Industry leaders converged in Seoul to explore the transformative potential of emerging technologies like AI and blockchain, and highlighted the imperative for banks to navigate challenges and seize opportunities for innovation

Greg Palmer, head of strategy and host at Finovate conference series, analyses the developments in the US financial industry, highlighting how intense competition for deposits drives the adoption of fintech among banks, and allows digital wallets to prosper.

Mike Dickinson, COO and CPO of Brankas, emphasised the critical importance of consent and authentication in secure data exchange, highlighting the company's dedication to establishing open-finance security standards and growing its market presence in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Under chairman Cho Yong-byoung, the Korea Federation of Banks will focus on enhancing industry ethics and innovation, aiming to combat misrepresentation while fostering trust and transparency

Damien Dugauquier, co-founder and CEO of iPiD, and Alain Raes, founding partner and chief commercial officer, explained iPiD's pioneering role in scaling global payment pre-validation, as the payment industry transitions to faster, safer, and more secure cross-border transactions.

SBI Singapore’s CIO discusses YONO’s global expansion in US and Singapore, and its integrated super app that caters to over 60 million registered users and wielding significant impact

Mastercard’s Karthik Ramanathan, senior vice president for cyber and intelligence solutions in Asia Pacific, said that the company’s focus is on forming partnerships for enhanced cybersecurity and threat intelligence.

Pedro Sousa Cardoso, Chief Digital Officer, outlines the bank's ambitious journey - from revamping its core infrastructure to cloud-native solutions and innovative apps like Liv - solidifying its leadership in the MENA region and beyond.

Senior executives of the bank discussed their advancements in the Philippines in line with their goal of providing a comprehensive financial services platform for 30 to 40 million customers

Eli Shoshani, head for Asia Pacific at Bottomline Technologies, emphasised the rapid advancements and innovations in artificial intelligence and other technologies reshaping the payment industry, particularly in Asia.

Cloud-based payments outperform legacy processors in terms of agility, enabling customers to launch new products in weeks. Paymentology co-founder Abe Smith discusses the company’s impact in Asia Pacific, including how it supports clients’ speedy and cost-effective entry into the market, allowing them to expand operations worldwide without complex contracts

Yam Ki Chan, vice president of strategy and policy at Circle, discussed the stablecoin landscape, and how Singapore is taking the lead on the fintech stage in Asia Pacific and the world. Chan served as director for global and Asia economics at the US White House National Security Council, and has since turned his attention to digital assets to lead Circle, the issuer of USDC stablecoin.

The bank achieved profitability in less than five years, with co-founder and CEO Coen Jonker highlighting the company’s success in South Africa and the Philippines while outlining its expansion strategy in Vietnam and Indonesia

OCBC's Head of Group Data Office, Donald MacDonald, reveals the bank's transformative journey integrating generative AI, exemplifying an inclusive approach, innovative tools like 'Buddy' and 'Wingman,' and a pragmatic focus on tangible benefits, cost efficiency, and strategic deployment, emphasizing the evolving landscape from first-generation models to advanced systems.

Priyanka Gargav of Adyen and Anshul Gupta from TabSquare discussed how the latter uses Adyen’s platform for an all-in-one payment solution tailored for quick-service restaurants