In the last newsletter, I ended with the saying, "may we live in interesting times." I didn't elaborate much back then, but in truth, this phrase has a number of connotations.
In the East, it may carry a negative and somewhat ironic slant, but the West views the phrase more positively. What's certain is that we are living in interesting times in both senses of the interpretation – economically, politically and technologically. The implications for financial services are profound.
Gearing up for Point Zero Forum this 5-7 May, we've proudly launched our European office in Berlin. We ran a small programme in our new office which brought together the local and international community to talk about the impact of the current environment on the European fintech landscape, framing the challenges and the silver linings. We then headed over to London and engaged with a number of senior leaders at our GFTN Connect event. My key takeaway from both these events was that despite the clouds, there were clear signs of resilience, adaptability and defiance within the community. The early signs of a phoenix from the flames!
The Point Zero Forum is emerging as a pivotal event this year, tackling pressing questions shared by both the public and private sectors across Europe. From digital sovereignty and regulatory transformation, to boosting Europe's global competitiveness and harmonising policy thinking and roadmaps for emerging technologies across jurisdictions, the Forum promises to shape and address the critical industry narrative and drive meaningful progress and outcomes.
Policymakers and regulators from across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the US will be there in full force with leaders from the tech and finance sectors to chart a path forward and frame scenarios that will unfold.
Point Zero Forum isn’t for passive observers – it’s for those who want a seat at the table to shape the future of the industry.
Without question, we are living in interesting times, but if history has taught us anything, it is that some of the best outcomes have been achieved during volatility and uncertainty.
Our quarterly fintech funding report reveals that in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, overall fintech funding in our coverage universe decreased US$11.4B, or 40%, from Q1 2024. Funding declined between 14% and 94% in five of the eight economies in our coverage universe, including the US, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. However, funding increased in the UK, India and the UAE by 40%, to 1,131%, with the US leading fintech investment funding with US$10.4B. Read the report to learn more.
AI and Quantum: Catalyst for Transformative Growth in Financial Services
The ‘Roadmap for AI and Quantum’ emerged as a focal point of discussion at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2024. Across numerous sessions, notable speakers shared trends and insights on how their organisations are navigating the complexities of these technologies, leading to several key observations and takeaways. This report consolidates and reflects on the AI and quantum technology discussions at SFF2024. Read the report to learn more.
Policy, tech and finance news that shape the industry
Impact of crypto and DeFi in financial stability
The BIS warns that crypto and DeFi have reached a critical mass, raising concerns about investor protection and financial stability. It highlights stablecoins as key tools for transferring value within crypto and calls for targeted regulation to ensure their stability and redeemability during market stress. Read the BIS report.
Enabling safe, instant cross-border payments
Nexus Global Payments (NGP) has been formally incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in Singapore to operationalise and manage the Nexus scheme for enabling safe and instant cross-border payments at scale. NGP will standardise the way domestic instant payment systems connect to one another. Read more.
Chart your course
Stay ahead of the curve through education
Be a part of the Global FinTech Hackcelerator 2025
Ready to become the next Global FinTech Hackcelerator (GFH) champion? This is your moment, so mark your calendars. On 5 May 2025, applications open for our biggest Hackcelerator event of the year!
GFH 2025 is organised by GFTN in partnership with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). It invites startups, corporate champions, and investors from around the world to come together to solve the most pressing challenges in financial services. This year, we’re excited to introduce new elements to the programme:
Investment Partners: For the first time, our investor partners have committed to investing directly into GFH finalists, accelerating fundraising opportunities for promising startups.
Pilot Opportunities with Corporate Champions: Winning startups will have the opportunity to work on real-world pilot projects that drive tangible industry adoption.
Expanded Mentorship and Market Access: Finalists will enjoy mentorship from senior industry leaders, participation in exclusive networking sessions, and exposure at the Singapore FinTech Festival.
Help us spread the word! If this isn't for you but you know an innovative startup, ecosystem partner, or investor who should be part of GFH 2025, please forward this newsletter to them and encourage them to participate.
For partnership opportunities or more information, please reach out to longjian.zhang@gftn.com.
Keep these dates on your radar
Join the conversations shaping the future of finance
Next week, over 2,000 of the world's leading policymakers, central bankers, regulators, and industry experts are coming to GFTN's annual global policy gathering, the Point Zero Forum. The three-day event happening in Zurich from 5-7 May, will tackle pressing challenges and explore actionable policy, finance, and technology pathways forward to drive progress in sustainability, inclusivity, innovation, and efficiency across the global financial system. Join us to be a part of the latest dialogues happening in the world of fintech and beyond.
The series of Forums continue throughout 2025 as follows:
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