Nishtha Asthana

Global regulators are seeing a convergence of digital-asset standards, even as differences in pace and risk culture persist. Speakers at the Singapore Fintech Festival said responsible innovation, is becoming the organising principle for harmonisation.

Banks and payment giants at the Singapore FinTech Festival warned about deepfakes, cyberattacks, and AI-driven fraud even as they push aggressively into agentic AI and design their firms around AI-native operating models. With risks rising, leaders said 2026 will force a balance between ambition and safeguards.

Hong Kong-based Anoop Chaudhry will lead the Asia Pacific power, utilities, and infrastructure group at the global bank.

Starbucks is selling a majority stake in its China business to Boyu Capital in a deal valuing the market at around $4 billion

India’s largest digital brokerage Groww has opened subscriptions for its $754m IPO, marking one of the biggest listings of 2025. The Bengaluru-based firm secured strong anchor demand from top sovereign and institutional investors including GIC, ADIA and Norway’s wealth fund.