being eroded by credit costs as the loan book matures. Understanding the MariBank 2025 Financial Results in Context MariBank’s 2025 consolidated financial statements show a Group becoming more credit-led, with lending now shaping both revenue growth and risk costs. The clearest evidence is the loan portfolio, which increased more than eightfold year-on-year. Net interest income rose alongside it, showing how quickly lending has begun to reshape the bank’s earnings mix. Credit loss allowances also rose sharply as the loan book expanded, making risk costs the main counterweight to MariBank’s stronger income. Such a provisioning build-up is common when a young loan portfolio grows quickly, although the size of the charge makes credit quality a key area to watch. MariBank still ended the year with a strong capital position, even after risk-weighted assets increased significantly. The results leave the Group with a larger balance sheet, a stronger income base and a more demanding credit-risk profile, which is the trade-off that now defines its next stage of growth. Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore based on images by wahyu_t and lifeforstock via Magnific. The post MariBank Group Assets Cross S$4 Billion in 2025 Financial Results appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

GSR has brought in SC Ventures as its first external strategic shareholder to build infrastructure for institutional digital asset markets. The companies did not disclose the size of the investment. SC Ventures, the fintech arm of Standard Chartered, made the strategic investment in GSR as part of a wider partnership to connect traditional finance with crypto markets and expand access to tokenisation. The investment marks the first time GSR has taken on an external strategic shareholder since the crypto capital markets firm was founded in 2013. GSR provides market making, advisory, liquidity and asset management services to crypto-native companies and financial institutions. Xin Song Xin Song, CEO of GSR, said, “Institutional digital asset markets are maturing rapidly, and the firms best positioned to lead will be those that combine deep capital markets expertise with trusted banking infrastructure. This partnership brings those strengths together, with tokenisation as a key starting point.” Alex Manson Alex Manson, CEO of SC Ventures, said, “The next phase of the digital asset evolution will be defined by the strength of infrastructure. Our investment in GSR reinforces our focus on building institutional ecosystems that can support deeper liquidity and more resilient market activity.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Pixelid via Magnific The post GSR Adds SC Ventures as Shareholder for Digital Asset Infrastructure Push appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Less than 1% of transactions are agentic today. Trulioo’s CPO believes that could reach 75% within a year, and most of the industry has no trust framework in place. Zach Cohen is the Chief Product Officer at Trulioo, a global identity verification platform that helps financial services companies verify identities and govern transactions across international markets. He leads product strategy at the intersection of AI governance, fraud prevention, and digital identity, and joins FNN to explain what the financial industry is missing as agentic commerce moves from theory to live deployment. In this episode: Why agentic commerce could jump from under 1% to the majority of transactions within a year, and why the industry is not moving fast enough to meet it Why the trust gap in agentic commerce is a governance problem, not a features problem Know Your Agent (KYA): how verifying a non-human actor differs from KYC and KYB, and what it actually involves in practice The new attack surface that agents create, from prompt injection to fraud rings operating at machine speed Singapore’s IMDA agentic AI governance framework and where the gap between regulation and current practice sits Why Zach’s advice to every company getting started is to build the governance framework before touching the product The post Agentic Commerce: Who Do We Trust When AI Moves Money? appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is testing AI scam detection models that could help banks flag risks earlier by analysing transaction data from five banks. MAS is working with banking industry partners, the Government Technology Agency of Singapore and the Singapore Police Force on a Proof-of-Value to assess how AI and machine learning can improve scam detection. The MAS AI scam detection project will use historical transaction data, including bank account numbers, from five participating banks to train and evaluate AI and machine learning models. MAS aims to build more accurate models by combining data from multiple banks, instead of relying only on information held by individual financial institutions. Earlier detection could support quicker assessment and intervention, and help reduce customer losses from scams. Data to remain protected during AI trial MAS has set up a secure data sharing environment for the project, with policies and protocols to protect customer information. The data will remain confidential and protected using cryptographic techniques. Bank account numbers used in the project will be hashed, meaning only the bank that contributed the data can identify the actual account numbers. Access to the data will be limited to authorised personnel in a controlled environment that will be continuously monitored during the Proof-of-Value. All data used will be deleted once the project ends. The current phase is intended to lay the groundwork for wider industry collaboration in using AI and machine learning to support financial crime prevention. MAS may expand the scope and sophistication of the models after assessing the results, including the use of broader datasets and a wider set of use cases.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Who is Danny via Magnific The post MAS Tests AI Scam Detection Using Data From Five Banks appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Singapore is moving to prepare workers for wider AI adoption, as the government warns that the technology will reshape jobs faster than earlier waves of automation. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said AI is already changing work across software development, administration and other industries. Speaking at the May Day Rally 2026, Wong pointed to the rise of AI agents, which can plan and complete complex tasks on behalf of users. He said Singapore has set up the National AI Council to coordinate AI adoption, build capabilities and position the country as a hub for AI innovation. Wong cited Google DeepMind’s Singapore lab, its first AI research lab in Southeast Asia, as one example of Singapore’s growing AI ecosystem. He also pointed to DBS, which has embedded AI across its operations after more than a decade of investment. DBS is training employees to use AI tools and build solutions for their own work. Wong cited one employee who now leads a 20-person team driving AI projects in the bank’s Customer Centre as an example of how workers can move into new roles as the technology becomes more widely used. AI Skills Support to Be Expanded in Singapore Wong said AI will improve productivity but also disrupt industries and change jobs. Some roles may disappear, but Singapore will focus on protecting workers rather than preserving every job. The government will combine Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore into a new entity called the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), jointly overseen by the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Education. Singapore is also redesigning the SkillsFuture portal to help workers find relevant courses. Workers who sign up for these courses will get six months of free access to premium AI tools. Wong said many workers already use AI, but often only as an enhanced search tool, leaving more room for practical workplace adoption. The government also plans to scale up Company Training Committees for the AI transition, with the Tripartite Jobs Council coordinating efforts across government, unions and employers.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on a screengrab from Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore via YouTube The post PM Wong Says Singapore Will Protect Workers as AI Reshapes Jobs appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Sumsub has launched an upgraded deepfake detection solution that uses machine learning to identify emerging AI-generated fraud threats faster. The Adaptive Deepfake Detector updates continuously instead of relying on scheduled model upgrades, which can take weeks or months to roll out. The launch comes as fraudsters use more advanced deepfake images, voices, videos and injection methods to bypass online verification checks. Multi-step attacks rose by 180% in 2025, reaching 28% of all fraud detected on Sumsub’s platform globally. The upgraded deepfake detection model by Sumsub analyses documents, geolocation, IP addresses, device signals, facial biometrics, liveness checks and verification patterns across multiple users to detect possible fraud networks. Nikita Marshalkin, Head of Machine Learning at Sumsub, said, “Modern deepfakes can no longer be detected by the human eye, and decision-making should be based on multiple signal analysis in real time. That’s why we launched our upgraded Deepfake Detector, offering clients not just a tool, but rather an online learning system that combines advanced document checks, device intelligence, and fraudulent networks analysis to complement deepfake detection capabilities.” The solution also checks for presentation attacks, injection attempts, third-party involvement and poor-quality verification inputs such as motion blur, glare or unusual facial expressions. Sumsub added that the model can adjust to new fraud patterns without manual retraining as new threat signals enter the system.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by awarecreativestudio via Magnific The post Sumsub Upgrades Deepfake Detection Tool as AI-Generated Fraud Grows appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

OxPay Financial has secured a Financial Services Licence (FSL) in Bhutan for its wholly owned Oxygen7 subsidiary, which plans to launch a regulated crypto payment platform in 2026. The licence was granted by the Gelephu Financial Services Office, after Oxygen7 met the conditions tied to its November 2025 in-principle approval. It allows Oxygen7 to provide merchant payment and business remittance services to companies in Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). Businesses will be able to accept credit card, e-wallet and cryptocurrency payments from international customers without direct exposure to price volatility. Oxygen7 will also use stablecoins for business-to-business cross-border transfers. The services will be delivered with a crypto payment technology provider on an asset-light and non-custodial basis. The company will initially target tourism and hospitality firms, as well as companies that pay overseas suppliers through traditional banking channels. OxPay has also appointed Peng Chun Hsien as CEO of Oxygen7. He has more than 25 years of payments experience, including senior roles at Visa, Ant Group and Citibank. Chun Hsien Peng Peng, Chief Executive Officer of Oxygen7, said, “GMC is one of the most progressive digital asset jurisdictions in Asia, and Oxygen7 is in a position to be an early mover. My immediate focus is to get the platform to market and onboard the first batch of merchants, while South Asia is where we go next.” OxPay expects to launch the platform in the fourth quarter of 2026, with earnings contribution expected after that. Chin Mun Chung Chin Mun Chung, Executive Director and CEO of OxPay, said, “The grant of the FSL is a significant milestone in our phased recovery plan, and we are committed to delivering on the promises made to shareholders. Bhutan is where our crypto payment strategy moves from establishment to operation, and with Mr. Peng leading Oxygen7, we have the right person to drive this next phase.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by watercolor_vect via Magnific The post OxPay Unit Gets Bhutan Licence for Crypto Payments, Stablecoin Remittances appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Banks across Asia Pacific are navigating a period of rapid change in the payment ecosystem. Mobile wallets, digital commerce, and real-time payments have become part of everyday financial activity. The shift toward alternative payment methods is accelerating, with Accenture estimating that up to US$13 trillion in transaction value could move away from traditional banking channels by 2030. At the same time, cards continue to play a critical role in powering online transactions, digital wallets, and international payments.  For many financial institutions in the region, however, innovation is constrained by legacy infrastructure. Core systems that were originally designed decades ago remain central to daily operations, making large-scale technology changes difficult. Instead of replacing these systems entirely, many banks are taking a more gradual path forward: modernising card management capabilities while keeping their legacy platforms in place.  The growing complexity of card management Source: BPC For many banks across Asia Pacific, the real challenge is not launching card products, but managing them within increasingly complex payment ecosystems. Banks now must support a far wider range of payment instruments and customer journeys, including virtual cards, mobile wallet provisioning, multi-currency transactions, and embedded financial services. Legacy systems are not only limiting flexibility, but also consuming a significant share of resources. Accenture estimates that close to 70% of IT budgets in many banks are spent maintaining existing systems, leaving limited capacity for innovation or new product development. At the same time, 76% of financial institutions acknowledge they still need to strengthen their capabilities to support more advanced digital payment models. As transaction volumes grow and customer expectations shift toward real-time and embedded financial services, these constraints make it increasingly difficult for banks to respond quickly to market demands. Meanwhile, Gartner‘s latest survey suggests that legacy infrastructure is no longer an operational inconvenience. It’s a direct barrier. Following the survey numbers, 52% of CIOs mentioned that they are currently under pressure to reduce operational costs. Gartner finds that CIOs who pursue clear financial outcomes from technology, especially AI, are 25% more likely to excel. Legacy payments systems remain one of the biggest constraints on innovation for financial institutions, particularly when banks attempt to introduce new digital services. Gartner survey suggests that launch of new products and services to become one of the most important strategic questions along the improvement of customer experience. For card issuing teams, this often translates into several practical operational challenges. Product launch cycles can become lengthy, as introducing a new card programme may require changes across multiple systems and teams. Legacy infrastructure also limits flexibility, making it difficult for banks to support newer capabilities. In many institutions, data visibility is fragmented, with card transactions, customer information, and risk controls managed across different platforms rather than through a unified view. At the same time, heavily customised legacy environments can increase operational risk, as updates or system changes become more complex and difficult to implement without disrupting existing services. These challenges are visible across fast-growing digital markets in Southeast Asia. As digital commerce expands and consumers rely more heavily on mobile banking and wallets, banks need card infrastructure that can support new channels without creating additional operational complexity. Why legacy card infrastructure creates real operational risk Source: BPC Across Asia Pacific, financial institutions and national networks have faced service disruptions linked to technology limitations and growing transaction volumes. As digital banking and payment ecosystems expand, outages in card issuing systems, payment gateways, or digital banking channels can quickly affect millions of customers. In Singapore, OCBC Bank experienced multiple service disruptions in 2023 and 2024, affecting internet banking, mobile banking, and fund transfer services. Customers were temporarily unable to access their accounts or perform digital transactions until the bank restored services later the same day.  In Australia, Commonwealth Bank faced a major outage in 2025, preventing customers from accessing online banking services, ATMs, and payment channels. Thousands of customers reported being locked out of their accounts or unable to complete transactions, leading to public complaints on social media and renewed discussions about banking system resilience.  Even large-scale payment networks in India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) experienced a major outage in April 2025, when transaction success rates dropped sharply for several hours due to system architecture limitations and excessive transaction verification requests from banks.  For financial institutions, the consequences go beyond temporary inconvenience. Service outages can trigger regulatory intervention, damage reputation, reduce customer loyalty and trust, and generate public backlash, particularly in markets across Asia Pacific where consumers expect banking services to be available in real time across mobile and digital channels. A layered approach to modernising card infrastructure Source: BPC For many financial institutions, the challenge is not whether to modernise their payments infrastructure, but how to do so without disrupting critical banking operations. Replacing core banking systems entirely is rarely practical. These platforms often support millions of customer accounts, payment transactions, and regulatory reporting requirements. Large-scale system replacement projects can take years to complete which is good as a whole, but it is not without some operational risks. As a result, many banks are adopting a more incremental approach to modernisation by introducing specialised technology layers that sit alongside existing systems. In the context of card issuing, this often means deploying modern card management platforms that operate independently from legacy core banking infrastructure while still integrating with it where necessary. This architecture allows banks to introduce new capabilities without requiring fundamental changes to their underlying systems. With a more modular infrastructure in place, financial institutions can support a wider range of payment services, including virtual and physical cards, digital wallet provisioning, tokenisation, and multi-currency transactions. New card programmes can also be configured and launched more quickly, reducing the time required to bring new products to market. At the same time, separating card management from core banking systems can improve operational resilience. By reducing dependencies between payment processing, digital channels, and customer account systems, banks can minimise the risk that a single technical failure disrupts multiple services. AI-enabled platforms such as SmartVista, supports this type of architecture by enabling financial institutions to manage and launch complex modern card programmes while maintaining visibility across transactions, customer activity, and payment flows.  For banks across Asia Pacific, this layered approach offers a practical pathway to modernisation, allowing institutions to expand digital payment capabilities while maintaining the stability of their existing infrastructure. Examples of card modernisation across APAC Source: BPC Across Asia Pacific, many financial institutions are already taking steps to modernise their card issuing infrastructure as part of broader payments transformation initiatives, and. introducing modern card management systems that allow them to expand digital payment services while maintaining operational stability. In Cambodia, ACLEDA Bank modernised its payments infrastructure by migrating legacy systems to the SmartVista platform. The initiative strengthened the bank’s issuing and acquiring capabilities and enabled support for debit, credit, and virtual cards across international and domestic payment schemes. The transformation also supported rapid growth in card usage, with the bank’s debit card base expanding from around 1.4 million in 2021 to more than 2 million by 2024, a sharp 42% increase. Similarly, in Myanmar, KBZ Bank modernised its issuing and acquiring infrastructure through a unified payments platform, enabling the bank to introduce MPU and UPI debit and credit cards while expanding its card portfolio significantly. Following the deployment, the bank’s card base grew to more than 2.3 million debit cards, representing roughly 4% of the country’s population holding a KBZ-issued card. In Vietnam, PVcomBank has taken a long-term approach to modernising its payments and card infrastructure through its partnership with BPC, migrating from legacy system. The bank has migrated over 1 million cards to a modern SmartVista platform, strengthening its issuing capabilities with innovative debit, credit and prepaid card propositions and securing its payment operations to support the evolving demands of modern banking in the country.  More recently, in Sri Lanka, Hatton National Bank (HNB) introduced debit card tokenisation for Google Wallet, allowing customers to use their cards seamlessly for contactless and mobile payments. Leveraging next-generation SmartVista card management solution for quite a while, the bank was able to reach 2.5 million of cards in circulation. The Google wallet integration builds on that momentum. HNB reports customer satisfaction at 87.4%, with digital users now at 2 million, a figure the bank expects to rise further as new payment functionality becomes available to more customers. Together, these developments strengthen HNB’s position as a digital disruptor in Sri Lanka’s banking sector, enabling it to deliver faster, more seamless experiences while supporting broader participation in the digital economy. Across the region, these initiatives reflect a broader industry trend. Banks are modernising card management capabilities as part of wider payments transformation efforts, allowing them to support growing digital transaction volumes, integrate with emerging payment channels, and respond more quickly to evolving customer expectations. A practical path forward Source: BPC As payments ecosystems continue to evolve across Asia Pacific, banks will need to make strategic decisions about how best to modernise their technology infrastructure. For some institutions, this may involve large-scale core system transformations, while others may choose more incremental approaches that allow new capabilities to be introduced alongside existing platforms. Modernising card management capabilities has become an important part of this process. By strengthening the systems that support card issuing, digital wallet integration, and payment processing, banks can expand their ability to deliver new products and services while maintaining operational stability. As adoption of digital payments accelerates across the region, institutions that invest in flexible and scalable payment infrastructure will be better positioned to support emerging payment models, adapt to changing customer expectations, and participate in the next phase of growth in Asia Pacific’s digital economy.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore; source images from BPC The post Why Legacy Card Infrastructure Is Still Holding Back APAC Banks in 2026 appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Companies seeking dual listings on both SGX and Nasdaq could go through a more streamlined IPO process under proposed rule changes by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). MAS has issued its response to a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Securities and Futures Act 2001 to support dual listings on the Singapore Exchange. The changes support the planned Global Listing Board, a partnership between SGX and Nasdaq announced in November 2025, and are intended to facilitate similar collaborations in future. Under the proposed MAS dual listings framework, eligible issuers on the Global Listing Board may use a single set of offering documents for a simultaneous listing on SGX and Nasdaq. They will also be allowed to conduct pre-marketing outreach with accredited and institutional investors in Singapore before lodging a preliminary prospectus, subject to safeguards. MAS noted that this would help issuers gauge investor interest earlier in the IPO process. Single Set of Documents for SGX-Nasdaq Listings For concurrent offerings on the Global Listing Board, the Singapore prospectus would only need to include information aligned with what is already required for a US listing. Issuers would also be able to register their prospectus in Singapore any time after lodging the preliminary prospectus, without observing the current minimum seven-day public exposure period before registration. The proposed framework will introduce safe harbours for certain activities by Global Listing Board issuers, including forward-looking statements, share repurchases and pre-determined trades. These safe harbours may be used as a defence against specified market misconduct provisions under the Securities and Futures Act for trading activities in both markets. MAS confirmed that Singapore authorities will retain full discretion to enforce against disclosure breaches or market misconduct that occur in Singapore. Singapore investors will also be able to seek compensation for losses arising from such breaches under existing investor recourse provisions. Respondents supported the aim of streamlining the IPO process for dual listings. They also suggested further alignment in investor outreach, prospectus registration and post-listing activities in Singapore. The regulator incorporated these suggestions where feasible. MAS will proceed with proposed amendments that apply to all offers made in conjunction with an SGX listing, including those on the Global Listing Board. For the Global Listing Board, the framework will be implemented through regulations if the Securities and Futures (Amendment) Bill 2026 is passed in Parliament. SGX RegCo has separately issued its response to its consultation on the listing rule book for the Global Listing Board.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by MDROTONALI via Magnific The post MAS Sets Out Framework for SGX-Nasdaq Dual Listings After Consultation appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

When Dwaipayan Sadhu spoke to Fintech News Singapore last year, the Trust Bank CEO shared that said the bank was actively working towards profitability. @fintechnewsnetwork Trust Bank just announced that they are the first digital bank to be profitable in Singapore. Last year their CEO Dwai said Fintech News Network that they anticipate to be profitable this year. fintech digitalbanking #Banking ♬ original sound – Fintech News Network – Fintech News Network That target has now materialised. Trust Bank hit profitability in Singapore for the first time in March 2026, just over three years after its launch in September 2022, becoming the first of Singapore’s five digital banks to announce the milestone. But the more important story is how it got there. Backed by Standard Chartered and FairPrice Group, Trust Bank credits the milestone to three drivers: stronger customer engagement, a broader product suite, and greater operating efficiency through AI and automation. How Trust Bank Reached Profitability Trust Bank’s path to profitability appears to have come from increasing usage across more parts of the customer’s financial life, rather than relying on customer acquisition alone. The first driver, to that end, is customer engagement. “We are also built on customer advocacy, with 70+% of new clients coming in as references from other clients,” Dwaipayan shared. Trust credit cards are now used about 25 times every month on average. In 2025, the bank also disbursed over S$900 million in loans as 50,000+ customers kicked off their investment journey with the bank. The second driver was product expansion. Trust Bank has developed an ecosystem spanning saving, spending, budgeting, borrowing, insurance and investing, giving customers more reasons to use it beyond a single bank product. This expansive product suite has helped deepen multi-product relationships and strengthen customer engagement, which the bank refers to as a “true all-in-one digital bank.” Trust Bank shares that its third driver is AI and automation. Since 2023, Trust Bank’s customer base has grown by more than 1.5 times, while card transactions have increased by almost 2.5 times in spite of costs declining. In 2025, revenues grew 39% YoY while costs fell by 7%. The bank attributed its efficiency gains to extensive automation and early adoption of AI. The bank also shares that it is the first to introduce a fully integrated Gen-AI-enabled customer service chatbot, delivering real-time handoffs to human agents. Nearly half of all customer chats today are handled by the Trust AI chatbot from start to finish. The success behind this lies in how the interaction is designed. Unlike traditional chatbots that run on rigid scripts, Trust AI allows customers to interact naturally. Should human intervention become necessary, the conversation is transferred within the same chat. This allows the human agent to pick up where the AI left off without customers having to repeat themselves. AI is also applied to shift from reactive complaint handling to proactive complaint prevention, as Trust’s AI solution conducts sentiment analysis of every customer interaction in real time. In doing so, Trust Bank is able to intervene more swiftly than regular conventional processes, which only surfaces an issue once a formal complaint is in. Trust Bank Profitability in Singapore: Numbers at a Glance Trust Bank reports that over 170,000 customers now use Trust as their primary financial institution, while 240,000 Savings Pots are being used by customers to fund their financial goals. The bank’s Trust card spending also captured about 22% of the market share for total Visa foreign exchange spending. Source: Trust Bank Salary crediting now accounts for about a third of the bank’s total deposit balances. In 2025, Trust Bank disbursed about S$900 million in loans. The digital bank also sold over 75,000 insurance policies and saw around 50,000 customers open TrustInvest accounts. One Key Milestone in a Bigger, Customer-Led Journey In an exclusive interview with Fintech News Network today,  Dwaipayan went deeper into that journey, sharing how Trust Bank has been steadily improving its operating losses every quarter. Those gains have gradually compounded into the bank’s current profitability milestone in March 2026. Dwaipayan Sadhu “For example, last year, we grew revenue by 39%, which has, at the same time, been accompanied by efficiency gains, reduced costs by 7%, as well as our strong risk management discipline.” This is no small feat. Looking back, Dwaipayan said that Trust Bank has been “quite fortunate” to have crossed several vital milestones, from reaching 1 million clients in Singapore and becoming the 4th largest bank here by customer numbers. But for him, financial sustainability is only one part of the story. A realist at heart and one firmly focused on the customer, he shared more insights, “The real milestone that matters is to make sure we are the best bank that customers love, and the fact that we are rated the #1 app in the App store gives me a lot of confidence and happiness. We are also built on customer advocacy, with 70+% of new clients coming in as references from other clients.” His next ambition is for Trust Bank to become Singapore’s most loved bank. If the bank can achieve that, he believes sustainable growth will follow. Trust Bank intends to continue zeroing in on the consumer segment, where its strength lies. Its proposition, anchored by NTUC FairPrice, gives the bank a clear avenue to create everyday value for customers. “You can expect us to bring new innovations to the market. We will build new cards and lending propositions, and new product innovations in digital wealth. We started Trust Invest last year, but we are just scratching the surface. As a digital-native bank, we believe we have an opportunity to create something really differentiated.” Keen to know what else is on the table post the Trust Bank profitability Singapore announcement today? Watch the YouTube video for a deeper picture of Dwaipayan Sadhu’s vision. Featured image by Trust Bank The post How Trust Bank Became Singapore’s First Digital Bank to Reach Profitability appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Stripe is pushing deeper into AI commerce with 288 new products and features covering agent payments, fraud controls, stablecoin micropayments and business banking tools. The announcements were made at Stripe Sessions, the company’s annual customer conference. Google Partnership Expands AI Commerce Stripe is partnering Google to allow businesses to sell to consumers inside AI Mode and the Gemini app. The partnership adds Google support to Stripe’s Agentic Commerce Suite, which lets businesses sell inside AI applications through a single integration. The suite is already being used by businesses including Kate Spade, Best Buy and Coach. Stripe said Quince, Fanatics and JD Sports are coming soon. Stripe has also announced similar partnerships with OpenAI, Microsoft and Meta, and is bringing the suite to platforms such as Wix, BigCommerce and WooCommerce. The company also launched Link wallets for agents, allowing users to authorise AI agents to make payments on their behalf. Stripe said real payment details will not be exposed, with a one-time-use card issued for each task and user approval required for each payment. Stripe Targets Token Billing and AI Fraud Stripe also introduced streaming payments for AI businesses that need to charge for token usage in real time. The feature combines usage tracking from Metronome with stablecoin micropayments on the Tempo blockchain. Stripe said it allows businesses to collect payment for each token as it is used. Stripe has also expanded Radar to cover token theft and free trial abuse. The company reported that one in six attempted sign-ups across AI services running on Stripe is made by a bad actor, while free trial abuse has more than doubled in the past six months. For eight AI businesses, Radar blocked more than 3.3 million risky sign-ups in the past month. Treasury Expansion Adds Business Banking Tools Stripe also introduced a new version of Stripe Treasury, a global business account that allows companies to hold funds in 15 currencies and move money around the clock. Transfers between US businesses on Stripe will now be free and instant. Businesses will also be able to operate Treasury through AI services such as ChatGPT, earn rewards on fiat and stablecoin balances, receive 2 percent cashback on card payments, and pay out recipients in 100 countries using fiat and 160 countries using stablecoins. Stripe and Privy also launched digital asset accounts, giving fintech companies a single API to build stablecoin-based financial products. Ramp, Deel and DoorDash are among the companies building on the product. Stripe Projects, which allows developers and AI agents to sign up for, buy and integrate services needed to deploy products, is now available to all users. Stripe also added 14 new partners to Projects, including Render, Twilio, Sentry, WorkOS, Browserbase, GitLab and ElevenLabs, bringing the total number of providers to 32. Patrick Collison “AI is the biggest platform shift for the economy since the internet, and in the not-too-distant future agents will account for most transactions online. The enterprises and startups behind this wave are overwhelmingly building on Stripe. No matter what sector you’re in, the AI transformation requires new economic infrastructure, primitives, and abstractions. That’s the animating theme behind the 288 products and features we announced today,” said Patrick Collison, CEO and cofounder of Stripe.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on a screengrab from Stripe Sessions via YouTube The post Stripe Expands AI Commerce Push With 288 Launches and Google Deal appeared first on Fintech Singapore.