Vietnam and South Korea have launched cross-border QR payments that allow Korean users to pay merchants in Vietnam through participating e-wallets and banking apps. The service was introduced by the Vietnam National Payment Corporation (NAPAS), GLN International, BIDV and Hana Bank, following a cooperation agreement signed at the Vietnam-Korea Economic Forum in August 2025. The service allows more than 115 million users in the GLN International network, including Korean tourists and Koreans living in Vietnam, to scan VIETQRGlobal codes at hundreds of thousands of acceptance points nationwide. Transactions are processed in real time, with direct settlement between the Korean won and Vietnamese dong supported by Hana Bank and BIDV. The cross-border QR payments launch comes as South Korea remains one of Vietnam’s major tourism markets. The service is expected to reduce reliance on cash and currency exchange for Korean visitors. It could also help Vietnamese merchants and businesses serve Korean tourists without additional payment infrastructure. NAPAS operates Vietnam’s national retail payment infrastructure, while GLN International, part of Hana Financial Group, connects Korean banks and payment applications to overseas payment networks. Nguyen Quang Minh Nguyen Quang Minh, General Director of NAPAS, said, “The cross-border QR payment service between Vietnam and South Korea is a concrete step in the financial integration process, contributing to promoting tourism, trade, and enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnam’s service economy. As the national retail payment infrastructure, NAPAS identifies expanding cross-border QR payment connectivity as a key task to develop a modern, secure payment infrastructure serving citizens and businesses. In the future, NAPAS will continue to expand QR payment connectivity with many countries, aiming to build a modern and secure cross-border payment ecosystem.” The parties also plan to develop two-way payment connectivity to support Vietnamese users making payments in South Korea.   Featured image source: NAPAS   The post Vietnam and South Korea Launch Cross-Border QR Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

DBS has expanded Spark GenAI with a tiered support model aimed at helping Singapore SMEs adopt AI more practically. The programme, run with Enterprise Singapore and the Infocomm Media Development Authority, now groups SMEs into three levels based on their readiness and business needs. DBS cited its 2026 Business Pulse Check Survey, which found that 39 percent of SMEs are seeking expert advice on how to integrate AI into their operations. Chen Ze Ling Chen Ze Ling, Group Head of Corporate and SME Banking, DBS, said, “Our learnings from client conversations over the past year point to growing interest from SMEs in how AI can create real value for their businesses. What many are looking for is practical support on where to begin and how to move forward. This is why we have enhanced our Spark GenAI programme – to reduce the friction around adoption, accelerate implementation and support businesses as they build capabilities that can future-proof them. In doing so, we hope to contribute to Singapore’s greater push to help enterprises put AI to work in meaningful ways.” The first level supports companies starting their AI journey with ready-to-deploy tools for immediate business needs. The second helps SMEs explore targeted use cases through group consultancy and customised solutions. The third is for companies seeking deeper AI integration across their operations, with upskilling, one-to-one consultancy and tailored solutions linked to backend systems. Participating SMEs will receive advisory and training support, including complimentary workshops by IMDA. They will also gain access to IMDA’s Open Innovation Platform, which connects SMEs to a global network of more than 16,000 solution providers. Companies can explore IMDA’s pre-approved AI-enabled solutions, while eligible SMEs may receive grant support of up to 50 percent of eligible costs from Enterprise Singapore. New Playbook Offers AI Readiness Tool for SMEs DBS has also introduced “Implementing AI for Impact”, a new playbook developed with KPMG and supported by SkillsFuture Singapore. Designed for business owners and decision makers, the playbook includes practical use cases, real examples, frequently asked questions and a readiness diagnostic tool. The tool places firms into four stages: AI Observer, AI Explorer, AI Practitioner and AI Trailblazer. The playbook is part of DBS’ SME AI Skills Launchpad and aims to help companies understand AI concepts, assess their readiness and identify practical next steps for adoption. DBS first launched Spark GenAI in 2024 with support from Enterprise Singapore and IMDA to build awareness and accelerate AI adoption among companies.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by DBS The post DBS Expands Spark GenAI to Support Adoption Among Singapore SMEs appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Amazon India has made an investment of over ₹2,800 crore, or about US$300 million, to expand its operations network and support programmes for its associates. The funding will go towards logistics infrastructure, worker safety, health and financial well-being as the company scales its supply chain across India. The investment follows a ₹2,000 crore commitment in 2025, which added 17 fulfilment centres, six sortation centres and 75 last-mile delivery stations. Amazon is also expanding Amazon Now, its quick commerce service, with plans to more than double its micro-fulfilment centre footprint in existing cities and enter new locations this year. Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations for Amazon India and Australia, said the investment will support worker safety, health and financial well-being while the company expands its delivery network. Worker Welfare and AI-Led Operations Amazon is expanding Project Ashray, its network of air-conditioned rest stops for delivery associates. The facilities currently serve more than 150,000 associates each month across 100 locations. The company is also strengthening medical and accident insurance coverage for delivery associates working with its Delivery Service Partners. Through its Samriddhi programme, Amazon helps associates and community members access government benefits, including e-Shram cards, health insurance, pension schemes and educational support. Amazon is also expanding Pratidhi, its scholarship programme for children of associates, and Sushruta, a health and wellness programme for truck drivers and their families. The company is also using AI and machine learning tools to improve road safety and route planning. These include unsafe speed alerts, rest-break prompts and route complexity assessments to support workload planning. Amazon has also updated its Driver app with better navigation for unstructured addresses, clearer earnings information and simpler workflows for delivery associates.     Featured image source: Christian Wiediger on Unsplash The post Amazon India Plans US$300 Million Investment in Logistics, Worker Support appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Backbase has launched its AI-native Banking OS, a platform aimed at supporting agentic banking by connecting customer channels, employee workflows and AI agents in one operating model. The platform sits above a bank’s existing systems, including core banking, payments, cards, risk and customer relationship management systems, rather than replacing them. Backbase said the launch addresses fragmentation in banks, estimating that roughly 80 percent of frontline banking work happens in the gaps between systems, based on insights from more than 120 deployments. The platform gives banks a shared customer view, coordinates work across systems, authorises actions and learns from interactions and outcomes over time. Jouk Pleiter Jouk Pleiter, CEO and Founder of Backbase, said, “‍AI agents need shared context, clear authority, and a unified execution layer. Without it, adding more AI accelerates the fragmentation it was meant to solve.” The AI-native Banking OS includes three new layers. The Intelligence Layer identifies risks, revenue opportunities and churn signals earlier. Nexus, its Semantic Layer, gives employees and AI agents a shared view of customer, account, product and case data. Sentinel, its Authority Layer, checks what each customer, employee or AI agent can do, logs actions and applies bank policies before execution. The platform can support onboarding, credit, servicing and support by reducing manual handoffs across systems. Backbase reported more than US$350 million in revenue in 2025 and serves over 120 financial institutions across 50 countries. Its clients include Navy Federal Credit Union, TD Bank, Techcombank, Standard Bank Group, Eurobank and KeyBank. The AI-native Banking OS is available through Backbase’s global operations and partner network.   The post Backbase Launches AI-Native OS for Agentic Banking appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Singapore banks reduced headcount by nearly 3,000 roles in 2025, with DBS accounting for most of the decline as local lenders restructured operations and took a more selective approach to hiring. DBS, OCBC and UOB had 104,266 employees at the end of 2025, down 2.6 percent from 107,072 a year earlier, The Business Times reported, citing Bloomberg data and the banks’ annual reports. The decline was not presented as a broad retrenchment exercise. The banks instead pointed to factors including integration-related changes, regular staff turnover, contract non-renewals and tighter workforce planning. DBS posted the largest drop, with headcount falling by 1,624, or 3.9 percent, to 39,721. The bank linked the reduction mainly to efficiencies after earlier deals in India and Taiwan, as well as attrition and contracts that were not renewed. The lender completed its acquisition of Citi’s consumer banking business in Taiwan in 2023. In India, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was amalgamated with DBS Bank India in 2020. AI Becomes a Larger Workforce Factor OCBC’s headcount fell by 333, or 1 percent, to 33,323. The bank indicated that recruitment continued where needed, particularly in growth areas, while roles change as technology reshapes the workplace. UOB reduced headcount by 849, or 2.6 percent, to 31,222. The bank linked the change mainly to routine workforce movements and a measured approach to hiring amid a more uncertain global environment. The three banks did not specify whether permanent employees or temporary and contract staff were more affected. They also did not directly attribute the lower headcount to productivity gains from artificial intelligence. AI is nevertheless becoming a bigger part of workforce planning in banking. DBS announced in February 2025 that it expected to reduce about 4,000 temporary and contract roles over three years, mainly through natural attrition, as AI takes on more work. Permanent employees were not affected. The bank has also been investing in AI tools and staff training. OCBC has rolled out AI, digital and data-related programmes for employees, while UOB has encouraged staff to use AI to improve efficiency. Morningstar equity analyst Kathy Chan noted that the headcount reductions could support cost savings for Singapore banks in 2026, although part of those savings may be offset by higher spending on technology and specialised AI talent.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Singapore’s Three Major Banks See Headcount Fall by Nearly 3,000 Roles in 2025 appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Robinhood has moved closer to launching brokerage services in Singapore after receiving in-principle approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The approval marks a step forward in the company’s Asia Pacific expansion, with Singapore serving as its regional headquarters. The approval could lead to a licence once Robinhood Singapore fulfils the conditions set by MAS, provided there are no material adverse developments affecting the applicant. If licensed, Robinhood Singapore would be able to offer services including securities trading, exchange-traded derivatives, custody, product financing and collective investment funds. The approval does not yet allow Robinhood Singapore to provide brokerage services. MAS also reserves the right to withdraw the approval where appropriate. Patrick Chan Patrick Chan, Head of Asia for Robinhood, said, “Singapore’s world-class regulatory environment, high rates of digital adoption, and growing population of retail investors make it the ideal hub for our mission. We see enormous potential to democratise the financial markets for a new generation of investors in Singapore.” Robinhood’s presence in Singapore also includes Bitstamp Asia, its subsidiary that holds a Major Payment Institution licence from MAS. The company is building a local footprint as part of its broader push to expand in Asia Pacific.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by topntp26 via Freepik The post Robinhood Nears Singapore Brokerage Launch With MAS Approval appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Global investment platform Moomoo has launched a new API feature that enables Moomoo agentic investing for retail users. By connecting personal AI agents directly to the platform’s trading infrastructure, the feature removes the coding requirements traditionally associated with algorithmic trading and allows retail investors to build automated trading strategies using natural language commands. The system translates user intentions written in plain English into structured trading logic. Connected AI agents can then monitor market conditions and prepare trades based on user-defined strategies. The feature supports monitoring across markets in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan without constant manual oversight. To address the risks of automated trading, the platform includes a simulated paper trading environment where users can backtest and validate their strategies against historical data before committing real funds. Moomoo has built the feature on its proprietary OpenD technology to keep trading credentials and sensitive account data stored locally, rather than routing them through third-party AI servers. Neil McDonald “We are seeing a fundamental shift where investors are moving from simply accessing information to seeking structured, intelligent ways to act on it,” said Neil McDonald, CEO of moomoo US.       Featured image credit: moomoo press release The post Moomoo API Skills Brings Agentic Investing to Retail Traders appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

MetaComp will use Solana across its cross-border payments, treasury management and tokenisation businesses. The move forms part of its broader push to expand digital asset infrastructure across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. The company, together with affiliate Alpha Ladder Finance, said it is positioning Solana as the primary chain across those core business lines. For cross-border payments, MetaComp will adopt Solana as a preferred chain within its StableX Network, where the StableX Engine routes settlement across fiat and stablecoin rails based on speed, cost and availability. It also plans to expand the range of on-chain treasury yield opportunities available through WealthX, Alpha Ladder’s treasury management platform. These include tokenised money market funds, tokenised deposits, tokenised bonds and tokenised gold. The move will give institutions, payment companies and accredited clients that hold float between settlement cycles another option for placing idle capital into on-chain yield products. MetaComp is also advancing real-world asset token issuance, listing and trading on Solana to help issuers access liquidity pools and distribute wrapped tokens across centralised exchanges and decentralised finance channels in a compliant manner. Dr. Bo Bai Dr. Bo Bai, Chairman and Co-founder, MetaComp, said, “We see Solana as one of the most compelling infrastructure layers for the next generation of institutional digital finance. Leveraging Solana will bring faster, cheaper, and more accessible financial services to the markets that need them most — from cross-border payments corridors in Southeast Asia and Latin America to tokenised capital markets that bridge traditional finance with blockchain innovation.”   The post MetaComp Adopts Solana for Payments, Treasury and Tokenisation appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

JaiDee, a joint venture between DeeAlpha and Seedflex, has launched Pay-As-You-Sell Advance in Thailand, a revenue-linked merchant financing product for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The service offers working capital based on verified sales history, with repayments made through a fractional deduction from future sales instead of fixed monthly instalments. JaiDee said the product operates under Bank of Thailand regulatory standards and uses DeeMoney’s financial infrastructure, while Seedflex provides the technology behind the dynamic repayment engine. Merchants can apply fully online, with pre-approval based on verified sales data. The service is also embedded into e-commerce platforms, point-of-sale systems and payment gateways. It uses a one-time flat fee, with no interest, late fees or hidden charges. Dylan Keota “Thai merchants are ready to grow. What they have lacked is capital that grows with them. JaiDee changes that — by putting financing directly in the hands of merchants at the moment they need it most, with repayments tied to their actual revenue. This is not a loan product. It is a growth partnership.” said Dylan Keota, Co-Founder of JaiDee.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Lifestylememory via Freepik The post Seedflex JV Launches Revenue-Linked SME Financing in Thailand appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

HSBC has appointed Desmond Kuang to the Chief Investment Officer role for Asia in its Private Bank and Premier Wealth business, effective 6 July 2026. In the role, Kuang will be responsible for developing regional investment strategies and themes across all asset classes for HSBC’s private banking and premier clients in Asia, excluding Hong Kong. He is also an active member of the bank’s Global Investment Committee, which periodically analyses and develops asset allocation strategies for clients. Kuang has 20 years of experience in banking and has held leadership roles across asset management and investment research. He is currently Chief Investment Officer, China, and Interim Head of Wealth and Premier Solutions, China. He will remain in those roles until successors are appointed. Based in Singapore, Kuang will report to Willem Sels, Global Chief Investment Officer, HSBC Private Bank and Premier Wealth, as well as Ishan Sarkar, Head of Wealth and Premier Solutions, Singapore.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by HSBC The post HSBC Appoints Desmond Kuang as Chief Investment Officer for Asia appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

ClearBank has signed Tazapay as its first Singapore client, giving the payments firm access to UK and European payment rails. The ClearBank Tazapay Singapore partnership will allow Tazapay to use ClearBank UK’s infrastructure for real-time settlement and compliant fiat interoperability across the UK and Europe. Tazapay is also ClearBank’s fifth non-resident client headquartered in Asia to join this year. Singapore-based Tazapay provides cross-border payments infrastructure for merchants and platforms in more than 170 countries. Its platform supports over 80 local payment methods, multicurrency virtual accounts and local payouts in more than 100 markets. The integration links ClearBank’s clearing infrastructure with Tazapay’s payments platform, supporting the company’s expansion into key European corridors. The deal also comes as Tazapay expands its regulatory footprint. The company holds licences in Singapore, the US, Canada and Australia, with further approvals underway in Europe, the UAE and Hong Kong. Mark Fairless “Supporting Tazapay creates new opportunities for ClearBank to support a business with a rapidly expanding international presence. It is also another major deal for ClearBank with a leading Asian business, and our first with a Singapore client, as we continue to build our global reputation. With our shared desire to blend innovation and regulation, I am sure that this is just the start of what will be a successful long-term partnership.” said Mark Fairless, Group CEO, ClearBank. Rahul Shinghal “This expansion is a major milestone for Tazapay as we continue to share our payments infrastructure across the world. ClearBank’s ability to provide instant payments, access to a wide range of schemes and bank-grade oversight and reliability made it the ideal partner to support this step.” said Rahul Shinghal, CEO and Co-founder, Tazapay.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by alicephoto via Freepik The post ClearBank Signs Tazapay as First Singapore Client for UK, Europe Payment Access appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

CoinGecko has rolled out new market intelligence tools and a partner platform as it moves beyond its core price tracking business. The expansion comes amid a more fragmented crypto market, with more than 36 million tokens, hundreds of blockchains and rising interest in areas such as AI-driven workflows and tokenised real-world assets. The company is also responding to growing demand for more reliable data, context and infrastructure across user-facing applications and developer tools. Bobby Ong “The crypto market has grown increasingly complex in the last three years, but the tools most investors use haven’t kept pace. Better data leads to better decisions, but today, data alone isn’t enough. Context is the missing layer, and that’s what we’re building.” said Bobby Ong, Co-founder and CEO of CoinGecko. The new offering includes three user features: Market Insights, Advanced Charts and an upgraded Portfolio tool. Advanced Charts: Comparing markets with deeper context.   Source: CoinGecko Market Insights brings together market signals, news and social media discussions to explain price movements across coins, categories and the broader market. It uses AI-generated summaries and broader data sources to help users understand what is driving market activity. Advanced Charts lets users compare multiple cryptocurrencies in one view and analyse price movements alongside market capitalisation. The charts can also be shared or downloaded for research and reporting, with market capitalisation comparisons across tokens set to be added in the coming months. The upgraded Portfolio tool allows users to track assets across multiple wallets and portfolios through public wallet addresses. It includes metrics such as profit and loss, average buy price and AI-generated portfolio insights to help users understand what is affecting performance. The feature currently supports EVM-compatible networks, with multichain wallet tracking planned in the coming months. The product remains read-only and non-custodial, allowing users to retain control of their assets. Alongside the consumer tools, CoinGecko has launched a Partner Platform for crypto projects, advertisers and other businesses. The platform allows teams to manage listings, update information, run advertising campaigns and track performance across CoinGecko and GeckoTerminal, while helping projects improve visibility, reach users and grow their communities. It also highlighted Fast Pass as a tool to help projects shorten time to listing. CoinGecko reaches more than 30 million monthly visitors, in addition to millions of users on GeckoTerminal. The company plans to expand the platform over time with more analytics and engagement tools, including data on pageviews, watchlists, comparisons and user behaviour.   The post CoinGecko Expands Into Market Intelligence With New Tools, Partner Platform appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

London-based 9fin is launching its AI-powered debt market intelligence platform in the APAC region. The company is establishing teams in Hong Kong, Singapore, and India to offer real-time bond and loan data to local financial institutions. The 9fin APAC launch follows a US$170 million Series C funding round in March 2026. The platform uses AI to analyse legal documents and track credit signals, allowing users to navigate public and private debt markets. The expansion comes as the region sees an increasing divergence between public and private debt. Primary bond issuance in Asia excluding Japan reached US$42 billion in January before dropping to approximately US$15 billion in March due to geopolitical disruptions, while private credit activity has remained resilient. Steven Hunter “APAC is a complex region and is becoming even more so as private markets expand and geopolitical volatility increases,” said Steven Hunter, CEO and co-founder of 9fin. “The region needs a faster, smarter platform covering the full picture across bonds, loans, private credit and distressed.” The APAC platform covers more than 1,800 issuers and 16,000 instruments. This includes historical deal data dating back to 2003, which was integrated after 9fin acquired the emerging markets and investment-grade debt data provider Bond Radar in March 2025. Over 300 global institutions currently use the platform, including BNP Paribas and KKR. The move into the region marks the next step in the company’s growth, following earlier rollouts across the US, Europe, and Latin America.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by mizkit via Freepik The post 9fin Launches AI Debt Data Platform in APAC Following $170M Series C appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Ant International has upgraded its Alipay+ wallet gateway, with privacy enhancing technology (PET) now used across all critical operations. Alipay+ connects 150 million merchants and 1.8 billion consumer accounts through partner wallets. The company said the update makes it the first live digital payment platform to fully deploy privacy enhancing technology across its payment process. PETs allow data to be processed and analysed while protecting sensitive information. Ant International noted that data handled through Alipay+ is encrypted before processing and remains unidentifiable to the company throughout the payment flow. The update is intended to help partners manage cross-border payments while meeting data privacy and data sovereignty requirements. It also limits the transfer of sensitive information, as only encrypted data is sent for processing. Jiang-Ming Yang “Trust in our systems is integral to our ability to deliver secure and efficient digital services to users globally. This upgrade enables us to safeguard and strengthen that trust, by giving partners and customers assurance that their data remains private throughout the payment lifecycle – even to us.” said Jiang-Ming Yang, Chief Innovation Officer of Ant International. Ant International is also inviting Alipay+ partners to adopt PETs in their own operations, with parts of the codebase to be open sourced in phases. In Singapore, the Personal Data Protection Commission has issued practical guidance based on Ant International’s use of PETs in a proof of concept for AI model training. The project showed how Ant International and an e-wallet partner could jointly train a prediction model for customer engagement without sharing or transferring original customer data. The commission noted that secret shares created during a multi-party computation process would not on their own be treated as personal data by receiving parties in the scenario assessed. It also stated that organisations remain responsible for ensuring each implementation is robust and provides reasonable data protection. Denise Wong Denise Wong, Assistant Chief Executive of Data Innovation and Protection at IMDA and Commissioner of PDPC, said, “We are pleased that Ant International’s participation in IMDA’s PET Sandbox has resulted in the deployment of PETs in Alipay+, a global digital payment solution for many. This is a significant milestone that demonstrates Ant International’s commitment in prioritising trust with their partners and customers. PETs can be valuable tools to unlock new data opportunities, without compromising sensitive information, and we encourage more companies to join IMDA’s Sandbox to pilot the use of PETs.” The move also forms part of Ant International’s broader research work with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Under a master research collaboration agreement, the two are working on trusted AI and secure digital infrastructure for digital payments. The first phase focused on trusted AI and secure infrastructure. The next phase will continue research into PETs for cross-border payment use cases on Alipay+.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by WDnet Studio via Freepik The post Ant International Upgrades Alipay+ With Privacy Enhancing Technology appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Fime has introduced FACT, a trust framework for agentic commerce as AI agents begin taking on a bigger role in payments. FACT, short for Framework for Agentic Commerce Trust, is aimed at helping financial institutions, merchants and other payment players manage transactions initiated by artificial intelligence agents. As AI systems move beyond assisting users and start acting on their behalf, they are beginning to search, negotiate and complete transactions independently. Existing payment and trust infrastructure was not built to govern those decisions, creating new risks around compliance, fraud and accountability. Fime described FACT as a neutral trust layer between AI systems and payment rails. It is designed to provide real-time verification, certification and oversight for agent-driven transactions, rather than being built into a payment network or technology platform. The framework includes intent validation, policy and compliance monitoring, independent trust verification, and transaction-level trust attestation. These functions can help merchants assess AI-initiated transactions, while giving banks and payment networks additional inputs for authorisation, fraud prevention and risk management. Lionel Grosclaude Lionel Grosclaude, CEO at Fime, said, “Agentic commerce is not a future concept. It is already emerging across payment and digital ecosystems. But while we have built systems that allow AI to transact, we have not yet built systems that allow us to trust those transactions at scale. FACT introduces the missing layer: a neutral, continuously verifiable trust infrastructure that enables autonomous commerce to grow safely, transparently and globally. This is critical to mass adoption of agentic commerce so we are actively engaging with the ecosystem already and will share updates on pilots soon.” The framework could improve transparency for regulators and help consumers retain control when delegating decisions to AI. It is also intended to support interoperability and reduce the risk of fragmented, platform-controlled models. The launch builds on Fime’s work in payments and digital identity standards, certification and implementation, extending that experience into AI-driven commerce. Fintech News Singapore interviewed Lionel Grosclaude at Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok. Watch out for the full interview coming soon on our YouTube channel here.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by alexgolovinphotography via Freepik The post Fime Introduces FACT Trust Framework for Agentic AI in Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Thunes has expanded its network to New Zealand with the launch of real-time pay-to-bank transfers. The service allows members of the Thunes Direct Global Network to send New Zealand dollars directly to bank accounts in the country for both consumer and business transactions. Payments can be made through a direct API integration with Thunes or through existing Swift connectivity. The launch extends Thunes’ cross-border payment coverage in Asia Pacific and gives network members another option for sending funds into New Zealand. The service is aimed at faster and more transparent cross-border payments. Thunes linked the rollout to New Zealand’s broader push to modernise its payments infrastructure in support of digital trade and the gig economy. Eugene Chua Eugene Chua, Head of Network, APAC, at Thunes, said, “Asia Pacific is where the Thunes story began, so we are especially pleased to be strengthening our reach in a high-growth market like New Zealand. Geography should never hinder ambition, and we are proud to be the engine driving financial connectivity, providing the infrastructure that supports and empowers businesses and individuals to benefit from international money movement and participate more fully in the global economy.” Thunes’ Direct Global Network is supported by its SmartX Treasury System for real-time liquidity management and its Fortress Compliance Platform, which draws on more than 50 licences worldwide.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by gographicstudio via Freepik The post Thunes Expands Cross-Border Payments Network to New Zealand appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Digital payments have become more of a routine for most Malaysians.  You can use it to clear tolls, parking, meals and even use it to pay your bills. The transaction completes almost instantaneously.  It is so seamless that almost all of the users do not even think about the technology enabling those moments. TNG eWallet started as a digital payment solution for everyday transactions, particularly offline QR payments across transport, retail and small merchants.  Today, it has evolved into a broader financial and lifestyle platform that integrates payments, financial services and everyday services within a single app, operating at a scale that reaches the majority of Malaysian adults. Behind this user experience lies a complex reality: the need for a database infrastructure capable of handling the unpredictable volatility of a national digital economy.  For TNG Digital, this meant moving beyond traditional databases to a solution designed for massive scale and resilience. Reliability at that scale depends on careful engineering decisions made long before a payment is processed. With over 26 million verified users, representing 85% of Malaysian adults, relying on its platform, TNG Digital operates in an environment where system performance directly affects everyday life. Even a brief slowdown can disrupt thousands of transactions within minutes. Keeping services stable during peak demand has therefore become a central responsibility for the company’s technology leadership. For Leslie Lip, the CTO of TNG Digital and his team, the challenge extends beyond building new features. For him, sustaining performance under constant growth requires a disciplined approach to infrastructure. Leslie Lip “The challenge for us is not to focus on just being okay … but the day-to-day challenge is more on how we are able to sustain such a large volume of transactions, especially during peak hours.” As adoption increased across Malaysia, usage patterns grew more complex. Payment spikes began to occur without warning, often triggered by promotions, seasonal campaigns or government initiatives. Maintaining reliability under those conditions became essential, pushing TNG Digital to rethink how its core systems were designed.  Faced with the limitations of legacy infrastructure, the organisation knew it needed a partner capable of delivering the financial-grade reliability required for a large-scale digital backbone. This was not just a technical upgrade; it was a strategic decision to future-proof the platform against exponential growth. It was this rigorous evaluation of next-generation distributed databases that led TNG Digital to choose OceanBase, the technological cornerstone that has supported various fintech and banking companies, including Alipay in China, to achieve exponential growth. When Rapid Growth Began to Strain the System Periods of intense demand tend to reveal structural limits that remain hidden during normal operations. For TNG Digital, that realisation came during a national digital stimulus campaign, when users attempted to access incentives at the same time. Like many platforms during large-scale national campaigns, traffic surged rapidly, response times slowed, and systems that had previously handled growth comfortably began to show signs of stress. That incident marked a turning point. “That is the first time that we realised that the current design, the current architecture and the current tech platform that we are doing is actually not enough and it is far from the expectations towards where we want to go.” This moment of realisation highlighted a fundamental truth: incremental fixes were no longer viable. So, engineers within TNG Digital examined the underlying architecture more closely. Their findings suggested that incremental adjustments would only delay the next disruption and because of that, a more fundamental redesign was necessary. Tracing the Source of System Bottlenecks Early troubleshooting efforts focused on application performance and network behaviour, plus a deeper analysis of their systems, eventually pointed to a more persistent constraint. The database layer, which handled the majority of transaction requests, had become the primary bottleneck. High transaction volumes meant the system was constantly reading and writing data. Plus, as concurrency increased, response times began to stretch. “Most of the time, the performance issue of the bottleneck always comes from the database.” Addressing that bottleneck became critical for maintaining service reliability. Users expected payments to work instantly, regardless of how many people were online at the same time. Any delay risked undermining trust in the platform. Operational expectations added another layer of complexity. Software updates were released frequently, and each change had to be implemented without interrupting transactions. Scheduled downtime was not considered acceptable for a system used throughout the day.  Meeting that standard required infrastructure capable of supporting constant change while maintaining consistent performance. In other words, this bottleneck was not just a technical hurdle; it was a barrier to business growth. Redefining the Role of the Core Database As transaction volumes continued to climb, the technology team began reassessing what a modern payments database needed to deliver. The goal was not simply to increase speed. Reliability, scalability and operational flexibility had to improve at the same time. Several priorities emerged during internal planning sessions. Systems needed to distribute workloads automatically, adapt quickly to traffic spikes and remain operational even if one cloud provider experienced an outage. Managing those risks required a more resilient architecture. “We cannot depend on just one cloud service provider for a critical system.” The evaluation process led the team to adopt OceanBase as the platform supporting its distributed database environment. One of the immediate advantages was the ability to partition data automatically across multiple nodes. That capability reduced the manual effort previously required to manage database scaling. Handling peak demand became significantly more predictable once data distribution was automated. “Manual sharding was impossible at this scale. OceanBase’s native distributed architecture eliminated this bottleneck automatically.” The shift also enabled a multi-cloud deployment strategy. Instead of relying on a single infrastructure provider, the platform could operate across different environments without redesigning applications. That flexibility strengthened system resilience and reduced operational risk. Maintaining Reliability While Releasing New Features Digital platforms must evolve continuously, yet reliability cannot be compromised in the process. Maintaining that balance requires infrastructure capable of supporting upgrades without interrupting active transactions. Earlier database systems often locked data tables during structural changes. Even minor modifications could temporarily block new transactions, forcing teams to schedule updates during low-traffic periods. That approach became increasingly impractical as usage expanded. For a digital wallet processing thousands of transactions per second, downtime is not an option. OceanBase’s high-concurrency processing engine was the game-changer here. The new architecture allowed engineers to perform updates while transactions continued to flow through the system. To validate the system’s resilience, the team conducted stress tests simulating extreme workloads. “We actually stress tested 40,000 transactions in one second … and during this time we did table modifications … it’s proven that it will not jam the table, so the transactions can continue to go on.” This capability allows TNG Digital to innovate at speed, releasing new features without ever disrupting the flow of money—a critical advantage in the fast-paced fintech landscape. Testing discipline remained a critical safeguard. Every code change, regardless of size, underwent performance validation before deployment. “Every single release, we actually run performance tests, no matter how minor or major.” Scaling Infrastructure Without Letting Costs Spiral Rapid growth inevitably increases data storage requirements. Regulatory obligations often require financial institutions to retain transaction records for extended periods, which can significantly expand infrastructure costs over time. Managing that growth required careful planning.  Beyond performance, the business case for the new infrastructure hinged on cost efficiency. OceanBase’s advanced compression technology directly addressed this financial burden. Engineers introduced a data lifecycle strategy that separated active records from historical information. Older data was archived while remaining accessible for compliance and auditing purposes. This approach reduced the processing load on live systems and helped maintain predictable operating costs. Compression technology provided an additional efficiency benefit by reducing storage consumption. “We have 10 gigs of data, but once we put inside the database, it can help you to compress 50% or even more than that.” This efficiency allows TNG Digital to retain critical historical data for compliance and analytics without letting infrastructure costs spiral, turning a technical upgrade into a clear financial win. Building Infrastructure for a More Digital Southeast Asia Digital adoption across Southeast Asia continues to accelerate as consumers rely more heavily on mobile payments and online services. Financial platforms increasingly operate as essential infrastructure rather than optional convenience tools. In Malaysia, digital wallets already support daily activities ranging from transportation to retail purchases. Reliability expectations have therefore risen significantly.  System failures are no longer isolated technical incidents. They affect businesses, commuters and public confidence in digital services. Leslie believes infrastructure planning must reflect that reality. “The wallet that we are doing now is critical system.” Technology teams across the region are facing similar challenges. Systems must scale quickly, recover from disruptions and support new services without compromising performance. Distributed architectures and multi-cloud deployments are becoming central to that effort. Platforms capable of adapting to rising demand will be better positioned to support the next phase of digital transformation. It is for this reason that OceanBase is increasingly emerging as a preferred database solution. The Engineering That Keeps Payments Running Behind every seamless payment is a network of engineers monitoring performance, refining systems and preparing for the next surge in demand. Reliability does not happen automatically. It is the result of constant testing, careful planning and ongoing investment in infrastructure. For Leslie and his team, the objective remains straightforward even as the platform continues to expand. He said that the reason behind this is not because of shortcuts or quick wins, but the consistency required to keep systems running reliably at scale. “How we actually expand so fast and push so many new products … is really because we work very, very hard,” Leslie uttered. This partnership between TNG Digital and OceanBase is not just about technology; it’s about building the resilient backbone of Malaysia’s digital future. While users enjoy the seamless experience, TNG Digital is now leveraging this robust foundation to accelerate its fintech ambitions. Growth will continue. User expectations will rise. Transaction volumes will increase. Maintaining stability under those conditions will depend on infrastructure designed to evolve alongside the business. That work rarely attracts attention from users, yet it is what makes digital payments feel effortless every single day. Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore based on an image by mkmult via Freepik. The post Scaling the Digital Economy: How TNG Digital and OceanBase Redefined Financial Resilience in Malaysia appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Nium has partnered with Coinbase to let businesses send, receive and settle USDC across its global payments platform. The integration is now live for Nium clients, with Coinbase providing the stablecoin payment infrastructure, liquidity, wallet services and regulated custody. The partnership gives clients a way to send and receive stablecoins and convert USDC into fiat for payouts through a single platform that connects onchain and traditional payment rails. Prajit Nanu Prajit Nanu, CEO and Founder of Nium, said, “The future of money movement is multi-rail. Fiat and onchain infrastructure will increasingly work together, not in isolation. This partnership with Coinbase makes that future operational today – giving our clients a single platform to send, receive and spend stablecoins at scale ahead of a fundamental shift in how money moves.” The setup is designed to reduce the complexity of managing stablecoin payments, liquidity, onramps, wallet infrastructure and regulatory requirements. Through Coinbase’s APIs, Nium is extending USDC payout capabilities across its network of more than 40 licences and over 190 countries. The offering could help banks, fintech firms and global businesses reduce the need to prefund accounts across multiple markets. Businesses can fund cross-border payouts in USDC and settle in either USDC or fiat at the point of payout, which could help them manage treasury liquidity more efficiently. The partnership also supports USDC-backed card programmes. Businesses with stablecoin balances can use those funds for card spending, allowing them and their customers to transact at merchants globally where cards are accepted. Alec Lovett Alec Lovett, Head of Infrastructure Products at Coinbase, said, “Stablecoins are transforming how money moves globally, and Coinbase is committed to enabling their use at an institutional scale. By partnering with companies like Nium, we are extending stablecoin utility into real-world payment flows and helping institutions seamlessly connect digital asset liquidity with global fiat infrastructure.” The announcement follows Nium’s recent launch of its stablecoin card issuance platform and expands its broader stablecoin push across payments, liquidity and card services.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by watercolor_vect via Freepik The post Nium Taps Coinbase to Expand USDC Payouts Across Global Network appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Gautam Gorki has joined JPMorganChase as Managing Director and Chief Analytics Officer for Asia Pacific. He brings more than two decades of experience in financial services, data and digital transformation across Asia. Gautam joins the bank from Deloitte, where he served as Partner and Lead of AI and Data for the Financial Services Industry in Southeast Asia. During his nearly three-year tenure, he was responsible for strategic growth, client engagement and capability development, including leading Deloitte’s first generative AI implementation for a major Southeast Asian bank. Prior to that, Gautam spent more than nine years at DBS Bank, where he led the bank’s Analytics Centre of Excellence. His responsibilities included driving the enterprise analytics agenda and enterprise strategy and execution, including three large transformation programs for the CEO. Earlier in his career, Gautam held senior roles at Accenture and Oracle Financial Services, focusing on banking transformation, internet and mobile banking, data strategy and large-scale technology programs. In a post on LinkedIn, Gautam described his focus in the new role as embedding AI into the business, scaling high-value AI solutions with responsible governance and building high-performing teams to drive growth. Gautam Gorki Gautam Gorki, Managing Director and Chief Analytics Officer for Asia Pacific, JPMorganChase added, “Stepping into this role, I am energized to lead the next wave of analytics where my focus is on embedding AI in business, scaling high-value AI solutions with responsible governance while building high-performing teams to drive business growth. Most importantly, I am a firm believer that as we enter the era of agentic AI, the real magic lies in uniting autonomous workflows with human ingenuity to unlock extraordinary value. Excited to continue learning from and contributing to the incredible talent across this vibrant region.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by noob via Freepik The post JPMorganChase Names Gautam Gorki as Chief Analytics Officer for APAC appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

dLocal, a cross-border payments platform connecting global merchants to emerging markets, announced the launch of Stablecoin Full at Money20/20 Asia today. The dLocal stablecoin solution enables merchants to collect, convert, and pay out funds using stablecoins across high-growth economies. The company shared that Stablecoin Full enables global merchants to accept and send payments in stablecoins, fund and settle transactions in digital assets, and optimise their treasury operations across 44+ emerging markets. This is done through a single API. Marcelo Dutilh, the Product Lead for Stablecoins at dLocal, shared, Marcelo Dutilh “Emerging Markets are where the next wave of digital consumers is coming from, but moving money in and out of these economies is still complex. With Stablecoin Full, we treat stablecoins as just another local payment method inside dLocal’s platform.” The solution aims to support the alignment of stablecoin flows with relevant local regulations, data requirements, and compliance standards. dLocal shares that merchants would be able to accept stablecoins directly at checkout, choose how they get settled, in USD or stablecoins, send payouts globally in stablecoins and more via the dLocal stablecoin solution. Featured image edited by Fintech News Singapore based on image by thanyakij-12 on Freepik The post dLocal Launches Stablecoin Full Solution for Merchants Across 44+ Emerging Markets appeared first on Fintech Singapore.