Fintech
Finovate Global Singapore: AI, Quantum Computing and Sustainable SMEs

This week’s edition of Global Finovate highlights the latest fintech news from Singapore.
Monetary Authority of Singapore announced investment plans $74.36 million (S$100 million) to fund quantum computing and AI projects. The funding is part of the Financial Sector Technology and Innovation Grant Scheme (FSTI 3.0) designed to support banks and other financial institutions to innovate and develop capabilities in both quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
This month’s investment follows the infusion of $110 million into FSTI in August 2023. FSTI 3.0 was launched in 2022 as part of an effort to strengthen and future-proof Singapore’s position as a major international fintech hub. MAS had initially pledged S$150 million to the program over a three-year period, and this month’s investment is an addition to that amount. The program runs until March 2026, but could be extended.
Given the recent emphasis on artificial intelligence in financial services, MAS’s focus on quantum computing and its applications for banks and financial services companies is particularly noteworthy. MAS will support eligible financial institutions with up to 50% financing for the construction of quantum computing technology centers. Companies developing cybersecurity solutions based on quantum computing can receive up to 30% co-financing.
On the AI side, MAS is also supporting the development of AI innovation centers. Again, a major area of emphasis is cybersecurity, which MAS has identified as a use case for the first pilot. Noting that AI tools have become “more widely accessible” and that “financial institutions have progressively adopted AI,” MAS has also observed that the degree of “AI readiness and adoption” among Singapore financial institutions is uneven. The AI component of FSTI 3.0 is largely designed to address this.
Blockchain-based financial infrastructure companies Divider has has raised more than $60 million in Series B fundingThe round was led by Peak XV Partners (formerly known as Sequoia Capital India & SEA). Valor Capital Group and Jump Trading Group also participated as new investors along with existing shareholders JP Morgan, Standard Chartered and Temasek.
Founded in 2021, the Singapore-based company offers banks unified ledger-based interbank binaries for real-time clearing and settlement. Partior’s 24/7 blockchain network works with real-time local currency and RTGS payment systems globally and facilitates direct and indirect settlement flows with market participants. The shared ledger further supports transfers for real-time settlement purposes, providing instant liquidity and transparency compared to the sequential processing typical of legacy payment systems.
“Partior is breaking down silos and rewriting the rules for cross-border clearing and settlement,” said Partior CEO Humphrey Valenbreder. “We see a very bright future for frictionless, blockchain-based cross-border transactions. Having some of the world’s best banks and investors supporting our vision further validates this.”
The new capital will fuel new capabilities, including intraday FX swaps, cross-currency repos, Programmable Enterprise Liquidity Management, and Just-in-Time multi-bank payments. The funding will also enable Partior to integrate a range of new currencies beyond the USD, EUR, and SGD currently supported.
“As one of Partior’s founding shareholders, we have always believed in the transformative potential of its technology to shape the global financial market infrastructure. This latest investment round is a testament to the incredible progress Partior has made towards this endeavor,” said Pradyumma Agrawal, Managing Director for Investment (Blockchain) at Temasek.
DBS and Deloitte have they joined together to launch the Sustainability Accelerator tool. The new offering will help Singapore SMEs accurately assess their sustainability maturity levels and identify and address gaps in their efforts.
The two companies hope to provide the new solution to 1,000 SMEs in Singapore over the next 12 months and plan to introduce the tool to additional markets starting next year.
“The Sustainability Accelerator Tool is unique in its ability to provide meaningful and practical guidance to SMEs,” said Brian Ho, Deloitte Southeast Asia Sustainability & Climate Leader. “Leveraging Deloitte’s expertise in sustainability transformation, it not only identifies strengths and gaps, but also provides actionable recommendations to improve sustainability performance.”
The three key benefits of the new offering are industry-specific analysis, which provides insights into unique sustainability challenges; customized strategic recommendations based on the degree of progress (emerging, maturing, or leading) the company has made on its journey to greater sustainability; and regional adaptability to ensure the solution can be used by SMBs across Asia.
SMEs using this tool also receive a customized Sustainability Readiness Report that provides them with an analysis of their company’s sustainability maturity and insights into how to address any specific sustainability challenges.
“The Sustainability Accelerator Tool is the latest in our ongoing efforts to future-proof SMEs through practical and holistic solutions,” said Koh Kar Siong, Head of Corporate and SME Banking at DBS Group.
The introduction of the Sustainability Accelerator Tool follows the spring launch of DBS’s ESG Ready program to help SMEs efficiently transition to low-carbon business models. Headquartered in Singapore and present in 19 markets, DBS offers a full range of banking services for consumers, SMEs and corporates. The company has been named “Safest Bank in Asia” by Global Finance for 15 consecutive years from 2009 to 2023.
Here is our analysis of fintech innovation around the world.
Central and Eastern Europe
- Liberis Embedded International Financial Platform announced his entry on the German market in partnership with Nexi.
- Lithuanian identity verification company iDenfy revealed its automatic bill checker.
- Private market platform group based in Germany insured $15.5 million in Series A funding.
Middle East and North Africa
- Visa announced a significant partnership with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) to expand the Visa B2B Connect network regionally.
- Mamo, a fintech startup based in the United Arab Emirates, completed a $3.4 million funding round to support the expansion of the company’s product line for SMBs.
- The Bank of Israel has choice 14 teams of professionals from the public and private sectors to study use cases for the digital shekel.
Central and South Asia
- HSBC Bank India made a team with Open Financial Technologies to simplify payment transactions for Indian corporate customers.
- Indian digital payments company Paytm accepted a collaboration with Axis Bank.
- Indian Banking Payments Company and API Cashfree Payments insured a cross-border payment aggregator license issued by the RBI.
Latin America and the Caribbean
- The Brazilian Central Bank announced a break in their plan to add recurring payments to the Pix platform.
- Fintech Argentina Tapi insured $22 million for its expansion into Mexico.
- BBVA opened an international cybersecurity center in Mexico.
Asia-Pacific
- Airwallex based in Melbourne, Australia insured an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) issued by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), the first major payments company to obtain one.
- Bank Indonesia and Bank of Korea inked a memorandum of understanding to encourage cross-border payments between the two countries.
- In a bid to become a “global fintech hub,” the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) He ran over US$74.36 million (S$100 million) in quantum computing and artificial intelligence projects.
Sub-Saharan Africa
- South African fintech Peach Payments acquired Custom software development company Operativa.
- Diamond Trust Bank of Kenya has forged a partnership with Network International.
- Nigerian Wealth Management Platform Risevest plans announced to acquire Kenyan fintech Hisa.
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Fintech
US Agencies Request Information on Bank-Fintech Dealings

Federal banking regulators have issued a statement reminding banks of the potential risks associated with third-party arrangements to provide bank deposit products and services.
The agencies support responsible innovation and banks that engage in these arrangements in a safe and fair manner and in compliance with applicable law. While these arrangements may offer benefits, supervisory experience has identified a number of safety and soundness, compliance, and consumer concerns with the management of these arrangements. The statement details potential risks and provides examples of effective risk management practices for these arrangements. Additionally, the statement reminds banks of existing legal requirements, guidance, and related resources and provides insights that the agencies have gained through their oversight. The statement does not establish new supervisory expectations.
Separately, the agencies requested additional information on a broad range of arrangements between banks and fintechs, including for deposit, payment, and lending products and services. The agencies are seeking input on the nature and implications of arrangements between banks and fintechs and effective risk management practices.
The agencies are considering whether to take additional steps to ensure that banks effectively manage the risks associated with these different types of arrangements.
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What changes in financial regulation have impacted the development of financial technology?

Exploring the complex landscape of global financial regulation, we gather insights from leading fintech leaders, including CEOs and finance experts. From the game-changing impact of PSD2 to the significant role of GDPR in data security, explore the four key regulatory changes that have reshaped fintech development, answering the question: “What changes in financial regulation have impacted fintech development?”
- PSD2 revolutionizes access to financial technology
- GDPR Improves Fintech Data Privacy
- Regulatory Sandboxes Drive Fintech Innovation
- GDPR Impacts Fintech Data Security
PSD2 revolutionizes access to financial technology
When it comes to regulatory impact on fintech development, nothing comes close to PSD2. This EU regulation has created a new level playing field for market players of all sizes, from fintech startups to established banks. It has had a ripple effect on other markets around the world, inspiring similar regulatory frameworks and driving global innovation in fintech.
The Payment Services Directive (PSD2), the EU law in force since 2018, has revolutionized the fintech industry by requiring banks to provide third-party payment providers (TPPs) with access to payment services and customer account information via open APIs. This has democratized access to financial data, fostering the development of personalized financial instruments and seamless payment solutions. Advanced security measures such as Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) have increased consumer trust, pushing both fintech companies and traditional banks to innovate and collaborate more effectively, resulting in a dynamic and consumer-friendly financial ecosystem.
The impact of PSD2 has extended beyond the EU, inspiring similar regulations around the world. Countries such as the UK, Australia and Canada have launched their own open banking initiatives, spurred by the benefits seen in the EU. PSD2 has highlighted the benefits of open banking, also prompting US financial institutions and fintech companies to explore similar initiatives voluntarily.
This has led to a global wave of fintech innovation, with financial institutions and fintech companies offering more integrated, personalized and secure services. The EU’s leadership in open banking through PSD2 has set a global standard, promoting regulatory harmonization and fostering an interconnected and innovative global financial ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the EU’s PSD3 proposals and Financial Data Access (FIDA) regulations promise to further advance open banking. PSD3 aims to refine and build on PSD2, with a focus on improving transaction security, fraud prevention, and integration between banks and TPPs. FIDA will expand data sharing beyond payment accounts to include areas such as insurance and investments, paving the way for more comprehensive financial products and services.
These developments are set to further enhance connectivity, efficiency and innovation in financial services, cementing open banking as a key component of the global financial infrastructure.
General Manager, Technology and Product Consultant Fintech, Insurtech, Miquido
GDPR Improves Fintech Data Privacy
Privacy and data protection have been taken to another level by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), forcing fintech companies to tighten their data management. In compliance with the GDPR, organizations must ensure that personal data is processed fairly, transparently, and securely.
This has led to increased innovation in fintech towards technologies such as encryption and anonymization for data protection. GDPR was described as a top priority in the data protection strategies of 92% of US-based companies surveyed by PwC.
Financial Expert, Sterlinx Global
Regulatory Sandboxes Drive Fintech Innovation
Since the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) pioneered sandbox regulatory frameworks in 2016 to enable fintech startups to explore new products and services, similar frameworks have been introduced in other countries.
This has reduced the “crippling effect on innovation” caused by a “one size fits all” regulatory approach, which would also require machines to be built to complete regulatory compliance before any testing. Successful applications within sandboxes give regulators the confidence to move forward and address gaps in laws, regulations, or supervisory approaches. This has led to widespread adoption of new technologies and business models and helped channel private sector dynamism, while keeping consumers protected and imposing appropriate regulatory requirements.
Co-founder, UK Linkology
GDPR Impacts Fintech Data Security
A big change in financial regulations that has had a real impact on fintech is the 2018 EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). I have seen how GDPR has pushed us to focus more on user privacy and data security.
GDPR means we have to handle personal data much more carefully. At Leverage, we have had to step up our game to meet these new rules. We have improved our data encryption and started doing regular security audits. It was a little tricky at first, but it has made our systems much more secure.
For example, we’ve added features that give users more control over their data, like simple consent tools and clear privacy notices. These changes have helped us comply with GDPR and made our customers feel more confident in how we handle their information.
I believe that GDPR has made fintech companies, including us at Leverage, more transparent and secure. It has helped build trust with our users, showing them that we take data protection seriously.
CEO & Co-Founder, Leverage Planning
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Fintech
M2P Fintech About to Raise $80M

Application Programming Interface (API) Infrastructure Platform M2P Financial Technology has reached the final round to raise $80 million, at a valuation of $900 million.
Specifically, M2P Fintech, formerly known as Yap, is closing a new funding round involving new and existing investors, according to entrackr.com. The India-based company, which last raised funding two and a half years ago, previously secured $56 million in a round led by Insight Partners, earning a post-money valuation of $650 million.
A source indicated that M2P Fintech is ready to raise $80 million in this new funding round, led by a new investor. Existing backers, including Insight Partners, are also expected to participate. The new funding is expected to go toward enhancing the company’s technology infrastructure and driving growth in domestic and international markets.
What does M2P Fintech do?
M2P Fintech’s API platform enables businesses to provide branded financial services through partnerships with fintech companies while maintaining regulatory compliance. In addition to its operations in India, the company is active in Nepal, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Bahrain, Egypt, and many other countries.
Another source revealed that M2P Fintech’s valuation in this funding round is expected to be between USD 880 million and USD 900 million (post-money). The company has reportedly received a term sheet and the deal is expected to be publicly announced soon. The Tiger Global-backed company has acquired six companies to date, including Goals101, Syntizen, and BSG ITSOFT, to enhance its service offerings.
According to TheKredible, Beenext is the company’s largest shareholder with over 13% ownership, while the co-founders collectively own 34% of the company. Although M2P Fintech has yet to release its FY24 financials, it has reported a significant increase in operating revenue. However, this growth has also been accompanied by a substantial increase in losses.
Fintech
Scottish financial technology firm Aveni secures £11m to expand AI offering

By Gloria Methri
Today
- To come
- Aveni Assistance
- Aveni Detection
Artificial intelligence Financial Technology Aveni has announced one of the largest Series A investments in a Scottish company this year, amounting to £11 million. The investment is led by Puma Private Equity with participation from Par Equity, Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide.
Aveni combines AI expertise with extensive financial services experience to create large language models (LLMs) and AI products designed specifically for the financial services industry. It is trusted by some of the UK’s leading financial services firms. It has seen significant business growth over the past two years through its conformity and productivity solutions, Aveni Detect and Aveni Assist.
This investment will enable Aveni to build on the success of its existing products, further consolidate its presence in the sector and introduce advanced technologies through FinLLM, a large-scale language model specifically for financial services.
FinLLM is being developed in partnership with new investors Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide. It is a large, industry-aligned language model that aims to set the standard for transparent, responsible and ethical adoption of generative AI in UK financial services.
Following the investment, the team developing the FinLLM will be based at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, in a state-of-the-art facility.
Joseph Twigg, CEO of Aveniexplained, “The financial services industry doesn’t need AI models that can quote Shakespeare; it needs AI models that deliver transparency, trust, and most importantly, fairness. The way to achieve this is to develop small, highly tuned language models, trained on financial services data, and reviewed by financial services experts for specific financial services use cases. Generative AI is the most significant technological evolution of our generation, and we are in the early stages of adoption. This represents a significant opportunity for Aveni and our partners. The goal with FinLLM is to set a new standard for the controlled, responsible, and ethical adoption of generative AI, outperforming all other generic models in our select financial services use cases.”
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