Peak XV Partners has raised US$1.3 billion across three new funds targeting India and the broader Asia Pacific region. The capital spans its India Seed Fund, India Venture Fund and an APAC-focused fund, according to a LinkedIn post by the firm. Peak XV added that it still holds substantial uninvested capital in its existing Growth Fund, allowing it to back companies from early to later stages. The funds are the firm’s first under the Peak XV brand following its 2023 split from Sequoia Capital. It said many of its limited partners are global endowments and foundations. Peak XV pointed to growing momentum in artificial intelligence across India and APAC, alongside continued depth in sectors such as fintech and consumer technology. The firm said it sees long-term opportunities driven by expanding markets, technical talent and increasing global ambition among founders. The firm invests across seed, venture and growth stages and has backed technology companies in the region for more than two decades.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Peak XV Partners via LinkedIn The post Peak XV Closes US$1.3 Billion for India, APAC Investments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

DBS and Granite Asia have kicked off a three-year partnership with the closing of a US$110 million AI-focused IPO fund targeting Asia’s next wave of tech listings. The fund, distributed exclusively to DBS wealth clients, invests in the initial public offerings of AI-driven companies in Asia. Granite Asia said the vehicle drew investors from Southeast Asia, South Asia and Europe. It provides exposure at the point of listing and supports the region’s expanding AI sector. The fund is the first in a planned series of investment products under the partnership. Granite Asia will structure additional funds for DBS clients and offer co-investment opportunities. One upcoming product will focus on private capital aimed at accelerating technology-enabled transformation in Asian businesses through non-dilutive funding, while giving wealth clients access to asset classes typically reserved for institutional investors. DBS will provide financing and advisory services to Granite Asia’s funds and portfolio companies, including subscription financing, corporate loans, mergers and acquisitions advisory, bond issuances and IPO preparation support. Granite Asia said it has guided five portfolio companies to public listings and filed 10 additional IPO applications in the past six months. Tan Su Shan Tan Su Shan, CEO of DBS, said, “This partnership, the first of its kind for DBS with an asset manager, reflects our heritage as a development bank and our commitment to power Asia’s next generation of global category leaders. It is a clear expression of our One Bank approach, where we bring together our wealth, institutional banking and global financial markets teams to serve clients seamlessly across their lifecycle. By combining DBS’ capabilities with Granite Asia’s deep founder relationships and track record in backing innovative Asian champions, we can offer differentiated investment opportunities to our clients and create new pathways for ambitious founders to expand internationally.” Jenny Lee Jenny Lee, Senior Managing Partner of Granite Asia, said, “Granite Asia brings a unique investment lens focused on technology and transformation, while DBS contributes unrivalled banking strength, capital markets expertise and regional networks. Together, we aim to support founders and companies as they scale across borders and mature into enduring global leaders.”   The post DBS and Granite Asia Launch US$110 Million AI IPO Fund appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Luxembourg has launched NextFin Asia, a new fund that will invest directly in Southeast Asian fintechs focused on financial inclusion. The fund will support the third edition of the Catapult: Inclusion SE Asia programme run by the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology. It is being launched in partnership with the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade and ADB Ventures, the venture arm of the Asian Development Bank. The move shifts the programme from a pure acceleration model to one that combines capital and institutional support. For the first time, participating startups will receive direct investment through the NextFin Asia Fund alongside strategic guidance to help scale across ASEAN. The 2026 edition will launch in Luxembourg in June and continue at the Singapore Fintech Festival in November. Since its inception, the Catapult programme has supported 115 fintech startups from emerging markets in Africa and Asia, helping expand access to financial services for underserved communities. Alex Panican “The NextFin Asia Fund is the result of the trust from Luxembourg’s Government and ADB’s towards the Catapult SE Asia program. And it definitely reflects the amazing quality of the entrepreneurs and partners taking part in it. I am confident that NextFin Asia will become the key catalyst for inclusive finance and innovation in Asia. And we are very excited at the LHoFT to take part in such an endeavor,” said Alex Panican, Deputy CEO of the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT).     The post Luxembourg Expands ASEAN Fintech Push With New Inclusion-Focused Fund appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

DBS will introduce a 12-hour cooling period for selected high-risk banking activities from 7 March, as part of its latest measures to curb scams. The Straits Times reported that customers were notified via e-mail that digital banking users will no longer be able to instantly add a new transfer recipient, raise daily transfer limits for local or overseas transactions, or update contact details. Instead, these changes will only take effect after a 12-hour delay. The bank said the safeguard is intended to give customers time to detect and stop unauthorised activity. If a new payee is added or transfer limits are raised, transactions under the revised settings will only proceed once the cooling period has lapsed. Alerts will be sent to customers’ registered contact details during this window, allowing them to review and report suspicious requests. DBS has introduced several anti-scam measures over the past year. Customers must activate a toggle within the banking app before adding cards to mobile wallets, with the setting automatically switching off after 10 minutes. In June 2025, the bank rolled out real-time fraud surveillance for accounts with at least S$50,000, blocking or placing a 24-hour hold on transactions exceeding half of the account balance. Scam losses remain substantial. Police data released in August 2025 showed nearly S$500 million lost in the first half of the year, with close to 20,000 cases reported. Phishing scams were the most common, accounting for 3,779 cases and S$30.4 million in losses, more than double the S$13 million recorded in the same period in 2024. Many cases involved unauthorised card transactions after victims disclosed their card details and authentication codes to scammers. Banks are already required under the Shared Responsibility Framework, introduced in 2024, to enforce a 12-hour cooling period for digital token activation. The framework also mandates real-time alerts for higher-risk activities, including changes to account details, increased limits and new payees, as well as logins to e-wallets on new devices.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore/Malaysia, based on image by DBS The post DBS to Impose 12-Hour Cooling Period for High-Risk Account Changes from 7 March appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Sumsub has launched Summy, a large language model-based AI Copilot embedded across its platform to support compliance officers, risk managers and fraud investigators. The tool allows users to query case data in plain language and generate audit-ready outputs grounded in Sumsub data within existing workflows. It builds on Summy’s earlier role as an AI assistant introduced last year in the company’s Case Management solution and now extends across broader compliance and fraud processes. The release comes as fraud grows more sophisticated. Sumsub’s Identity Fraud Report 2025–2026 found that multi-step, resource-intensive AI-driven schemes rose 180 percent year on year globally in 2025. Meanwhile, regulations such as the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and Singapore’s Protection from Scams Act are raising expectations for transparency, documentation and timely decision-making. Andrew Novoselsky “Unlike autonomous AI systems that make opaque decisions, Summy is designed as a supporting AI agent for compliance teams, not a substitute for them. All decisions remain under human control, without sacrificing reliability, traceability, or accountability. With Summy and our recently launched AI Agent Verification, we are investing in an AI ecosystem where agents are explainable, tied to real accountability, and built to help businesses stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraud.” said Andrew Novoselsky, Chief Product Officer at Sumsub. Sumsub said Summy operates within thresholds set by compliance teams, aligning outputs with internal policies rather than replacing human judgement. The company added that the Copilot can cut manual analysis and improve case handling productivity by up to three times, on average. Summy can retrieve product information including setup flows and troubleshooting guidance, generate visual analytics from platform data, provide structured regulatory input and summarise complex cases into concise overviews highlighting key risk signals and suggested next steps.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Sumsub The post Sumsub Rolls Out AI Copilot Across Compliance and Fraud Workflows appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Pine Labs will embed OpenAI’s API capabilities into its AI-native infrastructure and global merchant ecosystem to enhance how merchants manage payments and operational workflows. The collaboration comes as India’s digital payments market continues to scale, with annual volumes exceeding 180 billion transactions. The country operates the world’s largest real-time payment system, and its fintech sector is projected to reach US$1.5 trillion by 2026. Pine Labs said the integration marks a shift from deterministic, rule-based systems toward technology that can interpret context and support more complex financial decision-making. The company described this as adding a reasoning layer to its commerce stack, enabling systems to weigh probabilities rather than rely solely on fixed instructions. AI-driven processes will operate within Pine Labs’ existing enterprise security framework, including data isolation, encryption, audited controls and human oversight where required. B Amrish Rau, CEO of Pine Labs, said, “For decades, commerce has been built on passive systems that simply follow instructions. At Pine Labs, we are moving beyond that era to build an active, intelligent layer for business. Our work with OpenAI ensures that our infrastructure is no longer just a participant in a trade, but a driver of efficiency and growth. We are building the first agentic stack for the next generation of the global economy.” Oliver Jay “The next phase of AI is about moving from information to action. By combining our advanced reasoning capabilities with Pine Labs’ deep merchant infrastructure, we are helping to create a powerful engine for innovation that turns complex financial workflows into seamless, agentic experiences at scale.” said Oliver Jay, Managing Director, International, OpenAI. Pine Labs also plans to extend elements of the AI stack to its developer ecosystem, allowing third parties to build applications on its platform. The company said the initiative is intended to support merchants from SMEs to global businesses as they adopt more advanced digital tools for payments and financial management.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by rawintanpin via Freepik The post Pine Labs to Add OpenAI Models to Merchant Ecosystem appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Small and medium enterprises sit at the core of Asia Pacific’s economic engine, yet they remain among the most underserved segments in formal finance. Across the region, SMEs account for more than 97% of all businesses and contribute up to 53% of national GDP in some markets, according to the Asian Development Bank’s 2024 SME Monitor. But why did we mention that SMEs are among the most overlooked sectors in formal finance in the same sentence when they are the driver for the region’s economy? Well, despite their economic importance, access to credit remains constrained. Mastercard estimated in 2024 that the SME credit gap in the Asia Pacific stands at US$2.5 trillion, a figure echoed by the International Finance Corporation’s 2025 MSME Finance Gap Report, which warns that demand for financing continues to outpace supply. That’s a couple of years ago. The number these days could be very different. Traditional banking models have now long struggled to serve this segment at scale. Legacy technology stacks, fragmented regulatory frameworks, and manual workflows continue to slow credit decisions, even at a time when fintech players redefine expectations around speed, automation, and accessibility. Joe Udomdejwatana, Business Development Director for Asia Pacific at Axe Finance, believes banks remain stuck in incremental digital transformation, and they have a lot to do. Speaking during the Singapore FinTech Festival, he explained why he believes, Lending 3.0 represents a fundamental shift in how financial institutions can modernise credit decisioning and reach the region’s underserved enterprises. The Illusion of Digital Transformation in SME Lending Banks often highlight digitalisation initiatives as evidence of progress, but Joe argues otherwise. He said, Joe Udomdejwatana “What banks do at the moment is actually transforming digital from [a] manual process.” Joe pointed out the example like how relationship managers often still gather SME documents manually before entering them into CRM systems, with analysts relying heavily on Excel for financial spreading. The underlying issue, he explained, is that digital tools have been layered onto legacy workflows rather than replacing them with streamlined processes. Many banks continue to stitch together multiple decisioning engines, data warehouses, and third-party systems in an attempt to automate lending, but the resulting complexity often slows down decision-making instead of accelerating it. Fragmented technology stacks can create operational bottlenecks that make it difficult for banks to scale SME lending efficiently, even when demand is strong and data is readily available. Why Legacy IT Budgets Keep Banks Stuck Plus, the constraints of fragmented, legacy infrastructure are not only just technical but also financial. Forrester estimates that traditional banks spend around 70% to 80% of their IT budgets just on maintaining existing systems alone. Which tends to mean that they often leave limited capacity for innovation. Composable architecture is often discussed as a solution for that, and the Business Development Director for Asia Pacific at Axe Finance agrees. But he did put an emphasis that modernisation must occur without disrupting core banking operations. And what does he mean by that? Joe gave a perfect analogy. “Think of fully composable as something … like you’re renovating a room in a house, [that] you’re still living in it, and you don’t want it to disrupt your lifestyle while [the renovation is taking place],” he said. Rather than replacing core systems outright, banks can add modular capabilities on top of their existing infrastructure. The layered approach enables institutions to roll out new capabilities while preserving system stability, a non-negotiable requirement in heavily regulated financial services environments. The Black Box Problem in AI-Driven Credit Artificial intelligence has become central to a lot of segment, and modern credit decisioning is one of it. However, it lacks explainability which remains a major concern for regulators and risk leaders. Opaque AI models create accountability challenges, particularly when decisions must be justified to regulators and internal risk teams. “Regulators will not accept [when you tell them] that you approve [a loan] because of AI,” Joe smiled while he gave this example. To address such issue, he advocates hybrid models that combine AI with traditional statistical approaches. @fintechnewsnetwork Banks Can No Longer Hide Behind AI Regulators will never accept “because the AI said so” for credit decisions. So, risk officers are now required to have a transparent and auditable trail to ensure compliance. Is your institution prepared for the era of explainable AI? #Fintech #AI #Banking #RegTech #AxeFinance ♬ original sound – Fintech News Network – Fintech News Network Rather than relying entirely on machine learning, banks should also ensure decisions remain traceable and auditable, with clear explanations for each approvals or declines. Why? Because explainability has increasingly becoming a regulatory requirement rather than just an optional feature, as automated decisioning becomes more widespread across financial services. Regulation as a Structural Barrier Across Asia Regulatory fragmentation adds another layer of complexity for banks operating across Asia Pacific. “In this region, I think the reason is because of [the] diversity,” Joe mentioned. What he means by that is not only because of the divergent nature of the region, but also because each market is governed by its own central bank and regulatory framework, creating significant variations in workflows, credit scoring requirements, and compliance processes. Hence, coordinating compliance across multiple jurisdictions adds operational strain for regional banks, particularly when regulatory changes must be implemented quickly. “One challenge is … how do we actually centralise all that at the region … to allow changes [to be made] real time and rapidly,” he added. But Joe has an answer to that. He admits that platforms that support multi-entity frameworks could help banks manage regulatory requirements centrally. Which all can be done while still complying with local mandates, reducing the operational burden created by fragmented compliance processes. Empowering Business Teams With No-Code Tools Beyond these issues though, Joe Udomdejwatana sees a growing shift towards empowering business users such as compliance officers, risk managers, and product teams to configure systems directly. He believes that no-code tools will allow policy updates, workflow changes, and regulatory simulations without any form of intervention from the developer. Not only that, decentralising configuration capabilities can significantly shorten time to market and allow banks to respond more rapidly to regulatory changes. Joe said that giving business teams direct control over rules and regulatory simulations helps institutions reduce dependence on long development cycles while increasing agility in lending operations. Embedded Lending as a Massive Opportunity Embedded finance also represents a major growth opportunity, particularly within B2B ecosystems. In Asia Pacific alone, embedded lending is estimated to represent a US$78 billion market. Speed however, will be the defining factor. “Embedded financing lives and die basically on speed of decisioning in seconds, not days,” said Joe. Traditional banks often struggle to match fintech agility, where loan approvals can happen in seconds rather than days. He strongly believes that composable architecture and AI-driven models can help banks compete by enabling faster decisioning and seamless integration into digital platforms. Joe is also on the side that technology can give banks the capabilities to compete with fintech players. However, success will also depend on how well banks prepare their operations and integrate into digital ecosystems. Lending 3.0 and the Need for Intelligent Adaptability For what lies for the future, Joe describes the next phase of credit as Lending 3.0, driven by real-time data and adaptive decisioning systems. “I would say the term is intelligent adaptability,” he indicates. Modern lending platforms must ingest, interpret, and act on data continuously rather than relying on periodic assessments. Banks must feed real-time performance data, behavioural signals, and application information directly into their risk models to maintain accuracy. Such transition will now help to redefine lending from periodic underwriting assessments to continuous risk monitoring, requiring platforms capable of sensing changes, interpreting data, and acting in real time. Flexibility and agility will become essential as long as lending models evolve towards real-time intelligence. From Legacy Maintenance to Intelligent Banking Ending his thoughts, Joe believes that banks must move beyond maintaining legacy systems and focus more on becoming intelligent service providers. All of the things he mentioned beforehand, the composable platforms, explainable AI, embedded finance, and real-time adaptability, all represent a roadmap for banks seeking to close the SME credit gap and compete with fintechs. Technology alone, however, will not solve the structural challenges. Banks must be able to rethink workflows, regulatory coordination, and decisioning models in order to truly unlock Asia’s vast SME potential. Joe Udomdejwatana highlighted that the region’s credit gap remains one of the largest untapped economic opportunities. Whether traditional banks can evolve quickly enough will determine who captures it in the next decade. Watch the video as Joe and I unpack the limitations of basic digitisation and explore what true Lending 3.0 strategies could mean for banks across Asia Pacific. The post Banks Have Been Digitising Lending, but Still Haven’t Transformed It appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Two in three retail customers who started investing with OCBC in 2025 chose gold or silver as their first asset class, replacing equities and unit trusts as the usual entry point. The number of precious metals investors rose 2.5 times year-on-year in 2025, reflecting stronger demand for paper gold and silver. As at end-January 2026, new investor numbers were three times higher on a month-on-month basis despite higher precious metal prices. Younger investors accounted for a significant share of the increase. In 2025, the number of investors under 40 doubled from the previous year and made up about half of all precious metals investors. Those in their 20s recorded the fastest growth in gold and silver holdings. OCBC said many first-time investors viewed precious metals as an accessible way to begin building wealth while hedging against geopolitical uncertainty, inflation concerns and shifting expectations around global interest rates. The bank expects demand to remain firm into 2026, supported by underlying structural factors and sustained industrial demand. Through the OCBC app, customers can buy paper gold or silver from 0.01 oz, priced at under S$65 for gold and about S$1 for silver as at 12 February 2026. The service, introduced in 2021, allows customers to invest digitally at any time. Premier Banking and Premier Private Client customers can also invest via relationship managers and client advisors. Tan Siew Lee Tan Siew Lee, Head of Group Wealth Management at OCBC, said, “Precious metals, especially gold, continue to be supported by solid structural factors, and will remain important as a source of diversification in portfolios. Typically, once an asset becomes mainstream, hype can often creep in. The recent volatility is a reminder that sharp price swings can happen. Young investors may feel tempted to chase quick gains, but true investing is about building long-term wealth, not speculation. While precious metals can play a stabilising role in a portfolio, allocations should stay measured. Gold should sit alongside a well-balanced investment mix, in line with one’s risk tolerance and preferences.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by OCBC The post Gold, Silver Replace Equities as Preferred Entry Point for OCBC Retail Investors appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Sea and Google will work together to develop and scale AI applications across digital financial services, e-commerce and gaming. The expanded partnership builds on existing collaborations between the two companies, including the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program with Shopee and Garena’s Free Fire League on Google Play. In digital financial services, Sea’s Monee unit will collaborate with Google on the development of the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), an open framework designed to support agent-based payment experiences. Monee will provide input on the protocol’s design to ensure it is robust and secure for Southeast Asia’s digital financial services landscape. The companies may later explore piloting agentic payment features across their platforms. In e-commerce, Shopee and Google plan to explore an AI-driven shopping agent that integrates across both platforms. The prototype is intended to improve product discovery, user engagement and transaction processes. In gaming, Garena will assess how Google’s AI tools can enhance player experiences and improve the productivity of game development and operations. Garena may also participate in selected early access programmes tied to Google’s AI research. Forrest Li Forrest Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sea, said, “AI is the next big technology revolution, and we believe that it has huge potential to positively transform our business and create value in our markets. This partnership with Google on AI will drive innovation in the business application of the technology at scale, and allow us to make AI more accessible to the digitally underserved in our markets.” Sanjay Gupta Sanjay Gupta, President, Google Asia Pacific, said, “We are pleased to deepen our partnership with Sea, a company that shares our vision for an AI-driven future. By combining Google’s AI leadership with Sea’s innovative ecosystem, we’re building products that don’t just solve today’s challenges but define the future of gaming, commerce, and financial services. And we’re developing these solutions responsibly, with user privacy and safety at the core. Together, we are accelerating the adoption of this transformative technology and unlocking the immense economic potential of Southeast Asia’s digital landscape.”     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by user23413193 via Freepik The post Sea and Google to Develop AI Applications Spanning Payments, E-Commerce appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Singapore-based wealthtech startup Chocolate Finance grew assets under management to nearly S$1.1 billion in its first full commercial year, though it remained loss-making as it invested heavily in expansion. Regulatory filings reviewed by DealStreetAsia show the company generated S$5.3 million (US$4.2 million) in revenue and recorded a net loss of S$6.55 million (US$5.2 million) for the 16-month period ended 30 April 2025. The reporting window spans 1 January 2024 to 30 April 2025 and follows a change in its financial year-end from December to April, making the figures not directly comparable with the previous 12-month filing ended 31 December 2023. Assets under management scaled to nearly S$1.1 billion during the period, while the platform’s user base crossed 100,000. Performance fees accounted for S$4.61 million of revenue, with the remainder from card interchange and foreign exchange income. The firm charges customers only when returns are generated, with fees accrued daily and crystallised annually. Marketing and incentives totalled S$3.9 million, IT development and maintenance costs reached S$2.9 million, and employee costs stood at S$3.02 million, reflecting continued investment in growth. Total equity declined to S$6.55 million from S$13.1 million as of 31 December 2023, while liabilities rose to S$5.78 million, including working capital facilities and convertible instruments. Growth Momentum Tempered by March Withdrawal Pause During the reporting period, Chocolate Finance temporarily suspended its instant withdrawal feature in March 2025 due to high volumes, extending processing times to three to 10 working days. The surge reportedly followed a personal finance influencer publicly withdrawing funds after the company discontinued AXS bill payment support tied to its rewards programme. Founder and CEO Walter de Oude acknowledged communication missteps in implementing the changes. In July, the company raised US$15 million in a Series A+ round led by Nikko Asset Management, with participation from Peak XV Partners, Prosus Ventures and Saison Capital. It also secured regulatory approval to operate in Hong Kong, marking its first market outside Singapore. Chocolate Finance, which launched a pilot in August 2023 and commenced commercial operations in July 2024 after obtaining regulatory licences, said it is targeting profitability by 2027. De Oude told DealStreetAsia that revenue expectations for 2026 are higher than originally planned and that the fresh capital will support expansion into Hong Kong, the UAE and Japan over the next two years, alongside a corporate account product in Singapore expected in the second quarter of 2026.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by mrsiraphol via Freepik The post Chocolate Finance Scales to S$1.1 Billion AUM, Targets Profitability by 2027 appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Indian fintech IDfy raised ₹476 crore (approximately US$52.3 million) to expand its identity verification and risk management business. The round was led by Neo Asset Management Pvt. Ltd. and included a mix of primary capital and secondary share sales. Existing investors Blume Ventures, Analog Capital, Elev8 Venture Partners, IndiaMART InterMESH Limited and Kae Capital also participated. IDfy said the fresh capital will support international expansion, strategic acquisitions and further development of its digital trust and privacy offerings. Founded over a decade ago, IDfy provides identity verification, digital onboarding and risk management solutions to enterprises across sectors including banking, fintech and e-commerce. The company now serves over 1,500 enterprise clients and processes more than 500 million checks annually. Its product suite includes tools for know-your-customer and know-your-business compliance, background screening, fraud detection and onboarding workflows delivered through APIs and SaaS platforms.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by user28313935 via Freepik   The post Indian Regtech Firm IDfy Raises Over US$52 Million appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

The National Payments Corporation of India has partnered with NVIDIA to advance sovereign AI model capabilities tailored to the country’s digital payments ecosystem. The collaboration centres on building a payments-native AI foundation model aligned with India’s regulatory and data sovereignty requirements. NPCI will use the NVIDIA Nemotron family of open models, including open weights, training data and recipes, as part of its development approach. The initiative marks a shift from use-case–specific AI tools toward a scalable foundational layer designed for high-volume, low-latency payment environments. It combines NPCI’s experience operating population-scale, real-time payment systems with NVIDIA’s AI and accelerated computing platforms. The next phase will explore architectures such as Mixture of Experts to manage multilingual datasets and agent-optimised systems at scale. NPCI said the platform is intended to support trust frameworks, grievance redressal and operational intelligence, while maintaining safeguards around data security, sovereignty and responsible AI governance. The move builds on NPCI’s pilot of the UPI Help Assistant, supported by FiMI, the Financial Model for India, a fine-tuned Small Language Model developed for the payments ecosystem to improve grievance resolution for users. Vishal Kanvaty Vishal Kanvaty, Chief Technology Officer, NPCI, said, “Through this collaboration with NVIDIA, NPCI aims to advance AI capabilities designed specifically for India’s payments ecosystem. Drawing from our experience of operating population-scale, real-time payment systems, this initiative is designed to create a sovereign, payments-native AI foundation that strengthens trust, resilience, and security, while remaining aligned with India’s regulatory and data sovereignty requirements. As we evolve from use-case–led AI deployments to a foundational and scalable AI layer, our focus remains on enabling the broader ecosystem to innovate responsibly through robust governance frameworks and secure, future-ready infrastructure.” Vishal Dhupar “India has one of the most advanced digital payment systems in the world that operates at population scale where trust, resilience, and performance are fundamental. With accelerated computing and AI, we aim to strengthen India’s fintech infrastructure while enabling responsible innovation across the ecosystem,” said Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Asia South, NVIDIA.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by wahyu_t via Freepik The post NPCI Taps NVIDIA to Build Sovereign AI Model for India’s Digital Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Sri Lanka has launched its Digital Nomad Visa program, allowing remote workers to live on the island for up to 12 months. The visa program is intended to attract foreign professionals who work for overseas clients, and position Sri Lanka as a preferred long-stay digital destination. Officially launched in February 2026, Sri Lanka’s Digital Nomad Visa grants holders legal residency for one year in the country, with the option to renew. Holders are permitted to open and maintain personal bank accounts in Sri Lanka, rent or lease property, enroll dependent children in international or private schools, and access Sri Lankan telecommunications, Internet, utilities, co‑working spaces, information and communication technology (ICT) programs, and tourism related events organized by government or private sector entities. Holders of the Digital Nomad Visa are not allowed to engage in local employment within Sri Lanka, or earn income from domestic sources, and must refrain from any political or disruptive activities. Furthermore, any changes in employment, income or dependents must be notified to the Department of Immigration and Emigration within 30 days. Eligibility and financial requirements Sri Lanka Digital Nomad Visa Sri Lanka’s Digital Nomad Visa is available to foreign nationals who are 18 years or older, and who work exclusively for clients outside the country. The primary applicant must demonstrate a minimum monthly income of US$2,000, and if the number of dependents exceeds two, an additional US$500 per month must be shown for each extra dependent. This income threshold makes Sri Lanka’s Digital Nomad Visa one of the most accessible in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, comparable to Malaysia’s DE Rantau program, which requires a minimum annual income of US$24,000 for IT professionals and related fields. Launched in October 2022, the DE Rantau program targets digital professionals exploring Southeast Asia. It’s administered by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, and is valid for three to 12 months and renewable for another 12, allowing up to 24 months total. Fees are MYR 1,000 (around US$252) for the main applicant and MYR 500 per dependent. In comparison, Bali’s E33G visa demands proof of at least US$60,000 annual income from foreign sources, plus US$2,000 in savings held for three months. It provides one year of legal residence with multiple-entry privileges. Meanwhile, Japan’s Digital Nomad Visa, launched in March 2024, requires an annual income of a minimum of JPY 10 million (US$65,000). It permits holders to live and work remotely from Japan for up to six months, and includes special provisions for accompanying spouses and children. Other digital nomad visa programs in APAC, include Thailand’s Destination Thailand Visa, which offers a five-year, multiple-entry visa and allows for stays of up to 180 days per entry, extendable to 360 days, and Taiwan’s Digital Nomad Visitor Visa, which allows foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries to extend their stay duration for up to six months with no requirement to leave Taiwan. Applying to Sri Lanka’s Digital Nomad Visa To apply to Sri Lanka’s Digital Nomad Visa, candidates must complete the visa application form, and submit a photocopy of their passport that’s valid for at least six months, along with two recent passport-sized photographs. Applicants must produce a clean criminal‑record certificate issued within the past three months, international health insurance coverage valid in Sri Lanka, proof of the required monthly income for the applicant and any dependents, as well as a recommendation from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Digital Economy. They must also provide a marriage certificate for their spouse, birth certificates for their dependents, a complete security clearance form, and a medical clearance report. All materials are to be submitted via the Department of Immigration and Emigration website. The visa is valid for one year, and is renewable annually. It costs US$500 per person. The rise of digital nomads Sri Lanka’s Digital Nomad Visa joins a growing list of digital nomad programs that have emerged around the world. These programs are designed to attract high-earning professionals, bring income into the country without displacing local workers, and stimulate local economies through spending on housing, food, and services. According to UN Tourism, about half of all global destinations now offer digital nomad visas. These destinations are targeting a segment estimated to include over 35 million individuals who collectively spend about US$787 billion each year.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by rawpixel.com and pranavkr via Freepik The post Sri Lanka Launches Digital Nomad Visa appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Cloudflare and Mastercard have formed a strategic partnership to develop cybersecurity tools tailored for small businesses, government agencies and critical infrastructure providers. The collaboration combines Mastercard’s attack surface monitoring capabilities from Recorded Future and RiskRecon with Cloudflare’s application security portfolio. The aim is to help organisations identify previously unknown internet-facing assets, assess their cyber posture and automate remediation of hidden risks. As companies layer in new vendors, outsourced services, shadow IT and legacy systems, their external exposure often expands without full visibility. This creates blind spots that attackers can exploit. The joint solution is designed to give organisations a unified view of their attack surface and allow them to map, prioritise and address risks from a single platform. Through Recorded Future, users can discover public-facing domains, software stacks and exposed infrastructure. Organisations will receive a continuously updated A–F security rating based on checks across software vulnerabilities, authentication weaknesses, exposed infrastructure and third-party risks. These findings will appear within Cloudflare’s dashboard, prioritised by asset criticality and severity. Security controls such as web application firewall protections, encryption and automated defenses can be activated directly through the same interface to mitigate identified risks. Stephanie Cohen Stephanie Cohen, Chief Strategy Officer at Cloudflare, said,  “For small businesses, critical infrastructure, and governments, a cyberattack is more than a technical hurdle. It is an existential threat. Often considered ‘target rich but resource poor,’ these organisations are strategic targets and are often attacked at a greater rate than global enterprise or Fortune 500 organisations. This partnership brings together the best in cyber defense so that these underserved organisations don’t fall victim to the growing number of cyberattacks.” Johan Gerber Johan Gerber, Global Head of Security Solutions at Mastercard, said, “With small businesses accounting for about half of the world’s GDP, closing the resilience gap is critical to securing the foundation of our global economy. Our collaboration with Cloudflare propels our mission to secure the digital ecosystem in partnership with governments and other key players, empowering businesses to focus on what matters most: their productivity and growth.”       Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by 3Dsss via Freepik   The post Cloudflare, Mastercard to Offer Cybersecurity Tools for Small Businesses appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Payoneer plans to roll out stablecoin features as part of its push to streamline cross-border money movement for small and medium-sized businesses. The new capabilities will be embedded within the Payoneer platform and powered by Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure provider owned by Stripe. The integration will allow businesses to securely receive, hold and send stablecoins as part of their day-to-day global financial operations. Payoneer said the features will provide end-to-end stablecoin workflows directly within its platform. A wholesaler will be able to receive customer payments in stablecoins, while a marketing agency can use stablecoins to pay overseas suppliers or contractors. Funds can be held in stablecoins or withdrawn to a local bank account when required. Payoneer expects to launch the stablecoin capabilities in select markets in the second quarter of 2026, with broader availability planned later in the year as functionality and geographic coverage expand. Businesses can register interest for early access through the company’s website. The company serves nearly two million customers worldwide and said the new capabilities will operate within its existing compliance framework, which is built to support cross-border SMBs. John Caplan “No-friction money movement is essential for global business. In partnering with Bridge, we’re bringing stablecoin into Payoneer’s trusted financial stack in a way that prioritizes compliance, speed, security, and simplicity. This is about rethinking how money moves across borders for real businesses, not as an experiment, but as a scalable financial capability.” said John Caplan, Chief Executive Officer of Payoneer. Zach Abrams “Bridge was built to abstract away the hardest parts of blockchain infrastructure so companies like Payoneer can focus on building great financial experiences. Together, we’re making stablecoins a practical and secure option for every day cross border money movement.” said Zach Abrams, Co-founder and CEO of Bridge.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Freepik The post Payoneer to Roll Out Stablecoin Capabilities for International Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.

Payoneer plans to roll out stablecoin features as part of its push to streamline cross-border money movement for small and medium-sized businesses. The new capabilities will be embedded within the Payoneer platform and powered by Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure provider owned by Stripe. The integration will allow businesses to securely receive, hold and send stablecoins as part of their day-to-day global financial operations. Payoneer said the features will provide end-to-end stablecoin workflows directly within its platform. A wholesaler will be able to receive customer payments in stablecoins, while a marketing agency can use stablecoins to pay overseas suppliers or contractors. Funds can be held in stablecoins or withdrawn to a local bank account when required. Payoneer expects to launch the stablecoin capabilities in select markets in the second quarter of 2026, with broader availability planned later in the year as functionality and geographic coverage expand. Businesses can register interest for early access through the company’s website. The company serves nearly two million customers worldwide and said the new capabilities will operate within its existing compliance framework, which is built to support cross-border SMBs. John Caplan “No-friction money movement is essential for global business. In partnering with Bridge, we’re bringing stablecoin into Payoneer’s trusted financial stack in a way that prioritizes compliance, speed, security, and simplicity. This is about rethinking how money moves across borders for real businesses, not as an experiment, but as a scalable financial capability.” said John Caplan, Chief Executive Officer of Payoneer. Zach Abrams “Bridge was built to abstract away the hardest parts of blockchain infrastructure so companies like Payoneer can focus on building great financial experiences. Together, we’re making stablecoins a practical and secure option for every day cross border money movement.” said Zach Abrams, Co-founder and CEO of Bridge.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Freepik The post Payoneer to Roll Out Stablecoin Capabilities for International Payments appeared first on Fintech Singapore.