Key highlights and lessons from Asia’s leading fintech gathering
The Thredd team
The 2025 Singapore FinTech Festival brought together over 65,000 participants to explore how tokenisation, AI and cross-border payments will shape the next decade of finance. This article reviews the top themes, announcements and implications for issuing, payments and fintech platforms.
One of the dominant themes at SFF 2025 was tokenisation — asset- and liability-tokenisation frameworks that are progressing beyond experimentation into early commercial use. Regulators and industry players alike emphasised three vital building blocks: standardised tokens and interoperable networks; safe settlement assets; institutional-grade infrastructure.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) confirmed it is working on a stable-coin regime and exploring tokenised deposits and tokenised central bank digital currency use cases in collaboration with global peers.
AI surfaced repeatedly across panels and exhibition floors. MAS launched its new platform BuildFin.ai to accelerate collaboration between research institutes, tech providers and financial institutions.
Responsible-AI frameworks were also on display, with regulators issuing consultation documents around lifecycle controls, policy oversight and governance for AI in financial services.
Among use cases discussed were multi-currency cash-management powered by AI, agent-based commerce, and intelligent claims processing for insurance.
SFF 2025 reinforced that cross-border payments remain a priority. Noteworthy announcements included the Singapore-Cambodia QR link allowing Cambodian travellers to pay in Singapore via their bank account; and COR-payment pilots spanning Africa and Asia via QR networks.
On the wholesale side, MAS discussed the BLOOM project (Borderless Liquid Open Online Multi-currency) involving 16+ banks and fintechs exploring tokenised deposits and regulated stable-coins.
Speaking at SFF, MAS Managing Director Chia Der Jiun described Singapore’s journey: from a sandbox-oriented environment to a global fintech hub home to over 1,800 fintech firms.
The ecosystem now spans robo-advisors, multi-currency mobile wallets, SME-lending platforms and advanced fraud and risk solutions.
Financial institutions have established more than 50 innovation centres and over 30 AI competency centres in Singapore, signalling a deep commitment to building global-scale fintech capabilities from the city-state.
For fintech issuers, processors and platform providers, SFF 2025 illuminated several take-aways:
Token-enabled rails are increasingly mission-critical. Issuers should begin mapping how tokenised assets, deposits and stable-coins fit their stack.
AI is no longer a side initiative but an operational imperative. From underwriting and risk to agentic commerce and smart UX, AI integrates into core infrastructure.
Cross-border rails must evolve beyond SWIFT-led models. QR-linkage, tokenised deposits and multi-currency wallets are moving into pilot and early-deployment phases.
Market-readiness is now broader. Standards, governance, token protocols and enterprise-grade networks are progressing — meaning those who wait may fall behind.
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