Sea Ltd. has overtaken DBS Group Holdings to become Southeast Asia’s most valuable public company after a sharp rebound in its share price, Bloomberg reported. The Singapore-based internet group rose 1.1% in New York trading, giving it a market capitalisation of about US$111 billion. DBS closed lower in Singapore, trimming its valuation to roughly US$110.3 billion. The shift ends the bank’s short-lived reign at the top of the region’s corporate rankings. Sea’s comeback has been fueled by Shopee, its e-commerce platform that continues to capture a growing share of online spending across the region. Record sales in August underscored its ability to fend off rivals such as TikTok’s shopping business and Alibaba-owned Lazada. The stock has climbed more than 300% since early 2024, convincing investors the company can sustain its momentum. The group’s profitability has been restored through cost controls and a growing logistics arm, SPX Express, which relies on part-time couriers to deliver goods quickly in key markets. Sea is also expanding into digital finance, positioning itself as more than just a retail marketplace operator. DBS, meanwhile, has benefited from rising lending and wealth-management income, lifting its stock about 65% since early 2024. The bank has pledged higher dividends and share buybacks to reward investors after posting strong earnings.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by The Yuri Arcurs Collection via Freepik The post Internet Giant Sea Surpasses DBS in Market Value After 300% Rally appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Standard Chartered, Ant International and Swift have launched production trials that connect bank accounts to e-wallets, marking a step toward faster and more interoperable cross-border payments. The first transfers were completed between a Standard Chartered account and a partner e-wallet through Alipay+, Ant International’s global wallet gateway service, using Swift’s infrastructure. The collaboration is aimed at broadening payment options while applying the ISO 20022 messaging standard for efficiency, scale and interoperability. The initiative brings together banks, Swift and wallet providers in a multilateral effort to expand bank-to-wallet transactions globally. Ant International has said its focus is on fostering collaboration across sectors, with an emphasis on transparency, security and financial inclusion. By combining Swift’s network of more than 11,500 financial institutions in over 200 countries and territories with the 36 wallets in the Alipay+ ecosystem, the solution already reaches 1.7 billion user accounts, with particular strength in Asia’s fast-growing markets. Michael Spiegel Michael Spiegel, Global Head of Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered, said, “We are pleased to be the bank of choice to conceptualise, test and deliver this innovation. It is testament to the versatility of our banking platform and our strategic relationship with both Swift and Ant International. We will continue to push the boundaries of finance to shape the future of our industry, securely and in compliance with regulatory requirements.” Kevin Wong Kevin Wong, Chief Executive, Asia Pacific, at Swift, said, “In a world of fast-moving innovation with a growing number of ways to move value, consumers and businesses expect more choice and optionality in their international payments experience. Swift is at the forefront of providing a best-in class experience with greater flexibility and choice. This collaboration with Ant International and Standard Chartered reflects that strategic commitment to faster, frictionless payments across multiple networks.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by jannoon028 via Freepik   The post Swift, Ant International, and StanChart Test Direct Bank-to-Wallet Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Cloudflare has introduced a new default setting that blocks AI crawlers from accessing website content without explicit permission or compensation, marking a major shift in how online content is protected from unauthorised use. This makes Cloudflare the first major internet infrastructure provider to enforce such blocking by default. The company said the change gives website owners more control by letting them decide whether to allow access and how their content can be used. AI companies are now expected to identify their crawlers and declare whether they are used for training, inference, or search, giving site owners more information to make that decision. The move comes amid growing concerns over AI models scraping web content without attribution or fair compensation. While traditional search engines typically generate traffic and ad revenue for sites, AI-generated responses often bypass the original source, leaving creators without credit or income. Cloudflare described this shift as a threat to the sustainability of the internet’s content ecosystem. The company had previously launched a one-click AI crawler block feature in September 2024, which has since been enabled by more than one million customers. Now, all new domains that sign up with Cloudflare will be asked whether they want to allow AI crawlers, shifting the default to a permission-based model. Several publishers and technology companies have expressed support for the initiative, including Condé Nast, Dotdash Meredith, Gannett Media, Reddit, TIME, Pinterest, and others. These organisations have called for clearer boundaries and fairer arrangements when their content is used by AI platforms. Cloudflare is also contributing to the development of new protocols to help AI bots authenticate themselves and allow websites to better manage which crawlers are permitted. The company said these tools aim to create a more sustainable model for content creators while still supporting AI innovation. Matthew Prince “If the Internet is going to survive the age of AI, we need to give publishers the control they deserve and build a new economic model that works for everyone – creators, consumers, tomorrow’s AI founders, and the future of the web itself. Original content is what makes the Internet one of the greatest inventions in the last century, and it’s essential that creators continue making it. AI crawlers have been scraping content without limits. Our goal is to put the power back in the hands of creators, while still helping AI companies innovate. This is about safeguarding the future of a free and vibrant Internet with a new model that works for everyone.” said Matthew Prince, Co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare. Steve Huffman “AI companies, search engines, researchers, and anyone else crawling sites have to be who they say they are. And any platform on the web should have a say in who is taking their content for what. The whole ecosystem of creators, platforms, web users and crawlers will be better when crawling is more transparent and controlled, and Cloudflare’s efforts are a step in the right direction for everyone.” said Steve Huffman, Co-founder and CEO of Reddit. With that in mind, Cloudflare is introducing its latest initiative at AI Week 2025. Explore more here: AI Week 2025 – Innovate with AI without compromising security     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by ar_fp via Freepik   The post Cloudflare Moves First to Rein in AI Crawlers with Default Block Setting appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

ANZ has launched Digital Padlock, a new feature that allows customers to immediately lock access to their accounts if they suspect they are being targeted by scammers. The feature is now available for users of the ANZ App, ANZ Internet Banking, and the ANZ Plus App. A version for ANZ Internet Banking for Business customers will follow. Digital Padlock is designed to act as a last-resort security measure. When activated, it prevents digital access to accounts, blocks eligible banking cards, and secures banking services until the customer contacts ANZ directly and the bank confirms it is safe to restore access. Future dated payments such as direct debits or loan repayments are not affected. Melissa Hendrickson, ANZ’s Fraud and Scams Lead, said: Melissa Hendrickson “When a scam hits, every second counts. Digital Padlock lets customers shut things down immediately, providing real-time support in a stressful situation. It’s like locking your front door when something doesn’t feel right, simple, fast, and reassuring.” “We know how distressing it can be to feel like someone’s trying to access your money. Digital Padlock gives our customers the power to instantly take back control, acting as a direct line of defence to help give people some peace of mind when they need it most. Scams move fast, and so should our response. By giving customers the ability to take defensive action immediately, we can help stop cybercriminals in their tracks before any damage is done.” Customers can activate Digital Padlock if they notice a suspicious transaction or believe someone is trying to access their account, for example after clicking a fraudulent link or sharing personal information. Once switched on, Digital Padlock blocks logins to the ANZ App, ANZ Internet Banking, Phone Banking and the ANZ Plus App, suspends the use of eligible cards including those in digital wallets, prevents recovery of customer reference numbers and reset of login credentials, and alerts ANZ’s fraud monitoring system. The feature is part of ANZ’s wider programme of measures against fraud and scams. These include ANZ First Responders, a dedicated support team launched in March 2025 that has handled more than 200,000 calls with most resolved at first contact; the CallSafe feature for ANZ Plus calls, which verifies the identity of both customers and service teams before sensitive discussions; and the Scam Safe protections within ANZ Plus, which cover threats such as romance scams, impersonation attempts, and fraudulent investment schemes. ANZ has also implemented enhanced biometric checks during onboarding and when resetting credentials or changing payment limits, and recently introduced Confirmation of Payee, a service that matches account names with recipient details to help customers verify payments before they are sent. ANZ reminded customers not to share personal information or money if they are uncertain of who they are dealing with, to avoid clicking links in messages, and to only use official contact channels. Customers are urged to act quickly if something appears suspicious and to contact their bank immediately if they have already transferred funds.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by creativeart via Freepik The post ANZ Launches Digital Padlock to Block Scammers from Customer Accounts appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Mastercard announced that Ari Sarker will step down as President for Asia Pacific at the end of 2025 after more than a decade in the role. He will move into an advisory position where he will focus on strategic initiatives and mentoring regional leadership to support a smooth transition. Sarker has overseen the company’s growth across Asia Pacific, driving expansion, strengthening partnerships, and fostering a collaborative culture. He has built relationships with governments, fintechs and enterprises, and will continue to support the business in his new role. Ari Sarker Ari Sarker said, “It’s been an incredible journey leading Mastercard in Asia Pacific. I’m proud of what we’ve built together and grateful to the teams, partners, and customers who’ve made it all possible. Rich is a trusted colleague and a thoughtful leader – I’m confident he’ll continue to move the business forward with purpose and care.” Richard Wormald, currently Division President for Australasia, will succeed Sarker as President for Asia Pacific on 1 January 2026. He brings deep regional experience, having led Mastercard’s business in Australasia with a focus on performance, innovation and stakeholder engagement. Wormald will work closely with Sarker over the coming months, including through joint market engagements, to ensure continuity. Richard Wormald He added, “I’m honored to step into this role and build on the strong foundation Ari has created. Asia Pacific is a dynamic and diverse region, and I look forward to working with our teams and partners to keep growing and delivering meaningful impact.” Paul Monnington will join Mastercard in January 2026 as Division President for Australasia, succeeding Wormald. He brings experience in retail payments and fintech innovation, having led Woolworths’ Wpay business and held senior roles at Woolworths Group and National Australia Bank. Monnington will report to Wormald, sit on the Mastercard Asia Pacific Leadership Team, and oversee markets including Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by plysuikvv via Freepik The post Richard Wormald to Succeed Ari Sarker as Mastercard’s Asia Pacific President appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Global payments company Thunes is undergoing a leadership change with co-founder Peter De Caluwe returning as CEO. He will succeed Floris de Kort, who is set to step down at the end of October 2025. De Caluwe, who has served as Deputy Chairman for the past 18 months, said his focus will be on continuity, global expansion, and advancing Thunes’ mission to broaden access to the global economy. He credited de Kort for strengthening the company during his tenure and positioning it for the next phase of growth. De Kort, who became CEO in 2023, oversaw a period in which Thunes doubled revenue to a run rate above US$150 million and achieved sustained profitability. During his tenure, the company also raised US$150 million in Series D funding, secured licenses across all 50 U.S. states, and expanded its payments network.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by komodo via Freepik The post Thunes Co-Founder Returns as CEO Following Floris de Kort’s Departure appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The Philippines is the fastest-growing digital economy and home to one of Southeast Asia’s most valuable fintech unicorns. Yet for investors and fintech founders looking to expand, this hidden gem is not top of mind. Lito Villanueva, Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer at ⁨RCBC⁩ and Chairman of Fintech Alliance.PH explains why you should be paying attention to the Philippines In this conversation, you’ll hear about: Why the Philippines is the next fintech hotspot Opportunities and gaps in Philippines’ fintech scene AI adoption in the Philippines The post Philippines: The Hidden Fintech Gem You Can’t Afford to Miss | Lito Villanueva appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Standard Chartered and Ant International have announced a collaboration to introduce an AI-powered Treasury and FX management solution that integrates Ant International’s Falcon Time-Series Transformer (TST) Model with Standard Chartered’s Aggregated Liquidity Engine (SCALE). Both organisations are active Pathfinder institutions in the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) financial sector PathFin.ai programme. This collaboration demonstrates how AI is being applied to enhance services in Singapore’s financial sector. Building on a long-standing partnership in blockchain innovation, the collaboration aims to lower FX costs and improve risk management for Ant International and its clients. The integration allows for seamless data exchange, enabling AI-driven FX forecasting in real time and on a 24/7 basis. Jointly developed with Ant International, the integrated solution forms part of Standard Chartered’s FX Automation Programme, which supports multi-currency bookings and international vendor settlements in real time. The programme helps businesses mitigate costs and manage FX volatility across borders. With the integration of Falcon TST and SCALE, Standard Chartered can forecast Ant International’s FX exposures with over 90% accuracy, allowing the bank to manage FX risk more effectively and reduce clients’ hedging costs in real time. Madhu Menon “We continue to invest in our platforms and adopt cutting-edge technology to support our clients in effectively managing their risks and exposures, especially during these volatile times,” said Madhu Menon, Global Head of SC PrismFX Sales at Standard Chartered. Kelvin Li “Our latest collaboration with Ant International sets the path for an innovative approach to managing and hedging FX risk and costs for Ant International and their clients globally. We are looking forward to further expanding our collaboration and continuing to shape the future of Treasury Management.” Kelvin Li, General Manager of Platform Tech at Ant International, added: “The expansion of our partnership with Standard Chartered marks an important step in our ongoing journey to leverage technology, including AI, for next-generation cross-border payment solutions. By integrating Standard Chartered’s banking capabilities with Ant International’s solutions, we can enhance how businesses manage global liquidity and FX strategy, enabling more efficient cross-border transactions.” Ant International’s Falcon TST Model is a transformer architecture-based big data model with nearly 2 billion parameters. Using advanced time series forecasting algorithms, the model predicts future data points by analysing complex patterns in large historical datasets. This allows businesses to improve the accuracy of cashflow and FX exposure forecasts and potentially reduce hedging and overall FX costs. Falcon currently forecasts Ant International’s cashflow and FX exposure on an hourly, daily and weekly basis with more than 90% accuracy. It processes over 60% of Ant International’s transactions involving FX conversion, helping to lower FX costs by up to 60% and liquidity management costs by up to 50%. Standard Chartered’s Aggregated Liquidity Engine (SCALE) is a flexible FX solution that supports corporates and financial institutions in pricing products or receiving payments in multiple currencies with guaranteed FX rates around the clock. By leveraging Standard Chartered’s network, SCALE provides access to FX liquidity, reduces FX risk, and facilitates cross-border settlements. Both Standard Chartered and Ant International remain committed to developing new technologies to support businesses’ global transaction needs. As cross-border transactions continue to increase, the organisations will continue exploring solutions to enable more seamless and secure international business flows.   Featured image credit: Ant International The post Standard Chartered and Ant International Launch AI-driven FX Management Solution appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

In 2019, George Tan, a retiree, first ventured into cryptocurrency. At the time, the market was still reeling from the 2018 crash, when Bitcoin had plunged by more than 80% after an extraordinary rise of nearly 2,000 per cent the year before. Regulators in Singapore had repeatedly warned of the risks and volatility of such trading. Wanting to proceed with caution, Tan enrolled in several courses on blockchain and crypto mining to better understand the market, according to CNA. Convinced of the technology’s long-term potential, he began investing in different cryptocurrencies through a dollar cost averaging strategy. Over time, he put in nearly S$23,000 (around US$17,893), building a portfolio largely consisting of XRP and Bitcoin Cash that has since grown to about S$50,000. But his gains now appear worthless after Tokenize Xchange, the Singapore based trading platform he used, abruptly ceased operations and came under police investigation. Trouble began in mid July when Tokenize Xchange announced it would shut down in Singapore after failing to secure a digital payment token license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The platform had been operating under a temporary exemption. Matters worsened for Tan on August 1, when authorities confirmed they were investigating AmazingTech, the company behind Tokenize Xchange, for possible offences including fraudulent trading. MAS said it had found indications of “false representations” made by the firm regarding the segregation of customers’ assets. On 31 July, Hong Qi Yu, a director of AmazingTech and founder and chief executive of Tokenize Xchange, was charged with fraudulent trading. “When I saw that news (on August 1), my heart sank,” said Tan, who is in his 60s. “This is serious.” Users told CNA they were blindsided, noting that the exchange had never shown problems with trading or withdrawals. Founded in 2017, Tokenize Xchange appeared to be expanding steadily, with operations in Malaysia where it was among the first three digital asset exchange operators to secure full approval from the Securities Commission in April 2020. In 2023, it raised an additional US$11.5 million in funding and was reportedly planning to expand its Singapore team to strengthen compliance and operations. As recently as 8 July, just over a week before its closure, an email was sent to users under the subject “Important regulatory updates from Tokenize Xchange”. It claimed the firm had secured a license to operate in Labuan, Malaysia, and was in the “final phase” of obtaining another from the Abu Dhabi Global Market. The same email stated that discussions with Singapore regulators on its licensing status were also in the final stages. However, MAS had already rejected its license application on July 4. While Tokenize Xchange’s user numbers remain unclear, its CEO told Vulcan Post in 2021 that the platform then had “close to 200,000 users globally”. A company press release in March 2022 stated it had over 100,000 customers across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Users were notified on 17 July of the closure, alongside a phased withdrawal schedule depending on portfolio size. Despite these promises, customers interviewed by CNA said they had not been able to retrieve their funds, with emails to the firm going unanswered. One affected user, Penny, a 31 year old sales executive, began using Tokenize Xchange in late 2021 and at one point had invested S$18,000 in stablecoins, Bitcoin and Luna. She reduced her exposure after the collapses of FTX and Three Arrows Capital in 2022 and 2023, leaving her with a portfolio of S$4,000, small enough to qualify for early withdrawal. But her request remains listed as “in transit”. “That’s my oversight,” she said. “I thought that if a platform could operate for so long in Singapore, it must be safe. I also never had issues when I cashed out over the years, so I never felt that anything was amiss.” Tan said he grew uneasy in late June after noticing a sharp plunge in Tokenize Xchange’s native token, TKX, which had fallen from a peak of US$47.97 in January to US$24.85 by 30 June. By mid July, it had tumbled to around US$6. He contacted the exchange on 17 July to voice his concerns but received no reply. Out of caution, he sold a small portion of his holdings and withdrew S$500. Later that evening, users received the email announcing the exchange’s immediate winding down in Singapore. Trading and withdrawals were then disabled. On its website, MAS explained that platforms operating under an exemption from holding a license under the Payment Services Act were never licensed or supervised by MAS. Customers of these firms were therefore not protected by regulatory safeguards. Professor Lawrence Loh of the National University of Singapore’s business school said the exemptions were designed to be fair to businesses as new laws were introduced, but they may have created a “false sense of security” for some investors. “Investors must do their homework before deciding where to put their money,” he said. “Remember, ‘high risks, high return’ do not always mean positive returns. It can be a negative impact too.” Some users have taken legal steps. A group of seven succeeded last week in getting the High Court to place AmazingTech under interim judicial management, with corporate advisory firm KordaMentha taking over the running of the company. As part of stabilising operations, all withdrawals have been suspended. The interim judicial managers are expected to file a report by September 10, ahead of a hearing no later than September 15. Lawyer P Sivakumar of BR Law said judicial management does not necessarily represent the worst case scenario for investors. Its purpose is to preserve the business as a going concern and protect creditors’ interests, rather than proceed straight to liquidation. If judicial management fails and the company is wound up, however, investors may only recover “cents on the dollar”. Amid the uncertainty, some affected users have turned to one another for support. Penny started a Telegram group on July 18 for users to share updates and advice. “I was very lost and I figured there will be others like me,” she said. Tan said the past weeks had been an emotional struggle. He has chosen not to tell his family, as he does not want them to worry. Looking back, he said he had tried to be cautious, taking courses and doing his own research. Yet he admitted to one lapse: “The biggest takeaway for me is to always transfer your crypto to an external cold wallet. If it is not in your own wallet and in custody with somebody else, it’s not truly yours.” “It’s a bit troublesome because you have to transfer out each time, and when you want to sell, you have to transfer back to the exchange. Every time you transfer, you got to pay a fee, so that’s where I got complacent,” he said. While he continues to monitor developments, Tan said he does not hold much hope of recovering his investments. “Every day I tell myself, just write it off because if I place too much hope, I don’t know how to pass the day. So, I just take it as it’s gone.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by pikisuperstar via Freepik The post Tokenize Xchange Shutdown Leaves Investors in Limbo appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

2C2P Pte Ltd, a Southeast Asian full-suite payments platform, has been granted a Major Payment Institution license by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under the Payment Services Act 2019. The license allows 2C2P to provide domestic money transfer services, cross-border money transfer services, and merchant acquisition services to businesses operating in Singapore. Agnes Chua “This marks a significant milestone for 2C2P and we look forward to expanding our services and advancing access to meet the ever-changing needs of our local merchants in Singapore and across Southeast Asia,” said Agnes Chua, Country Manager of 2C2P Singapore. Founded in 2003, 2C2P is among the early players in Southeast Asia’s payments sector. Since 2022, it has been part of Ant International’s Antom, a global merchant payment and digitalisation services provider. “We are excited to build upon our existing payment offerings to provide a more comprehensive payments coverage for our merchants in Singapore and across Southeast Asia, through partnering with Antom as well as local and regional financial institutions. By leveraging the combined local expertise and world-class technologies of Antom and 2C2P, we aim to empower businesses of all sizes and provide a trusted and seamless payment experience for customers anywhere and anytime,” Chua added. In March 2025, 2C2P also released its annual whitepaper on the Southeast Asian digital payments landscape, underlining its continuing research and role in the region.   Featured image credit: MAS The post 2C2P Granted Major Payment Institution License by MAS appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The idea of a “last mover advantage” may sound counterintuitive, but it explains how latecomers can sometimes move faster and smarter than early pioneers. In fintech, it is often called the leapfrog effect. Instead of taking the slow road through decades of legacy systems, Southeast Asia skipped ahead directly into the digital age. With little legacy infrastructure holding it back, the region went mobile-first. High smartphone use and a large unbanked population created a once-in-a-generation opening for fintech founders. E-wallets and QR code payments were just the start, followed by super apps, lending platforms, insurtechs, and wealthtech reaching hundreds of millions. Funding poured in, too. Between 2015 and 2021, fintech investment in Southeast Asia surged tenfold to US$6.4 billion. Even after global corrections, ASEAN held steady, showing investors see it as a long-term growth engine. Unicorns tell the story best. GCash in the Philippines serving 94 million users, Indonesia’s Akulaku and Kredivo reshaping digital lending, Singapore’s Nium and Aspire going global, Vietnam’s MoMo becoming a household name, Thailand’s Ascend Money raising US$195 million, and Malaysia’s Touch n Go joining the billion-dollar club. Faces Driving This Fintech Wave The next chapter is being written now. Cross-border payments are knitting ASEAN markets together, AI is redefining services, and digital banks are changing how people save, borrow, and spend. But technology alone doesn’t explain the rise. It’s the founders who took risks, spotted gaps, and built solutions millions now rely on. That’s why, in line with our 10th year anniversary, our list of founders is based on the Fintech Frontiers 50 Awards, held on 5 August 2025 in Kuala Lumpur during Malaysia’s MyFintech Week. Unlike pay-to-play awards, this programme stood out for transparency and merit. With over 200 nominations, 15,000 votes, and a final judging panel, it celebrated real builders over noise. From that came the Fintech Frontiers 50, with the Frontier 15 representing the most exceptional founders handpicked for their vision and impact. A heartfelt thank you also goes to all our sponsors and partners who helped make the Fintech Frontiers 50 Awards possible. Our Platinum Sponsor, Amazon Web Services (AWS), supported the mission with unwavering commitment. So did our Gold Sponsors, PayNet and Cloudflare, our Silver Sponsor, Thredd, and our Bronze Sponsor, Boost. We are equally grateful to our Industry Partner, the Fintech Association of Malaysia (FAOM), and to our Knowledge Partner, EY, whose expertise shaped a credible judging process. Not to forget our Association Partners, the Singapore Fintech Association (SFA), Fintech Alliance.Ph, and the Asia Fintech Alliance, whose networks helped us reach across ASEAN and surface outstanding nominations. Thank you again to all of them. Without further ado, here are the Top 15 Fintech Founders in Southeast Asia. Top 15 Fintech Founders in Southeast Asia Rob Schimek, Founder & Group CEO, bolttech With over 35 years of insurance industry experience, Rob Schimek launched Singapore-based insurtech bolttech in 2020 to build a more connected insurance ecosystem. Under his leadership, bolttech has become a global force, operating in 37 markets and achieving a valuation of US$2.1 billion after raising US$523 million in funding. A champion for innovation and inclusion, Rob is a key figure in the fintech community, dedicated to closing the world’s protection gap. Nguyen Manh Tuong, Co-Founder & CEO, MoMo What started as an idea at a sugarcane stall in 2010 is now Vietnam’s leading fintech platform, MoMo. Co-Founder Nguyen Manh Tuong has scaled his vision into a digital ecosystem serving over 30 million people. With backing from giants like Goldman Sachs and Standard Chartered, MoMo has raised over US$433 million to become an indispensable financial assistant, now leveraging AI to expand into BNPL, personalised investments, and accessible public service payments. Liu Tianwei, Co-Founder & CEO, StraitsX From a rented apartment with a team of four (and a Pomeranian), Liu Tianwei launched StraitsX (formerly Xfers) in 2014. Today, he leads a 700-strong team across Singapore, Indonesia, and Taiwan, processing over $10 billion in annual transactions. StraitsX, backed by Y Combinator and Tiger Global, earned its reputation by launching the MAS-recognised stablecoins XSGD and XUSD. A key contributor to Singapore’s Project Orchid and cross-border QR payments, Tianwei is also a decorated partner of the Singapore Police for his work in creating a safer digital payment ecosystem. Prajit Nanu, Founder & CEO, Nium Frustrated by slow, expensive remittances, Prajit Nanu founded Instarem in 2014 to fix a personal pain point. That solution evolved into Nium, a global payments infrastructure powerhouse. Nium today powers real-time payouts in over 100 currencies and holds licenses in more than 40 jurisdictions. As CEO, Prajit has scaled the company worldwide, raising over US$300 million while remaining focused on product innovation and driving financial inclusion for the gig economy. Eng Sheng Guan, Group CEO, Fiuu For over two decades, Eng Sheng Guan has been a titan of Malaysian digital payments. After spotting a gap in the market in 2005, his venture evolved into Fiuu, a fintech powerhouse that now processes 23% of the nation’s e-commerce transactions, which is over RM44 billion annually. He has steered the company through tech shifts and a pandemic to achieve regional expansion and consistent profitability, all while serving over one million unbanked users monthly. Xing Xian Ang, CEO & Co-Founder, CapBay As a fisherman’s son, Xing Xian Ang saw how late payments could cripple a small business. That memory, fused with a fintech education from Oxford, became the blueprint for CapBay. Bootstrapped with his team’s own savings in 2016, the company has since disbursed over RM4 billion to thousands of SMEs across Southeast Asia. As CEO, Xing’s primary mission at CapBay is to offer innovative solutions such as P2P lending and BNPL. His ultimate goal is to champion the financial resilience of businesses across the region. Michele Ferrario, Co-Founder & CEO, StashAway Frustrated by costly and complex financial products, Michele Ferrario co-founded StashAway in 2016 to democratise investing. After enduring 124 rejections from VCs, the former Zalora CEO secured funding and pioneered the robo-advisory scene in Singapore. StashAway today operates in five markets, managing over US$1 billion in assets and offering sophisticated products from ETFs to private market access. Having raised over US$86 million, Michele continues to drive the mission of making smart investing accessible to all. Walter de Oude, Founder, Chocolate Finance After founding Singlife and exiting at a S$4.6 billion valuation, Walter de Oude is shaking up finance again with Chocolate Finance. His new venture is designed to optimise returns on idle cash, and it immediately exploded onto the scene. In less than eight months, a hyper-efficient team of just 18 people attracted almost S$1 billion in assets and 100,000 customers. Backed by Sequoia and Prosus, Chocolate is now expanding from Singapore to Hong Kong, the UAE, and soon Japan. David Hanna, Founder & CEO, Finmo Next in our list of the 15 fintech founders in Southeast Asia is David Hanna. With 20 years of experience at giants like PayPal and Rapyd, David Hanna launched Finmo in 2021 to build the Treasury Operating System he knew global businesses needed. His platform simplifies payments, FX, and compliance, achieving operational profitability by 2024. Finmo is backed with US$27 million from investors like PayPal Ventures and Citi Ventures. The company now serves clients across ASEAN, Australia, and the U.S., while David actively shapes a more resilient financial ecosystem. Georg Steiger, Co-Founder & CEO, Billease After eight years advising Southeast Asia’s top banks with McKinsey, Georg Steiger saw a massive credit gap in the Philippines. In 2015, he launched Billease to solve it. His platform leverages alternative data to provide responsible credit to millions of people. Over time, the service has evolved from cash loans to become a full-service buy now, pay later (BNPL) leader. Georg has secured US$90 million from prominent investors, including TPG’s Rise Fund. This capital empowers his mission to be a key figure in the country’s financial inclusion movement. Kelvin Teo, Co-Founder & Group CEO, Funding Societies While still at Harvard in 2015, Kelvin Teo launched Funding Societies to solve Southeast Asia’s SME credit gap. Today, it’s a digital finance titan, having disbursed over US$4.5 billion to 100,000 SMEs. The platform’s impact is immense, contributing US$3.6 billion to regional GDP. Kelvin recently cemented his leadership status in regional fintech by winning Malaysia’s Founder of the Year award. His win comes as the company strategically pushes into the payments sector with its Elevate and CardUp platforms. Moses Lo, Co-Founder & Group CEO, Xendit Moses Lo leads Xendit, the fintech unicorn simplifying payments across Southeast Asia. After a failed crypto idea, a pivotal conversation with Y Combinator’s Justin Kan set the company on its path to success. Lo’s defining moment came during the pandemic. With his business down to 80%, he made a high-stakes bet to expand into the Philippines. The move paid off, sparking record growth and helping Xendit secure US$538 million from investors like Accel and Tiger Global. Lucy Liu, Co-Founder & President, Airwallex Lucy Liu’s lightbulb moment came when her friends’ Melbourne cafe was hit with huge fees on a simple cross-border payment. That real-world problem sparked Airwallex, the fintech unicorn she co-founded, to demolish the barriers of global finance. Drawing on her experience as an international investment consultant, she helped build a payments giant. The company is now one of the world’s most well-funded private companies. It has secured over US$6.2 billion from backers like Sequoia, DST Global, and Visa. Vince Iswara, Co-Founder & CEO, DANA Indonesia With 16 years of fintech experience, Vince Iswara founded DANA to solve Indonesia’s core financial barriers: accessibility and trust. As CEO, he has built a uniquely open digital wallet that now serves over 180 million users. By integrating seamlessly with banks and other services, DANA provides a one-stop financial hub. A key voice in policy-making with KADIN and the World Economic Forum, Vince is dedicated to building an inclusive and confident financial future for his home country. Yen Ming Lee, Co-Founder & Group CEO, PolicyStreet The final fintech founders in Southeast Asia bring us a story of how a spinal injury in 2016 exposed the flaws in traditional insurance and inspired Yen Ming Lee to co-found PolicyStreet. Today, his insurtech is a regional powerhouse, uniquely licensed as a reinsurer, insurer, and takaful operator. The company serves over 5 million customers with more than US$10 billion in sum insured. After raising US$21.5 million from investors like Khazanah Nasional, Yen Ming masterminded a strategic pivot to an embedded, partnership-led model. This move cemented PolicyStreet’s role in making insurance accessible for all. Setting the Foundations for the Future They’re Building Southeast Asia is done being the one catching up. From the set of founders, the region can be the sole leader of the industry. What comes next will not be defined by capital raised or valuations alone. It will be shaped by how these founders continue to solve financial pain points, expand trust in digital services, and inspire the next generation of builders. And if history is any guide, the next list of top fintech founders of global finance will for sure have Southeast Asia names written all over it. Discover the remaining Top 35 Fintech Founders in Southeast Asia from the Fintech Frontiers 50 Awards by downloading the full booklet for the complete list and insights. Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore based on an image by Freepik. The post 15 Fintech Founders Powering the Boom in Southeast Asia appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Across Southeast Asia, SMEs make up over 97% of all businesses and drive the majority of employment. Yet access to credit remains a challenge, particularly for smaller and non-collateral borrowers. For lenders, the opportunity is huge — but only if they can scale operations quickly, manage risk effectively, and deliver services efficiently. Esquire Financing Inc., one of the Philippines’ largest non-bank financial institutions, faced exactly this challenge. Serving over 27,000 entrepreneurs with flexible, non-collateral business loans, Esquire had the market demand but was held back by operational bottlenecks, slow loan approvals, and aging, siloed technology. Choosing a Partner for Scalable Growth Source: Oradian The leadership team realised they needed more than incremental upgrades. They needed a modern, cloud-native platform built for speed, agility, and integration. After evaluating multiple providers, Esquire chose Oradian’s Instafin — a cloud-native core banking system designed for fast-growing financial institutions across emerging markets. “Oradian demonstrated experience, local know-how and a dominant track record in the Philippines, making them a natural partner,” said Rajan Uttamchandani, CEO of Esquire Financing. From Months to Hours – The Results The transformation was delivered in just three months — compared to the 12–24 months common in the industry — thanks to Oradian’s embedded regional team and streamlined implementation process. With Instafin, Esquire has been able to: • Cut loan approvals from days to hours • Triple its loan portfolio in under 2.5 years • Go fully paperless, improving compliance and reducing costs • Gain real-time dashboards for faster, data-driven decisions • Prepare for seamless fintech integrations, such as digital wallets and payment platforms “With technology you’re able to scale faster without having to roll out additional branches, so I think the investment in technology isn’t a cost-saving strategy, but a scale-maximisation strategy,” said Stephen Williams, Esquire’s CTO & CTTO. Lessons for Lenders Across the Region Source: Saim Art via Freepik Esquire’s story reflects a regional reality: whether in Manila, Jakarta, or Ho Chi Minh City, lenders are under pressure to serve more customers without proportionally increasing costs. Cloud-native core banking platforms are enabling this by combining agility, integration readiness, and operational efficiency. “The digitalisation journey was really a way to keep our costs down while being able to scale our business efficiently,” added Uttamchandani. Antonio Separovic, Co-founder & CEO of Oradian, summarised the partnership: “Esquire Financing focuses on their business and trusts us with the tech. By using Oradian’s real-time data, integrations, and faster approvals, they’ve scaled quickly. Trust, openness, and shared goals drive our success. Oradian is their tech platform for today and what’s next.” A Blueprint for Scalable Lending Esquire’s rapid core banking transformation shows that with the right partner, even large-scale change can be achieved fast and with minimal disruption. For financial institutions across Southeast Asia — from MFIs to digital banks — the takeaway is clear: investing in the right technology is not just about efficiency; it’s about unlocking market leadership. Read the full case study here and see how Oradian’s cloud-native core banking system can accelerate your growth.      Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post From Legacy to Growth: Oradian Powers Esquire’s 3-Month Core Banking Shift appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

OCBC is turning to blockchain with a US$1 billion digital US commercial paper (USCP) programme, giving the bank the ability to raise short-term US dollar funding in minutes. The move reflects efforts to strengthen liquidity resilience as global markets face growing geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty. The programme complements OCBC’s existing US$25 billion conventional USCP programme, established in August 2011. Issuance, settlement, record-keeping and servicing are conducted on-chain, making OCBC the first USCP issuer globally to use blockchain across the securities’ full lifecycle. Near-instant settlement is enabled by having tokenised securities and funds on-chain. The setup provides all parties with the same real-time, auditable records and reduces reliance on traditional infrastructure and intermediaries. J.P. Morgan’s Digital Debt Service application, built on its multi-asset tokenisation platform, Kinexys Digital Assets, facilitates the programme. J.P. Morgan is also acting as sole dealer. The first USCP tokenised issuance under the programme was completed on 20 August 2025. OCBC issued six-month notes to an accredited institutional investor and received the funds within minutes of the transaction. Proceeds will be used for general funding purposes. The digital USCP programme has short-term credit ratings of P-1 from Moody’s and F1+ from Fitch, the highest for such instruments. OCBC said the programme provides an alternative channel to tap the US$1.4 trillion USCP market to quickly raise USD. The launch follows OCBC’s adoption in 2024 of J.P. Morgan’s Digital Financing application for reverse repo and repo transactions, part of broader efforts to strengthen liquidity management. Kenneth Lai Kenneth Lai, OCBC’s Head of Global Markets, said, “Singapore’s blockchain ecosystem is advancing fast, and asset tokenisation is gaining real momentum. Our focus is now firmly on commercialisation. We have already tapped blockchain for intraday repo and reverse repo transactions—capabilities added last year—and are now expanding into the USCP market to strengthen liquidity and resilience. OCBC is no stranger to this space, but our new digital USCP programme will deepen investor engagement and sharpen our global capital markets profile. The speed and transparency of this solution have only strengthened our conviction in blockchain’s transformative power for capital markets.” Scott Lucas Scott Lucas, Head of Markets Digital Assets at J.P. Morgan, said, “J.P Morgan’s Digital Debt Service provides an additional way for issuers and investors to participate in the USCP market and OCBC’s issuance has demonstrated this in practice. Our partnership with OCBC in support of developing both their access to the US market and their digital agenda is aligned to our commitment of offering innovative liquidity solutions.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by poppet07 via Freepik The post OCBC Taps Blockchain to Raise Short-Term US Commercial Paper in Minutes appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Trust Bank has launched a new S$100,000 give-back programme to mark its one-million-customer milestone, aimed at helping 1,000 families in need through a guided shopping experience using generative AI tools. The initiative, held at FairPrice Xtra in VivoCity, was organised in partnership with FairPrice Group (FPG), the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) ComLink+ initiative and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in support of the national Digital for Life movement. Families with children living in rental housing and supported by MSF’s Social Service Offices in Ang Mo Kio and Yishun each received S$100 in FairPrice vouchers. They were paired with Trust volunteers for grocery sessions where generative AI prompts suggested healthier and more affordable choices. Guest-of-Honour Dr Syed Harun, Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC and incoming Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of National Development, highlighted the role of daily decisions in supporting both physical and financial well-being. Beneficiaries were also reminded of FairPrice Group’s savings schemes, including a first-of-its-kind three per cent discount for Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Orange cardholders every Friday. Other discounts are available for the Pioneer Generation, Merdeka Generation, seniors and CHAS Blue cardholders, alongside Link rewards and regular value deals. Dwaipayan Sadhu Dwaipayan Sadhu, CEO of Trust Bank said, “Our community give-back efforts reflect our belief that banking should be inclusive and compassionate. We’re grateful to continue supporting MSF’s beneficiary families, building on the impact of our earlier engagements. We also look forward to partnering with IMDA in the coming months to empower more people through digital skills including essential scam prevention tips.” Vipul Chawla Vipul Chawla, Group CEO of FairPrice Group added, “We are proud to support Trust in this initiative, which not only provides tangible assistance to families-in-need but also equips them with the knowledge to make informed and healthier choices. Through collaborations like this, we stay true to our purpose of making every day a little better for the communities we serve, while working together to build greater resilience and well being.” For more on how Trust Bank scaled to become Singapore’s fourth-largest bank, watch our interview with CEO Dwaipayan Sadhu here.    The post Trust Bank’s S$100,000 Community Programme Helps Families Budget with Gen AI appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Cognizant, a professional services company headquartered in the US, has announced a five-year strategic engagement with Temenos to develop and market the Temenos Country Model Bank in Australia. The Country Model Bank is an extension of Temenos’ core banking platform, designed to help financial institutions accelerate implementation by offering pre-configured, region-specific banking functions intended to reduce cost and risk. Financial institutions in Australia face growing regulatory demands and challenges linked to legacy systems that limit their ability to adapt. By combining Temenos’ cloud-native banking technology with Cognizant’s implementation and market expertise, the Country Model Bank is intended to provide a pre-configured framework that supports modernisation while aiming to lower costs and operational complexity. As Temenos’ preferred upgrade partner in Australia, Cognizant will further develop regionalised functionality, tailoring the platform to meet the requirements of local financial institutions. Will Dale “We are delighted to collaborate with Cognizant, strengthening our commitment to delivering agile and future-ready banking solutions in Australia,” said Will Dale, Managing Director, APAC, Temenos. “Together, we are driving digital transformation that enhances efficiency and scalability for financial institutions.” Archana Ramanakumar, Global Head of Industry Solutions at Cognizant, highlighted the significance of the partnership, noting over 15 years of collaboration with Temenos globally. She said: Archana Ramanakumar “This will be a true game-changer for Australian financial institutions that are on their digital transformation journey, delivering a pre-integrated, market-ready solution that aims to significantly reduce risk in core modernisation initiatives.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by aboodi vesakaran via Unsplash The post Cognizant and Temenos Partner to Develop Country Model Bank in Australia appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Financial sanctions are essential government tools for achieving foreign policy objectives – and compliance is mandatory – but the sanctions landscape can be complex to navigate. Here we unpack some key questions around this important topic. Understand financial sanctions and why they matter. Uncover best-practice approaches for remaining compliant as well as the consequences for non-compliance. Financial sanctions enforce economic and trade bans against foreign jurisdictions and regimes, as well as individuals and entities engaging in harmful activity. In the United States, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for implementing and enforcing financial sanctions, but the sanctions landscape is global in nature. Specific sanctions have been outlined by the EU, the UN and many other governments, including Canada, Australia, the UK, and many more. The 5th edition of the Global Sanctions Index (GSI) report by LSEG Risk Intelligence provides a detailed account of the key changes in global sanctions over the past year, as well as insights into the most important mega-trends – including uncertainty – that will shape sanctions in the coming months. Here we answer some key questions around financial sanctions. Five key questions answered 1. What are financial sanctions? Financial sanctions are measures taken against targeted jurisdictions and regimes (including individuals and entities) engaging in harmful activities. They are designed to restrict or prohibit transactions and can include entire countries or geographic regions. They are primarily used to exert pressure to change negative behaviour, such as involvement in terrorism, money laundering, human rights abuses, the spread of weapons, and more. These sanctions can be effective tools for achieving foreign policy objectives and guiding a nation’s interactions with other countries. Some examples of common types of sanctions include: • Asset freezes, including blocking access to the bank accounts, property or investments of a sanctioned individual or entity. • Trade embargoes, such as bans on imports and exports to or from a sanctioned country. • Investment bans, which can restrict or prohibit investments in sanctioned countries. • Financial aid restrictions, which can prevent access to financial assistance, including loans, grants and aid programmes. 2. Why do financial sanctions matter? Financial sanctions matter because they have economic and geopolitical repercussions and can therefore significantly impact global stability. Sanctions can have: • Economic consequences, for example governments can prohibit transactions with entire countries or geographic regions. • Geopolitical implications, for example trade-related delays because of sanctions can create tension between countries and/or entities across the globe. 3. What are some of the consequences of non-compliance? Non-compliance with global sanctions can have serious consequences, including: • Potentially severe reputational damage: The impact of reputational damage is often unquantifiable – it can lead to long-term lack of credibility, tarnished customer relationships, and a loss of trust in your brand. • Operational disruptions: If you are subject to an investigation, this can substantially disrupt day-to-day operations, with knock-on effects for your organisation. • Criminal charges: In many cases, failure to comply with financial sanctions can result in criminal charges and even imprisonment. 4. What are the biggest challenges in sanctions compliance? Implicit or narrative sanctions are often the biggest challenge in sanctions compliance. Entities or individuals may not be explicitly named, but may be covered by broad narrative sanctions or be sanctioned based on their connections to a sanctioned entity or individual. Some other key challenges include, but are not limited to: • Complexity: The sheer volume and complexity of sanctions can be overwhelming, and often specialist knowledge is needed to navigate requirements. • Inaccurate data: Inaccurate or incomplete data can leave you vulnerable to inadvertently transacting with a sanctioned entity or individual. • High false positive rates: In some instances, robust screening can lead to false positive rates, disrupting legitimate relationships. 5. How can I improve my compliance? The sanctions landscape is dynamic and complex, but there are resources and solutions that can cut through this complexity and help you keep abreast of ongoing changes. The OFAC Framework for Compliance Commitments provides useful guidelines around sanctions compliance, and all organisations subject to US jurisdiction and foreign entities doing business with the US should review this. It also is essential to implement a robust sanctions screening programme that starts with reliable access to accurate data, deep insights and comprehensive reports. Sanctions are constantly updated, so timely data is essential to keep you informed of changes as they happen. Some key points to remember include: • Screening – of both customers and transactions – is an important first step in ensuring that you do not transact with any sanctioned individual or entity. • Where heightened potential risk is identified, further investigations in the form of enhanced due diligence (EDD) can help you understand more about potential risk. Effective EDD delivers detailed insights and background checks. • Ongoing transaction monitoring is also essential, because new risks can emerge at any time. Robust monitoring helps you uncover potential links to sanctioned individuals or entities. The key take-away is this: complying with financial sanctions is non-negotiable, but with the right data, tools and expertise, you can cut through complexity, boost your efficiency and streamline your compliance function. Download the latest Global Sanctions Index (GSI) report for more insights.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Financial Sanctions: LSEG Risk Intelligence Answers Your Key Questions appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

GXS Bank has introduced Money Lock, a new feature in its app designed to strengthen customer protection against scams. The tool allows users to lock some or all of their savings in up to eight Saving Pockets, which can be enabled through each Pocket’s settings. Once activated, the Saving Pocket is locked immediately. The launch comes as scams continue to rise in Singapore. According to the Singapore Police Force, more than S$53 million was lost to scams in June 2025 alone, including over 600 e-commerce cases. These often involve fraudulent listings on social media platforms where victims are asked to make advance payments. Funds placed in locked Saving Pockets continue to accrue daily interest, and customers can still add deposits. Savings remain insured up to S$100,000 under the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation Limited. Unlocking a Saving Pocket requires a video verification call with a GXS Buddy, the bank’s customer support officer, who is trained to detect signs of fraud. Following this, account holders are notified via email, and a 12-hour cooling-off period is imposed before funds are transferred. Customers who suspect unauthorised activity may contact the bank during this period to stop the request. Shahzaib Hassan, Group Chief Technology and Product Officer at GXS Bank, said: “It may sound counter-intuitive to add speed bumps into a digital experience, but we do this because scammers often use urgency to scare or entice their victims into making a fraudulent funds transfer. By adding ‘breaks’ throughout the funds transfer process, we hope to provide the time for our customers to consider and verify that the transaction which they are about to make is legitimate.” He added that the bank encourages customers to use Money Lock as an added safeguard, while remaining vigilant to evolving scam tactics.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by onlyyouqj via Freepik The post GXS Bank Launches Money Lock to Secure Savings Amid Rising Scams appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The Bank of Thailand has moved to reassure the public following confusion over a reported 50,000-baht daily transfer limit. In a statement, the central bank clarified that the cap will not apply to all customers, but only to specific vulnerable groups. These include children, individuals aged 65 and older, and customers with little to no transaction history or who rarely transfer funds. Most bank users will not be affected and can continue transferring money in line with their usual patterns. Customers in categories with limited or irregular histories may request higher limits from their banks, while larger transfers can also be conducted at bank counters. This clarification comes alongside broader anti-fraud measures introduced by the regulator. This includes stricter identity checks, enhanced due diligence for high-risk accounts, real-time transaction alerts, stronger mobile app security, tighter controls on mule accounts, and emergency support for victims of online scams.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on images by mike.shots and starline via Freepik The post Thai Central Bank Clarifies 50,000 Baht Daily Transfer Cap Applies Only to Vulnerable Groups appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Artificial intelligence is rewriting the CFO playbook in Asia Pacific. A new Salesforce survey reveals that finance chiefs are dedicating a growing share of budgets to AI agents and expect them to drive long-term business outcomes beyond cost savings. The report found that 75% of CFOs in the region believe AI agents will not only reduce expenses but also generate new revenue. More than three-quarters said the technology will change how their organisations operate. Five years ago, 63% of CFOs described their approach to AI as conservative, a figure that has since dropped to just 3%. On average, CFOs in Asia Pacific are now directing 23% of their AI budgets to agents. Half of those surveyed said AI agents are changing how they evaluate returns on investment, moving beyond traditional financial metrics to broader outcomes such as productivity gains, compliance improvements and cost savings. Six in ten said agents are already critical to competing in the current environment, while 62% noted that they are reshaping how companies allocate spending. Nearly a third said the technology requires them to adopt a bolder investment mindset. The study also found that 83% of CFOs are increasingly using AI to support decision-making. Risk assessments (85%), financial forecasting (65%) and profitability analysis (58%) are among the top tasks delegated to AI. A majority, 58%, expect agents to take on more strategic responsibilities rather than routine work. Despite the growing optimism, concerns remain. Security and privacy risks were cited by 68% of respondents, while 62% pointed to the length of time needed to realise returns from AI investments. CFOs also noted that while agents reduce costs, they expect revenue to increase by nearly 20%. Robin Washington Robin Washington, President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Salesforce, said, “The introduction of digital labour isn’t just a technical upgrade — it represents a decisive and strategic shift for CFOs. With AI agents, we’re not merely transforming business models; we’re fundamentally reshaping the entire scope of the CFO function. This demands a new mindset as we expand beyond financial stewards to also become architects of agentic enterprise value.” The survey was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of Salesforce and polled 261 CFOs globally, including 60 from Asia Pacific across Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on images by romanshashko and rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Salesforce Study Finds APAC CFOs Doubling Down on Aggressive AI Strategies appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Singapore’s Sea Ltd has obtained fresh regulatory clearances in Brazil that will enable it to broaden its financial services footprint, according to DealStreetAsia. The company said it has secured a Sociedade de Crédito Direto (SCD) license and received initial approval for a Sociedade de Crédito, Financiamento e Investimento (SCFI) license, reinforcing its ambition to bring its Southeast Asian fintech model into Latin America. The SCD license allows lending with the company’s own funds, while the SCFI license provides scope for a wider range of financing activities and more diversified funding. Both are part of measures introduced by Brazil’s central bank to encourage competition in financial services. Brazil has become Sea’s fastest-growing market outside Asia. Shopee, its e-commerce platform, has operated there for five years and has added products such as personal loans and buy-now-pay-later. In the second quarter of 2025, Sea reported that its consumer and SME loan book reached US$6.9 billion, up 94 percent from a year earlier, with adjusted EBITDA from its digital financial services arm rising 55 percent to US$255.3 million. Sea said its financing in Brazil is backed by external lender partnerships and that the country’s abundant data has strengthened its credit risk models. Shopee’s continued growth is also supporting the push, with monthly active buyers climbing more than 30 percent year-on-year and digital entrepreneurship promoted among over 8 million Brazilians. Brazil’s fintech market already includes major players such as Nubank, Stone, and XP. Sea is betting that embedding lending and payments within Shopee will help it compete more effectively in this crowded market.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Luiz Ribeiro via Freepik The post Sea Steps Up Brazil Push with New Lending Licenses appeared first on Fintech Singapore.