CTBC Bank showcased how its AI-driven platforms, zero-trust cybersecurity model and regulatory technology breakthroughs are positioning it as a leader in Taiwan’s digital and financial ecosystem.

China’s AI and digital finance evolution reflects decades of institutional learning, policy alignment and platform maturity. From Alipay’s trust revolution to AI-driven risk systems, the 2025 China AI Innovation Study Tour showcased how banks, techfins and regulators now innovate within an integrated ecoystem.

China’s AI innovation model blends entrepreneurial dynamism, policy alignment and technological self-reliance. As observed during the 2025 China AI Innovation Study Tour, platforms, banks and regulators have built an ecosystem integrating finance, data and governance — offering lessons but limited replicability abroad.

From banks and FMIs to exchanges and asset managers, institutions are embedding stablecoins and tokenised assets into regulated market architecture. TOKEN2049 Singapore 2025 marked a shift from experimentation to integration, as digital finance matures under clear regulatory guardrails.

The TAB Global World’s 100 Best CIW Banks Ranking 2025 shows that leadership is shaped less by profitability and more by strategic focus. Global giants dominate through assets and reach, while regional champions prove that efficiency and digital capability can rival size in defining success

Overall balance sheet growth in Asia Pacific and North America slowed amid weak credit demand, cautious lending and regulatory prudence, while European banks rebounded modestly and Middle Eastern banks saw accelerated expansion, fueled by government-backed investment projects.

TAB Global’s latest research highlights a banking industry navigating two powerful currents. On one hand, the world’s largest, strongest and best corporate, investment and wholesale (CIW) banks are defined by balance sheet scale, resilience and digital engagement. On the other, the next wave of innovation—tokenisation, stablecoins and digital assets—is beginning to reshape financial infrastructure. Together, these developments reveal how banks are positioning themselves for a future in which size, strength and technology are inseparable.

Every three years, the TAB Global Leadership Achievement Awards take stock of the individuals reshaping the banking industry. Unlike many recognition programmes, these awards look beyond financial performance to measure how leaders translate vision into execution over a meaningful cycle. The 2025 cohort of 15 Best Bank CEOs and Best Managed Banks, alongside two lifetime honourees and a global Bank CEO awardee, offers an inspiring snapshot of how leadership is being redefined in a time of disruption and uncertainty.

China’s AI and digital finance evolution reflects decades of institutional learning, policy alignment and platform maturity. From Alipay’s trust revolution to AI-driven risk systems, the 2025 China AI Innovation Study Tour showcased how banks, techfins and regulators now innovate within an integrated ecoystem.

China’s AI innovation model blends entrepreneurial dynamism, policy alignment and technological self-reliance. As observed during the 2025 China AI Innovation Study Tour, platforms, banks and regulators have built an ecosystem integrating finance, data and governance — offering lessons but limited replicability abroad.

China’s AI momentum stems from physical, digital and institutional infrastructure, open cross-border orientation, and platform-scaled entrepreneurship. During a study tour, delegates saw frameworks operationalising AI, privacy-preserving data pipes, indigenous tech stacks, and compliance-led innovation that scale inclusion, resilience and connectivity

At Sibos Frankfurt 2025, leading technology partners revealed how they are rebuilding the infrastructure of global payments, trade and post-trade operations. By combining artificial intelligence, cloud-native platforms and open interoperability, they are enabling financial institutions to deliver secure, resilient and programmable services across borders and asset classes.

At Sibos Frankfurt 2025, global transaction banks revealed how they are embedding artificial intelligence, standardisation and tokenisation to transform payments, trade and treasury. From real-time clearing and interoperable platforms to ESG-linked finance and shared ledgers, the industry is converging on a new digital foundation for global commerce.

Michael Wen, executive vice president of Cathay United Bank, explains how the bank is embedding sustainability across its corporate banking business, supporting clients through the transition to net zero, and building momentum in green and social finance across Asia.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited (“ICBC (Asia)”) was awarded Best Custodian Bank in Hong Kong for its exceptional custody services in 2024, surpassing HKD1.35 trillion ($173 billion) in assets under custody and expanding its global network across over 90 markets. With robust risk management, advanced infrastructure and scalable solutions, the bank continues to lead the market by supporting institutional clients across diverse investment structures and jurisdictions.