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April 22, 2026
On the web
Singapore’s Metacomp Rolls Out AI Agent Governance Framework for Financial Institutions, Regulators
Blockhead
"Singapore-based financial services firm MetaComp has launched what it describes as the first governance framework for AI agents operating in regulated financial services, introduced at Money20/20 Asia. Alongside the framework launch, MetaComp announced the expansion of its AgentX agentic financial services Skill ecosystem, described as the first such ecosystem from a licensed financial institution, available from today across Claude, Claude Code, OpenClaw, and other compatible AI platforms via the Model Context Protocol."
April 1, 2026
On the web
Stablecoin Payments Go ‘Invisible’ in Southeast Asia as Crypto Card Business Surges
CoinDesk
"StraitsX, a Singapore-based company, has seen rapid growth in its stablecoin card program, with a 40x surge in transaction volume and an 83x increase in card issuance between 2024 and 2025. The company's infrastructure powers stablecoin-backed cards for partners like RedotPay, which processed over $2.95 billion in card volume in 2025, and enables seamless transactions in local currency. StraitsX aims to make its stablecoin layer invisible, with plans to expand its presence in Southeast Asia and beyond, and to enable machine-to-machine micropayments on the Solana blockchain with its upcoming stablecoins, XSGD and XUSD."
March 25, 2026
On the web
FOMO Pay Launches AI Soundbox and Targets AI-Powered Merchant Portal
Asian Banking & Finance
"FOMO Pay, a Singapore-headquartered payment institution, has launched the FOMO AI Soundbox and announced its plans to roll-out a comprehensive payment suite empowered by artificial intelligence (AI). FOMO AI Soundbox, described as a “compact payments acceptance device”, supports cards, QR payments, e-wallets, and stablecoins through a single terminal. It also establishes the groundwork for the AI-powered merchant intelligence capabilities FOMO Pay is developing."
November 24, 2025
On the web
OCBC Rolls Out In-App Calls for Retail Customers
Asian Banking & Finance
OCBC is rolling out in-app calls on its digital banking apps, enabling customers to call the bank’s contact centre even when they travel outside Singapore. OCBC said that it expects in-app calls to be especially valuable to customers who need urgent assistance while abroad, such as in cases of suspected credit card fraud or account security concerns. The in-app capability also prevents impersonation fraud, OCB said, noting that security questions and SMS One-Time Passwords (OTPs) to verify customers who call banks’ hotlines may be increasingly susceptible.
October 16, 2025
On the web
Monetary Authority of Singapore Launches BLOOM Initiative to Extend Settlement Capabilities
Monetary Authority of Singapore
"The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced a new initiative – BLOOM (Borderless, Liquid, Open, Online, Multi-currency), to extend settlement capabilities offered by financial institutions. Through BLOOM, MAS will collaborate with the financial industry to enable settlement in tokenised bank liabilities and well-regulated stablecoins, whilst effectively managing risks in the rapidly evolving digital settlement asset landscape, through standardised approaches."
October 13, 2025
On the web
Monetary Authority of Singapore Launches PathFin.ai Knowledge Hub to Boost AI Adoption in Finance Sector
TNGlobal
"The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has launched the PathFin.ai knowledge hub to boost the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial sector. The knowledge hub features an initial set of successful use cases, curated by industry participants in key areas like sales and marketing, customer operations, risk management, and engineering and tech."
September 30, 2025
On the wires
OKX Singapore Launches Stablecoin Payments at Local Grabpay Merchants
Reuters
"Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has launched a service allowing its customers to make payments in stablecoins to merchants on ride-hailing operator Grab's payments platform in Singapore. This marks the first time that GrabPay merchants in the city-state will accept direct stablecoin payments, highlighting the increasing adoption of the digital asset in the country."
August 26, 2025
On the web
Standard Chartered and Ant International Collaborate on AI-Powered Treasury and FX Management Solutions
Ant International
"Standard Chartered and Ant International announced a new collaboration to introduce an AI-Powered Treasury and FX Management Solution. Standard Chartered and Ant International are active Pathfinder institutions in MAS’s financial sector PathFin.ai programme, and this collaboration is a leading example of how AI is augmenting Singapore’s financial sector services."
August 19, 2025
On the web
Volkswagen Singapore Now Accepts Crypto Payments for Cars and Services
CCN
"Volkswagen Group Singapore has enabled crypto payments for cars and services thanks to a partnership with FOMO Pay. VGS highlighted that digital-native consumers increasingly expect speed, convenience, and payment choices. The German firm is not the only automaker that accepts crypto for its vehicles."
May 22, 2025
On the web
DCS Card Centre and Visa Launch Fiat-Crypto Top-up Card in Singapore
IBS Intelligence
"Singapore’s DCS Card Centre has partnered with Visa to introduce the DeCard Visa card, a micro–credit card that can be topped up using either fiat currency or digital assets. The product is currently available in Singapore and forms part of DCS’s wider strategy to modernise payments and extend practical use cases for digital assets."
May 15, 2025
On the web
DeCard by DCS and Visa Offers Secure, Frictionless, Real-World Utility — Micro Credit Card Fueled by Fiat or Digital Assets
Macau Business
"DCS Card Centre, a financial institution that pioneered cashless payments as Diners Club Singapore, and Visa, have launched DeCard Visa card — a regulated micro credit card with a flexible and high limit, allowing users to top up via fiat or with digital assets. DeCard Visa card delivers flexibility, control, and transparency across both traditional and digital funding sources."
May 8, 2025
On the web
Singapore Central Bank Addresses Delays on Cross-Border Payments
The Banker
"The success of new cross-border, real-time payment systems require co-operation and some creative thinking to overcome initial challenges. “We introduced an asynchronous flow to bridge this gap, where a new confirmation was introduced, which indicated that a transfer has been relayed that, in turn, allowed banks to inform their customers that their payment is on its way,” said Loh, deputy managing director for corporate development at MAS."
April 9, 2025
On the web
Paypal’s Xoom Partners With Tenpay Global To Offer Cross-Border Remittances to Weixin
Street Insider
"Weixin Pay users can now receive cross-border transfers from Xoom, a PayPal service and a pioneer in digital remittances. This new partnership between Tenpay Global, Tencent's cross-border payment platform, and Xoom allows Weixin Pay users to receive money directly into their Weixin Pay Wallet Balance or bank accounts linked to Weixin Pay through Xoom or PayPal's mobile app and website."
March 14, 2025
On the web
Rise of Digital Wallets Integrating Payments and Digital Identities Across Asia
Biometric Update
Digital payment wallets are advancing financial transactions, with China’s Alipay and WeChat Pay, India’s Paytm and PhonePe, and Indonesia’s GoPay leading the way in mobile payments. Some countries are now linking digital identity and payments, including China Alipay’s digital ID integration, Singapore SingPass’ financial services extension, and India’s Aadhaar-linked united payment interface (UPI) wallets to create a single digital landscape.
February 12, 2025
On the wires
Singapore Regulator, Banking Association to Set Up New Payments Entity
Reuters
"Singapore's financial regulator and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) said they will set up a new entity to consolidate the administration and governance of national payment schemes and further grow them. They will also collaborate with MAS to develop Singapore's national payments strategy and ensure a safe, efficient and innovative payments infrastructure."
December 5, 2024
On the web
Singapore to Launch Two New e-Payment Solutions in Mid-2025 to Phase Out Cheques
Fintech Singapore
"The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) announced that two new electronic payment solutions will be launched in mid-2025. The Electronic Deferred Payment (EDP) and EDP+ solutions will offer businesses and individuals more convenient ways to make payments while phasing out the use of cheques."
October 28, 2024
On the web
Singapore Requires Banks, Telecoms to Prevent Scams
Bank Info Security
"Singapore regulators gave banks six months to institute real-time detection tools for blocking impersonation scams or else assume liability for stolen funds. A finalized framework published Thursday also shifts liability onto island-nation telecoms unless they block fraudulent SMS messages."
October 21, 2024
On the web
DBS [Singapore] Rolls Out Blockchain-Powered Banking for Institutions With DBS Token Services, Marks New Milestone in Financial Services [Video]
DBS
"DBS announced the introduction of DBS Token Services – a new suite of banking services that integrate tokenisation and smart contract-enabled capabilities with its banking services for its institutional clients. DBS Token Services unlocks instant, 24/7 real-time settlement of payments by integrating the bank’s Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible permissioned blockchain, its core payment engine and multiple industry payment infrastructures."
September 19, 2024
On the web
Singaporean Banks Roll out Face Verification for Digital Token Setup
Asian Banking & Finance
"Major retail banks in Singapore will progressively roll out the Singpass Face Verification (SFV) service over the next three months. SFV will be triggered in higher risk scenarios to strengthen authentication methods for a digital token setup, according to an announcement by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS)."
August 30, 2024
On the web
Singapore Plans Law to Restrict Banking Transactions of Scam Targets
Reuters
"Singapore's home ministry said on Friday that it will introduce a law in coming months to grant police the power to temporarily restrict the banking transactions of targets of scams who refuse to believe they are being duped."
July 30, 2024
On the web
CBDC Solution From G+D Proves Viability for Cross-Border Payments
GI-DE
"Recently the Central Bank of Ghana announced the successful completion of the first proof of concept within the Project DESFT (Digital Economy Semi-Fungible Token) which demonstrated the use of digital credentials for international trade and cross-border payments. It proved the viability of the Ghanaian eCedi in cross-border transactions between Ghana and Singapore."
June 21, 2024
On the wires
Singapore Highlights Banks as Posing Highest Money Laundering Risk
Reuters
"Singapore's banking sector, including wealth management, poses the highest money laundering risk in the city-state, the government said in a money laundering risk assessment report published on Thursday."
May 28, 2024
On the web
Singapore Businesses Look To Cash in on Cross-Border Payment Links as Visitor Numbers Rise
CNA
"As the number of visitors to Singapore continues rising post-pandemic, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is expecting more and higher-value cross-border payment transactions."
April 18, 2024
On the wires
Finmo Introduces Direct Real-Time Payment (RTP) Integration in Australia and Expands Global Team
PR Newswire
"Finmo Tech Pte. Ltd announced its direct integration with Australia's New Payment Platform (NPP) as an identified institution through its partner bank, Australian Settlements Limited (ASL)."
April 8, 2024
On the web
Singapore Tourism Board & PhonePe to Boost UPI Payments for Indian Visitors
IBS Intelligence
"Singapore Tourism Board and PhonePe enter a two-year strategic partnership to promote UPI payments for Indian visitors in Singapore."
April 2, 2024
On the web
Singapore Amends Payment Services Act to Cover Token Custody and Transfers
Cointelegraph
"On April 2, Singapore’s central bank said it would bring several activities within the scope of the Payment Services Act. This includes providing custodial services for digital payment tokens, facilitating token transfers and exchange and the facilitation of cross-border money transfers."
March 20, 2024
On the web
Grab’s Singapore Users Can Now Use Crypto to Make Payments
Coindesk
"Grab is letting users make payments via cryptocurrencies, the super app's crypto payments partner, Triple-A, said in a statement."
February 22, 2024
On the wires
Visa Singapore Innovation Center Ushers in a New Era of Payments
PR Newswire
"Visa announced the opening of its transformed Singapore Innovation Center, a dedicated space for partners, clients and businesses in Asia Pacific."
January 12, 2024
On the web
Major UPI Apps Enabled to Receive Remittances from Singapore via UPI-PayNow Linkage
NPCI
"The cross-border linkage between Unified Payments Interface (UPI) & PayNow is enabling Indians to receive instant, secure, and cost-effective remittances from Singapore-based Indian diaspora directly into their bank accounts."
December 7, 2023
On the web
Chinese Visitors to Singapore Can Use Digital Yuan CBDC
Ledger Insights
Today the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced an agreement with the People’s Bank of China to allow tourists from either country to use the pilot digital yuan, also known as eCNY.