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

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

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

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

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

Poni Financial Advisory, the international arm of Nasdaq-listed Huize Holding, has received approval from Singapore’s central bank to operate as a licensed financial adviser and exempt insurance broker, Dow Jones Newswires reported. The Monetary Authority of Singapore granted the license effective 10 July 2025, expanding the reach of Huize’s insurtech brand, Poni Insurtech. The move marks a key step in Huize’s push to diversify beyond China and Hong Kong. Poni Insurtech, which already operates in Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, is building a regional digital platform to distribute insurance and wealth products. The company has signalled plans to extend its presence to Indonesia and the Philippines, although it has yet to set a timeline for those markets. Huize executives said the license provides a foundation for scaling Poni Insurtech’s advisory and distribution capabilities across Southeast Asia.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Huize’s Subsidiary Gets Singapore License for Regional Insurance, Wealth Push appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

HSBC has unveiled Wealth Intelligence, a generative AI-powered ecosystem designed to help its private banking teams deliver faster, more tailored investment advice. Developed in-house and powered by OpenAI’s large language model, Wealth Intelligence reviews and summarises HSBC’s research alongside external news from more than 10,000 data sources. It gives investment counsellors and product specialists quicker access to reports from the bank’s award-winning Chief Investment Office, while an open product platform will progressively integrate a growing volume of third-party product information. The platform has been rolled out in Hong Kong and Singapore and will expand to other markets to serve HSBC’s growing global client base. HSBC said the next stage of Wealth Intelligence will allow its teams to screen and identify suitable products to support discussions on investment options and asset allocation with clients. Gabriel Castello Gabriel Castello, CEO, HSBC Global Private Banking a.i., said, “Client relationships are core to every private banker. With the rapidly-evolving financial markets, we understand our clients have stronger expectations for timely, trustworthy and personalised investment advice than ever. Riding on our deep institutional knowledge and experience, our wealth management teams can now leverage these AI capabilities to spare more time to attend to our clients’ unique investment objectives and portfolio optimisation needs.” Lavanya Chari Lavanya Chari, Head of Wealth and Premier Solutions, HSBC, added, “AI adoption is one of our core strategic pillars for enhancing our client experience at scale. By harnessing AI’s analytical power and data delivery speed, we continue to upskill our wealth management talent, transform our workflows and client journeys to support our clients in making better data-driven decisions to achieve their goals.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Ataullah23456 via Freepik The post HSBC Deploys Generative AI to Streamline Private Banking Advice appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s venture arm, plans to raise a US$250 million fund for digital assets in 2026, Bloomberg reported. Operating partner Gautam Jain announced the plan at the Money 20/20 conference in Riyadh, saying the vehicle will target global financial services opportunities with backing from Middle Eastern investors. The fund will focus on early-stage companies developing digital custody infrastructure, compliance tools and hybrid platforms that connect fiat and crypto ecosystems. SC Ventures is also preparing a US$100 million Africa fund and exploring its first venture debt vehicle, though it has not confirmed whether these will include digital assets. The announcement in Saudi Arabia underscores the Middle East’s rise as a crypto and blockchain hub, with Dubai and Riyadh introducing progressive regulations and sovereign wealth funds pouring capital into blockchain projects. SC Ventures’ presence in these markets positions it to attract both investors and deal flow. Since launching in 2018, SC Ventures has incubated and invested in firms spanning digital payments, sustainable finance and financial infrastructure. It already backs Libeara, Zodia Custody and Zodia Markets, which provide institutional custody, trading and tokenisation services.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Frolopiaton Palm via Freepik The post SC Ventures Taps Middle East Investors for US$250M Digital Asset Fund appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Ant International has teamed up with Google to help shape a new way for AI agents to make payments safely, a step that could speed up the growth of autonomous commerce. The Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) is an open system that sets out how AI agents can carry out transactions with a user’s approval. It is designed to check user intent, make transactions easier to track, improve privacy and make it clear who is responsible for each step. The protocol works with different payment types including cards, real-time bank transfers and stablecoins. It also connects with Google’s Agent2Agent and Model Context systems. In addition, Google has launched the A2A x402 extension to support crypto payments between AI agents. Ant International said it will use its experience with alternative payment methods and its links to 36 digital wallets to help build AP2. This includes making the checkout process smoother, using AI to block fraud and applying its payment mandate model to clearly link each transaction to a user’s verified intent for compliance and dispute resolution. The company is testing how AP2 can work in real-world settings through Alipay+ Voyager, its AI travel service launched in July 2025. Under the multi-agent model of Agent2Agent, Alipay+ Voyager will be able to coordinate bookings and payments across different sub-agents in line with AP2. Jiangming Yang “Ant International is excited to partner with Google to advance standards-setting in agentic payments, leveraging our expertise in APM payments and trusted AI innovations. We are committed to working with global partners to shape the future of agentic commerce, where AI agents serve as trusted assistants for discovery, engagement, and transactions, powering merchant growth and transforming consumer experience,” said Jiangming Yang, Chief Innovation Officer of Ant International. Mark Micallef Mark Micallef, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Google Cloud, said, “AP2 establishes the core building blocks for secure transactions that will drive further growth, creating clear opportunities for the industry—including networks, issuers, merchants, and end users—to innovate on adjacent areas like seamless agent authorisation. We’re committed to evolving this protocol in an open, collaborative process and invite the entire payments and technology community to build this future with us.” Google said more than 60 organisations are working on AP2, including payments networks, technology providers and financial institutions. Among them are Adyen, American Express, Coinbase, Etsy, Forter, Intuit, JCB, Mastercard, Mysten Labs, PayPal, Revolut, Salesforce, ServiceNow, UnionPay International, Worldpay, and more.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Ant International Among Over 60 Firms Backing Google’s Push for AI Agent Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

SEON, a company focused on fraud prevention and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, has raised US$80 million in its Series C funding round. The investment was led by Sixth Street Growth, with participation from existing investors IVP, Creandum and Firebolt, alongside new backers including Hearst. This round brings SEON’s total funding to US$187 million and is expected to support expansion in North America and other global markets, as well as further product development and hiring. Over the past year, SEON has reported strong growth among fraud and compliance technology providers. The company analyses millions of customer interactions daily for thousands of clients, which include Revolut, Plaid, Nubank, Afterpay, Worldcoin and Entain. Its platform aggregates over 900 real-time data signals, supporting digital onboarding, compliance and fraud prevention through a single API. Tamas Kadar, Co-founder and Chief Executive of SEON, said: Tamas Kadar “Our mission has always been clear, to enable companies to prevent fraud without impeding legitimate growth. This investment validates the critical market need for fraud prevention and AML solutions that can scale at the speed of modern digital commerce. With global fraud losses exceeding billions annually, we are tackling a fundamental challenge facing businesses worldwide.” The company stated that clients typically achieve reductions in fraudulent account creation of up to 90%, and report significant improvements in precision when stopping fraudulent transactions by combining fraud and AML controls. Manual review times have also been reduced, allowing teams to focus on other business priorities. Funding will be used to strengthen SEON’s AI capabilities for real-time fraud detection, continue international expansion in regions such as Asia-Pacific and Latin America, and invest in partnerships with financial institutions and cloud providers. Michael Bauer, Managing Director at Sixth Street Growth, who will join SEON’s board as part of the investment, said: Michael Bauer “Fraud is growing at an unprecedented pace in the age of AI, and businesses need better defences. SEON has built the command centre for fraud prevention and AML compliance that empowers organisations to combat bad actors without impeding real customer transactions. Their proprietary data signals and end-to-end workflow platform provide the real-time insights needed to make smarter decisions with confidence.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by jcomp via Freepik The post SEON Raises $80M in Series C to Expand Fraud Prevention and AML Platform appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

India’s markets regulator has cleared Pine Labs to proceed with its initial public offering (IPO), according to a Securities and Exchange Board of India filing cited by Reuters. The fintech company, which offers point-of-sale machines and other payment solutions, plans to raise up to US$1 billion through the listing and is seeking a valuation of about US$6 billion. Proceeds from the IPO are expected to go toward expanding international operations, investing in technology and paying down debt. Pine Labs operates digital payments and issuing platforms in India and several overseas markets including Malaysia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and the United States. The company positions itself as a technology partner for merchants, consumer brands and financial institutions.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Faraz Ali via Freepik The post India Clears Pine Labs for IPO, Paving Way for US$1 Billion Listing appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

CIMB Singapore has launched the CIMB Founders Card, described as the first purpose-built personal credit card for sole proprietors and small business owners. It is designed to help entrepreneurs manage cash flow through instant cash access, up to 114 days of interest-free credit and zero foreign exchange fees on overseas spending. CIMB said the card was developed to address financing challenges faced by small business owners, including irregular income, limited credit histories and lack of collateral. Sole proprietors and SMEs make up 99% of Singapore’s businesses and employ about 70% of the workforce. The bank said the Founders Card reflects the government’s call for SME-friendly financing solutions, helping business owners bridge cash flow gaps, cover unexpected costs and reinvest savings into their operations. Cardholders are invited to take part in a CIMB campaign offering complimentary bus stop advertising to promote local SMEs. The card also provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide through Mastercard Travel Pass, with travel insurance coverage of up to S$1 million. Additional privileges include discounted access to co-working spaces, workplace productivity software and hotels through Mastercard’s Easy Savings Specials. Working capital loans under the card are subject to a 1% processing fee (EIR up to 4.47%). Merlyn Tsai “For sole proprietors and SME owners, what truly matters is financial flexibility and easy access to capital to support growth. CIMB Singapore is proud to be a partner in their entrepreneurial journey with inclusive and innovative solutions. We are committed to advancing customers and society with services and solutions that drive progress, and the CIMB Founders Card is a meaningful step in that direction,” said Merlyn Tsai, Head of Consumer Banking and Digital at CIMB Singapore. Deborah Heng “Mastercard is proud to collaborate with CIMB Singapore to introduce the CIMB Founders Card, an initiative that empowers entrepreneurs with the financial tools, digital solutions, and business travel support they need to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. This collaboration reflects Mastercard’s unwavering commitment to supporting SMEs beyond payments, and our shared vision to ensure that sole proprietors and small businesses have access to the solutions they need to succeed – today and into the future,” said Deborah Heng, Country Manager, Singapore, Mastercard.     Featured image: (From left) Benjamin Tan (Head of Commercial and Transaction Banking, CIMB Singapore), Merlyn Tsai (Head of Consumer Banking and Digital, CIMB Singapore), Andrew Boey (Chief Financial Officer and Officer-in-Charge, CIMB Singapore), Quek Puay Cheng (Head of Financial Institutions, Singapore, Mastercard), Jaden Tok (Commercial Cards Lead, Singapore, Mastercard)   The post CIMB Singapore Unveils New Personal Credit Card for Entrepreneurs appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Triple-A, a digital currency payments company, has appointed Kailash Madan as its new Chief Commercial Officer. Madan has more than a decade of experience in payments, fintech and banking across Asia Pacific, EMEA and North America. He most recently led global sales at Primer, driving revenue growth across three continents. Before that, he scaled Primer’s Asia Pacific business, built enterprise merchant adoption at Stripe and spent six years in commercial and consumer banking roles at Citi. At Triple-A, Madan will lead the company’s global commercial strategy, working with merchants and partners to unlock new use cases for stablecoin payments, open fresh growth corridors and scale adoption across industries.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Pixelid via Freepik The post Triple-A Names Kailash Madan as Chief Commercial Officer appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Finastra has moved to streamline annuity risk management, adding automation and real-time analytics to its Fusion Invest software. The updates include automating the dynamic hedging of annuity contracts, which the company said will improve transparency for risk and compliance teams and streamline operations. Fusion Invest brings portfolio management functions into one platform and reduces manual data entry and reconciliation. According to Finastra, this helps annuity carriers cut errors and increase efficiency in monitoring collateral positions, valuations and movements. The platform also meets derivatives processing regulations, such as Swift ISO 20022, and improves collateral management workflows. The system automates tasks from trade order creation through to compliance checks and uses real-time market data to model different scenarios. Finastra said this enables annuity providers to identify opportunities within their product rules, including participation rates, caps and crediting methods. The technology also supports cloud adoption for annuity carriers and includes multi-underlying indexed-linked derivatives modelling, cross-asset hedging and real-time analytics. Julie Barthés Julie Barthés, VP Product, Treasury and Capital Markets Business Unit at Finastra, said, “The current economic climate and state of the retirement nest egg has driven life and annuity carriers to develop a wider range of investment options, including registered index-linked annuities (RILAs). Since RILAs are considered both an insurance product as well as a security, carriers must comply with regulations set by both FINRA and the Securities Exchange Commission. The added complexity makes the right hedging and processing platform essential. This latest innovation in Fusion Invest covers the full scope of the annuity lifecycle, enabling annuity carriers to seamlessly coordinate front, middle and back-office functions, from trade decisioning, hedging and risk monitoring to collateral management, operations and hedge accounting.” Wissam Khoury Wissam Khoury, EVP, Treasury and Capital Markets Business Unit at Finastra added, “Fusion Invest offers enhanced portfolio management business agility that in turn drives significant value by optimizing revenue growth potential and streamlining operational efficiency. The ability to bring it into this new market speaks volumes about the flexibility and strength of our technology.”       Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Finastra Brings Automated Hedging, Real-Time Insights to the Annuities Market appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Asia’s growing appetite for real-world asset tokenisation has prompted Saison Capital to launch Onigiri Capital, a US$50 million blockchain fund linking global startups with the region’s financial institutions and 300 million-plus crypto users. The Singapore-based fund has already secured US$35 million for investments in stablecoins, payments, tokenised assets, decentralised finance and financial market infrastructure. The launch comes as blockchain venture funding rebounds to its highest level since 2022 and real-world asset tokenisation is projected to hit US$10 trillion by 2030. Institutions from BlackRock and Goldman Sachs to MUFG and Bank of China are already integrating blockchain into finance. Onigiri Capital is led by Qin En Looi and Hans de Back, who plan to use Credit Saison’s network across Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines to give startups direct access to banks, asset managers and insurers. Looi co-authored whitepapers on asset tokenisation, helped launch Tokenize Indonesia through Project Wira and organises ONCHAIN, Asia’s first annual conference on real-world assets. De Back brings decades of experience building Southeast Asia’s innovation ecosystem and backing early-stage tech firms. Hans de Back “Trust in blockchain needs external validation and a proven track record. We’re here to complement existing product investors by offering founders the best of both worlds – Silicon Valley’s innovation combined with Asia’s institutional validation – and provide the expertise needed to originate high-quality solutions that meet institutional, global finance standards.” said Hans de Back, Managing Partner of Onigiri Capital. Qin En Looi “We saw a critical gap in the U.S. market: an absence of the specialised expertise needed to navigate and succeed in dynamic Asian markets such as Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore. Our institutional background and deep roots in the region instantly provide a launchpad for U.S. founders and developers to drive real progress at scale and speed.” said Qin En Looi, Managing Partner of Onigiri Capital and Partner, Saison Capital.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Credit Saison Launches US$50M Onigiri Capital Fund for Real-World Asset Growth appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

A major test run by Swift shows financial institutions can double their fraud detection power without sharing customer data, based on synthetic data trials. Swift worked with 13 global financial institutions to test how artificial intelligence and privacy enhancing technologies could help detect and prevent cross border payment fraud more quickly. The experiments used privacy enhancing technologies to let participants verify intelligence on suspicious accounts in real time, helping them identify complex international crime networks and avoid fraudulent transactions. In a separate use case, these technologies were combined with federated learning, where the model trains locally at each institution so customer information stays private. Trained on synthetic data from ten million test transactions, the model was twice as effective at identifying instances of known fraud as a model trained on a single institution’s dataset. Swift plans to expand participation before a second phase using real transaction data to demonstrate the technologies’ impact on real world fraud. The cooperative says secure collaboration at scale could help reduce industry fraud related costs. Financial crime was estimated to have cost the industry US$485 billion in 2023. Swift says it is exploring more than 50 AI use cases and earlier this year launched an AI enhanced Payments Controls Service to help small and medium sized financial institutions flag suspicious transactions in real time. Participants included ANZ, BNY and Intesa Sanpaolo, alongside technology partners such as Google Cloud. Rachel Levi Rachel Levi, Head of AI at Swift, said, “These experiments demonstrate the convening power of Swift as a trusted cooperative at the heart of global finance. A united, industry-wide fraud defence will always be stronger than one put up by a single institution acting alone. The industry loses billions to fraud each year, but by enabling the secure sharing of intelligence across borders we’re paving the way for this figure to be significantly reduced, and allowing fraud to be stopped in a matter of minutes, not hours or days.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by diloka107 via Freepik The post Swift-Led Trial with 13 Banks Finds AI Can Double Fraud Detection appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Standard Chartered’s operations in Singapore delivered stronger earnings in the first half of 2025, supported by higher fee and foreign exchange income, The Business Times reported. While the bank did not disclose full local details in its global statement, preliminary figures point to continued growth in its Singapore franchise. Globally, the lender posted a pretax profit of about US$4.38 billion for the six months ended June 2025, up from the same period a year earlier and ahead of the US$3.8 billion average estimate of 15 analysts compiled by the bank. Profit attributable to shareholders also improved, reflecting robust performance across wealth and markets businesses. In line with the stronger earnings, Standard Chartered announced a US$1.3 billion share buyback programme. According to eport, fee and commission income in Singapore rose sharply alongside stronger foreign exchange revenues. This performance echoes a broader trend across the group as it benefits from higher transaction volumes and growing client demand. Standard Chartered continues to emphasise Singapore as a key market in its Asian strategy. The bank’s regional balance sheet remains substantial, with assets and liabilities running into the hundreds of billions of Singapore dollars. The lender said its global results were driven by a rebound in market activity and improved margins. The buyback is expected to enhance shareholder returns while signalling confidence in its capital position.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by EyeEm via Freepik The post StanChart Singapore Profit Nears S$1 Billion in First Half of 2025 appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Travellers heading to Southeast Asia can now book Grab rides without leaving their home e-wallet, as Alipay+ brings the superapp’s ride-hailing service into its Voyager platform. The integration allows users of Alipay+ Voyager, its inbuilt AI travel agent, to arrange local transportation directly within their existing digital wallets, removing the need to download separate apps. It builds on the partnership Alipay+ and Grab formed in 2023, which enabled consumers to use their home e-wallets to make payments on the Grab app. Launched in mid-2025, Alipay+ Voyager is currently available on Alipay (Chinese mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China) and GCash (Philippines) and will roll out to more partners throughout the year. Travellers visiting all eight Southeast Asian destinations where Grab operates including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar can book rides directly through the Voyager platform. Alipay+ connects 36 leading payment partner apps with more than 1.7 billion user accounts to over 100 million in-store merchants in 70 markets. Complementing its cross-border payment capabilities, Alipay+ is developing digital services for its partners, including rewards, in-app tax refunds and Alipay+ Voyager. Scarlett Xing “With Southeast Asia growing in popularity as a travel destination, making Grab’s services directly available within Alipay+ partner apps offers users the most comprehensive and trusted local transportation across the region. Alipay+ Voyager will continue to expand our ecosystem, particularly across essential travel services, to connect more partners with mobile-savvy travellers, while we collaborate to create new ways of engagement across the entire travel journey.” said Scarlett Xing, General Manager of Alipay+ Travel Solutions, Ant International. Samir Kumar “We’re thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Alipay+ Voyager to deliver safe and reliable ride-hailing services for more travellers visiting Southeast Asia. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to enhancing the travel experience and providing greater convenience for millions of users,” said Samir Kumar, Head of Mobility at Grab.     Featured image: (From left) Chuck Kim, Managing Director, Group Business Development, Grab; Samir Kumar, Head of Mobility, Grab; Scarlett Xing, General Manager of Alipay+ Travel Solutions, Ant International; Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International The post SE Asia Travellers Can Now Book Grab Rides from Their Home Wallets via Alipay+ appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Singapore-based fintech firm FOMO Group has brought Singapore Exchange (SGX Group) on board as a shareholder, adding to its roster of blue-chip investors. Financial terms of the deal were not made public. The move follows SGX Group’s earlier investments in CapBridge and 1exchange, which sit under the FOMO Group umbrella. FOMO Group, founded in 2015, spans digital payments, cross-asset investment, tokenisation of real-world assets and digital capital markets infrastructure. It owns three licensed financial institutions that operate independently: FOMO Pay, CapBridge and 1exchange. FOMO Pay is a major payment institution licensed in Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, providing global collection and payout solutions. CapBridge offers digital investment products across funds, bonds, equities and insurance, while 1exchange focuses on the tokenisation and trading of real-world assets. SGX Group became a shareholder through a share exchange. FOMO Group said SGX Group’s experience in capital markets complements its own capabilities in areas such as tokenised asset listings, stablecoin-based settlement, digital capital markets infrastructure and cross-border market connectivity. Louis Liu Louis Liu, Group CEO of FOMO Group, said, “We are excited to welcome SGX Group as our newest shareholder. This represents a vote of confidence in our strategy and an opportunity to collaborate with SGX Group, Asia’s leading and trusted securities and derivatives market infrastructure. SGX Group’s deep expertise in capital markets, combined with our comprehensive digital finance capabilities, will unlock new possibilities for our merchants, corporates, and institutional clients.” Amit Kedia Amit Kedia, Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Development, SGX Group, said, “In a region rapidly embracing digital finance, there is a growing need for innovation that strengthens the trust and resilience of our market infrastructure. This presents opportunities for regulated interoperable solutions that enhance connectivity and efficiency across the ecosystem. FOMO Group is helping to build the foundation for the next generation of digital finance – seamless, secure and borderless financial experiences across the region.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by brilian via Freepik The post Singapore Exchange Takes Stake in Singapore’s FOMO Group appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Banks can now settle intraday FX swaps in real time, 24 hours a day, after Partior linked its digital settlement network with Finteum’s marketplace using Adhara’s integration technology. In a recent proof-of-concept, the three firms showed how trades negotiated on Finteum’s platform could be automatically settled using Partior’s network. This delivered settlement-risk-free intraday liquidity management, with Adhara’s DC Commander integration technology handling treasury operations and connectivity. Finteum’s platform enables banks to exchange excess cash for the currency liquidity they need for specific time periods, improving how they manage liquidity buffers and use capital. Partior provides a digital cash settlement network with global banks, offering 24/7 Payment versus Payment FX settlement across a growing number of currencies. Adhara acts as the integration layer between bank systems and the two platforms, enabling real-time automated settlement. Brian Nolan “The Finteum team is delighted to have successfully completed this proof-of-concept project, which creates an alternative to our current non-PvP settlement of intraday FX swap trades, across banks’ existing access to real-time gross settlement systems and nostros. Banks that are focused on the future state of balance sheet and liquidity management are prioritising real-time digital PvP settlement solutions.” said Brian Nolan, Co founder and CEO, Finteum. Humphrey Valenbreder “Our collaboration with Finteum and Adhara isn’t just a proof of concept; it’s a demonstration of how Partior’s network enables banks to tap into new market opportunities, such as intraday FX swaps, with the security and finality they need. This is about giving banks the tools to stay agile, reduce risk, and thrive in an increasingly fast-paced financial landscape.” said Humphrey Valenbreder, Chief Executive Officer, Partior. The firms said the joint approach addresses the need for better liquidity management tools as banks face pressure to optimise global liquidity and meet intraday buffer requirements.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Partior and Finteum Pilot Real-Time Intraday FX Swap Settlement appeared first on Fintech Singapore.