Mastercard is scaling responsible AI across its global payments network through privacy-by-design, ethical guardrails and accountability structures. Derek Ho, deputy chief privacy, AI & data responsibility officer, explains how these foundations help high-risk systems move from pilot to production safely and in line with regulatory expectations.

Violas Xiao, CEO of XTransfer Singapore, explains how AI, data and ecosystem partnerships are shaping the company’s cross border payments infrastructure as it expands across ASEAN.

Standard Chartered is deepening the operational rigour of its AI programme, strengthening governance, consolidating platforms and sharpening measurement practices as it scales high-value use cases across 41 markets. Alvaro Garrido outlines how the bank is refining the discipline and architecture needed for enterprise-wide deployment.

Mark Kai, CFO of BOC Life, shared at the Hong Kong FinTech Week that the company is accelerating digital transformation across operations, platforms and customer services, aiming to lead Hong Kong’s competitive, cross-border life-insurance market through enhanced accessibility, efficiency and regulatory readiness.

At Hong Kong FinTech Week 2025, Maya Group CTO Alfred Lo explained how AI is expanding financial access and education in the Philippines, where most people remain outside of the formal banking system.

Danielle Szetho, head of digital asset portfolio and governance at Standard Chartered, details the bank’s efforts to embed regulated digital asset capabilities within its core businesses.

Lee Zhu Kuang, managing director and group head of UOB’s Innovation Group, outlines how the bank is preparing for tokenised assets and emerging digital money models as regional initiatives progress toward more structured forms of implementation.

MetaComp’s co-president Tin Pei Ling explains how its StableX Network addresses the structural inefficiencies and trust deficits in cross-border settlement, advancing institutional-grade infrastructure aligned with the Singapore Fintech Festival 2025 agenda on the new payments and settlement layer.

Kirit Bhatia, chief digital assets officer at Banking Circle, explained how the bank combined traditional banking infrastructure with tokenised assets to strengthen cross-border payment capabilities for institutional clients.

Isadora Arredondo, global policy director at Hedera, outlined how the network’s technical design, governance structure and regulatory engagements aim to meet institutional expectations as digital asset models progress through pilots and early-stage adoption.

First Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Punjab, Stanbic IBTC, Absa, Al Rajhi Bank and BDO Unibank were recognised at The TAB Global Finance Awards 2025 for excellence in retail banking, SME finance, cash management, trade finance and corporate banking.

Vincent Loy, assistant managing director (technology) and chief technology officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, outlines how the regulator is tightening operational resilience standards, elevating AI governance expectations and accelerating quantum-safe readiness amid evolving risks.

At The TAB Global Finance Awards 2025, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Hatton National Bank, Metrobank and TPBank were recognised for outperforming peers in financial strength, operational resilience and sustainable growth across Asia’s key banking markets.

At Hong Kong FinTech Week 2025, CEO Tim Shen highlighted LianLian Global’s global expansion, its use of AI in payments innovation and its approach to supporting Chinese enterprises in new markets.

At the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, Liu Tianwei, co-founder and CEO of StraitsX, demonstrates how regulated digital money infrastructure is taking shape across Asia, enabling stablecoins to connect blockchain innovation with compliant, real-world payments.