Tether, Pave Bank and GFTN Launch Georgia–Singapore Fintech Scholars Programme

The first-of-its-kind project will benchmark FinTech regulatory environments—and help jurisdictions build better ones.

Singapore, 22 July 2026 — Tether, Pave Bank and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Georgia–Singapore Fintech Scholars Programme, an initiative that will connect Georgia's top-performing university students with Singapore's world-leading fintech ecosystem and develop the next generation of globally connected fintech leaders.

The MoU was signed by Giancarlo Devasini, Chairman of Tether; Sopnendu Mohanty, Group Chief Executive Officer of GFTN; and Salim Dhanani, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pave Bank, during the visit of H.E. Mr Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia to Singapore.

The programme reflects Pave Bank and Tether's commitment to investing in the leaders of tomorrow - giving Georgia's top-performing minds access to a global perspective while removing the financial barriers that stand in their way. Scholars will not only be immersed in one of Singapore's leading universities, but also integrated into the fintech ecosystem of one of the world's foremost financial centres.

GFTN was selected as the executing partner for precisely this reason. Its commitment to building global talent corridors, connecting governments, universities and industry to develop future-ready fintech capabilities across emerging and established financial centres, is unique globally, and gives the programme far greater depth for participating students.

Building a Georgia–Singapore Talent Corridor

Beginning in January 2027, the programme will provide top-performing business and STEM undergraduates from Tbilisi State University (TSU) with the opportunity to spend a semester at Singapore Management University (SMU) while immersing themselves in Singapore's globally recognised fintech ecosystem.

The initiative marks:

• The first institutional higher education exchange between Georgia and Singapore
• The first privately funded fintech scholarship programme connecting the two countries.

Over the next five years, selected scholars will be chosen through a comprehensive process led by programme partners.

Connecting Talent to a Global Innovation Ecosystem

Beyond academic study, the programme has been designed as a comprehensive talent development journey, curating learning experiences, facilitating industry engagement and providing mentorship throughout the scholars' time in Singapore.

Each cohort will undertake a capstone project examining opportunities to strengthen the Georgia–Southeast Asia fintech corridor, presenting their recommendations to senior leaders from GFTN, Pave Bank and Tbilisi State University. Scholars who successfully complete the programme will also be offered the opportunity to intern with the programme partners.

Scholars will additionally join the GFTN Knowledge Circle, a lifelong community that blends knowledge sharing, peer learning and exposure to GFTN's global network - supporting them throughout their careers as they build meaningful relationships and grow as leaders in fintech.

Investing in Future FinTech Leaders

The programme is funded by Pave Bank and Tether, demonstrating how industry can work alongside academia and international partners to build the talent pipeline needed for the next generation of financial innovation.

"Talent is the foundation of every successful FinTech ecosystem. Through the Tbilisi–Singapore FinTech Scholars Programme, GFTN is connecting Georgia's top-performing students with Singapore's world-class financial ecosystem, creating future leaders who will strengthen innovation and collaboration between our two countries.” said Sopnendu Mohanty, Group Chief Executive Officer, GFTN and former Chief FinTech Officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore. “This reflects GFTN's broader mission of building global talent corridors that accelerate financial innovation and economic growth.”

“At Pave Bank, we believe investing in talent is investing in the future of finance. This programme gives exceptional young minds from Georgia the opportunity to gain global experience, build meaningful connections, and return home with the skills and perspective to shape their country's financial future.” said Salim Dhanani, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Pave Bank. “We have deliberately built it around one principle: aptitude, and nothing else. With private sector funding removing every financial barrier, selection comes down purely to merit - everyone has a shot."

“Partnering with GFTN reflects SMU's commitment to developing globally minded talent through meaningful international collaboration. We look forward to welcoming students from the Tbilisi–Singapore FinTech Scholars Programme and fostering a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives that benefits all participants.” said Venky Shankararaman, Vice Provost (Education Strategy and Innovations), Singapore Management University. “This initiative broadens our students' global outlook, deepens cross-cultural understanding, and equips the next generation of professionals to apply AI and fintech innovations to address real-world challenges.”

The inaugural cohort is expected to be announced at the Second Tbilisi Finance Summit, to be held on 27–28 October 2026 at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace. The Summit is organised by GFTN in partnership with the National Bank of Georgia and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.

Media Contact:

Preeti Dawra

Chief Communications Officer,

Global Finance & Technology Network

Email: Preeti.dawra@gftn.com

Nana Goguadze

Marketing Lead,

Pave Bank

Email: nana.goguadze@pavebank.com

Tel: +995 598 75 09 01

About the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)

The Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) is a Singapore-headquartered not-for-profit organisation established in 2024. With offices in Tokyo, Berlin, and India, GFTN’s mission is to bridge policy, capital, and technology to build financial systems that are resilient, efficient, and inclusive. GFTN Services hosts global forums across five continents, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from over 130 countries. It offers policy advice to governments to promote financial technology innovation, inclusion, and capacity building. GFTN Capital will be a venture capital firm investing in growth-stage FinTechs globally. For more information, please visit www.gftn.co

About Pave Bank

Pave Bank is a fully licensed commercial bank built to be programmable. We combine banking with modern financial infrastructure, enabling institutions to access and automate payments, treasury, FX and digital assets through a single regulated platform. Built for builders and operators, Pave Bank brings programmability into the regulated banking environment, giving institutions greater control over their financial operations alongside the risk, governance and capital disciplines of a commercial bank.

Learn more at www.pavebank.com