GFTN Digest

DECEMBER ISSUE

2025 and Beyond: Key Topics Shaping Global Finance 

Dear , 

What a journey it has been! Over the past month, we've successfully hosted two major global events: the Insights Forum and the Singapore FinTech Festival.

But that’s not all. On October 30th, we made a major announcement: Elevandi will be transformed into the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN).

GFTN aims to drive innovation and transformation in the global financial ecosystem through international partnerships to build more efficient, resilient, and inclusive financial ecosystems. This transformation will help create deeper synergies within global finance, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and tech communities.

As we look ahead to 2025, we remain focused on key priorities that will continue to drive our vision forward.

First, we’ll develop practices that harness the benefits of new technologies like tokenization, climate tech, AI, and quantum computing.

Secondly, we aim to advance the innovation agenda to promote collaboration amidst geopolitical challenges.

Thirdly, as we witness the burst of innovation in the Global South, we’ll work to unlock sustainable and inclusive pathways to spread the benefits of fintech. The Inclusive Fintech Festival, which will take place in February in Kigali, Rwanda, is one example of how we’re actively investing in these countries.

As we wind down for the festive season ahead, stay tuned for some new announcements in 2025 as we continue to pave the future of finance.

Meanwhile, I wish you a joyful and restful holiday season.

Cheers,

Sopnendu Mohanty
Group Chief Executive Officer – Designate

Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)

FutureMatters

Selected reports from the GFTN knowledge hub

The Future of Cross-Border Payments

While demand for instant cross-border payments is growing rapidly in Asia Pacific, many banks have been slow to adapt to the changing landscape, not least because of the limitations of the legacy systems. To compete effectively in this landscape, banks need to embrace modern payment systems that will enable them to stay ahead of the changes driven by agile fintechs and regulatory institutions.

Read: Unlocking Instant Cross-Border Payments in APAC

The State of Fintech Investments in 2024

Fintech investments saw a decline in Q3 and the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, largely driven by soft global macroeconomic conditions. In Singapore, the reduction was lower than other countries with a decline of 29% from US$1.75B to US$1.25B. This is followed by the UK at 26% decline, and the UAE at 23% decline. Read the report to find out the reasons behind this trend.

Read: Fintech Investments Q3 2024

Have a story to pitch? Apply to be a FutureMatters contributor here.

Top Headlines This Month

The latest policy, tech and finance news that stirred the industry

With so many fintechs in the market, Juniper Research evaluated the top 10 leaders of 2025 based on total capital raised, product portfolio, and creativity and innovation. Check out the list here. 

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will be focusing on collaborations to regulate digital assets and Gen AI, but will approach it with caution to avoid coming in too early before the market is mature.  

Read more about what’s happening in the fintech space, and how AI and blockchain is shaping the digital assets landscape.   

Education

Upskill with certificate programmes developed alongside our education partners

Leadership in the Future of Finance by BondbloX 

The Leadership in the Future of Finance programme is an in-person, immersive two-day course on AI and Digital Assets / Tokenization. Built for senior executives, the programme offers in-depth discussions and insight into how these new technologies are making an impact in the world of finance today.  

Conducted in a safe, classroom-style environment, these emergent trends and technologies will be discussed with academic rigour while offering participants the opportunity to network with fellow leaders. 

Register your interest to attend. 

Events

Inclusive FinTech Forum

24-26 Feb, 2025

Kigali, Rwanda 

The Inclusive Fintech Forum (IFF) is a global platform for financial inclusion and fintech for good. A collaboration between Kigali International Financial Centre, the National Bank of Rwanda, and GFTN, the Forum brings leaders, investors, and financial institutions together to participate in impactful dialogues and meetings that will advance policies and regulations as well as create meaningful long-term connections and partnerships to advance financial inclusion.

Get your Festival pass here. 

GFTN Forum - Japan

3-7 Mar, 2025
Tokyo, Japan

The Japan FinTech Festival (JFF) aims to bring together Japanese and global communities to engage, connect, and collaborate on technology-led innovation in financial services. Policymakers, technologists, business leaders, and investors will participate in comprehensive dialogues on various aspects of the future growth of financial services.  

Get your Festival pass here. 

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