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Singapore’s central bank wants more tokenised assets and more liquidity moving through its market, MAS Managing Director Chia Der Jiun told The Business Times, as the Singapore FinTech Festival opens on November 18, 2026.
Organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), in collaboration with the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS), the FinTech festival will operate under the theme, “The Coming Rewiring of the Financial System: New Risks. New Rules. New Growth.”
The organisers are expecting more than 70,000 participants from 142 countries, reflecting the event’s position as a major international meeting point for the financial technology industry.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on emerging technologies, this year’s programme will examine how innovation interacts with economic uncertainty, regulatory demands and the changing structure of global financial markets.
Artificial intelligence is expected to feature prominently throughout the three-day event, particularly as financial institutions move beyond experimental applications towards wider organisational deployment.
Discussions will explore how banks and other financial service providers can use AI to improve fraud detection, customer engagement, risk management and operational efficiency while addressing cybersecurity threats and potential vulnerabilities.
MAS Managing Director Chia Der Jiun expects the technology to feature more prominently in practical financial applications this year.
“Certainly, AI will continue to be a big theme for SFF 2026. I’m expecting a further broadening and deepening of AI applications,” Chia said in an interview with The Business Times.
He added that financial institutions could demonstrate how AI is becoming integrated into larger business processes rather than remaining limited to individual applications.
Beyond AI, tokenisation and stablecoins will also feature in discussions about the next generation of financial infrastructure.
Singapore’s central bank has been working to develop the country’s digital asset ecosystem, with priorities including interoperability, liquidity and appropriate safeguards for tokenised financial assets.
Chia explained that the regulator wants to encourage greater activity in the sector while maintaining appropriate standards.
“Our aim is to continue to encourage flows, liquidity, transactions as well as tokenisation of more assets, but of course, maintaining good standards,” he said.
The discussions come as financial institutions and payment providers increasingly explore blockchain-based settlement systems, tokenised funds and digital representations of traditional financial assets.
The FinTech festival will structure its programme around five interconnected forces: technology, geoeconomics, capital, talent and policy.
Technology will examine the growing influence of AI, quantum computing and tokenisation, including their potential to improve financial services and introduce new operational risks.
Geoeconomics will address how changing international trade relationships, investment patterns and geopolitical developments are influencing financial networks and cross-border payment infrastructure.
Capital will focus on investment priorities, venture funding and whether the growing financial commitments to emerging technologies can translate into sustainable commercial returns.
Talent will examine the pressure on financial institutions to develop employees with the technical knowledge and capabilities required to operate in an increasingly automated industry.
Meanwhile, policy discussions will consider how regulators can support technological development without weakening consumer protection, financial stability and institutional accountability.
James Boey, chief executive officer of GFTN China, India, ASEAN, Central Asia and Europe, highlighted the importance of preparing financial institutions for technological developments that could eventually affect the security of existing financial infrastructure.
“It’s not top of every financial institution’s agenda yet, but its potential impact is significant,” Boey said, referring to quantum computing in an interview with The Business Times.
The technology could eventually challenge encryption systems protecting financial information and transactions, making quantum readiness an emerging concern for the industry.
Beyond its conference sessions, the FinTech festival will provide opportunities for startups and established financial institutions to showcase solutions addressing practical industry challenges.
One of the major programmes is the 2026 Global FinTech Hackcelerator, organised by MAS in partnership with GFTN.
The initiative features challenges from GXS Bank, Julius Baer and Zurich Insurance, covering credit and fraud risk modelling in digital banking, wealth management for digitally native customers, and improved risk assessment for small and medium-sized enterprises.
According to MAS, 18 finalists have been selected to present their solutions during the Hackcelerator Demo Day on November 18. Three winners, one for each challenge, will receive S$80,000 each.
The programme also provides opportunities for finalists to explore pilot projects with participating corporate partners and access additional support to commercialise their solutions.
The Singapore FinTech Excellence Awards will also recognise organisations and individuals contributing to financial innovation. MAS announced 42 finalists across the Hackcelerator and awards programmes in October.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for November 19, with categories covering emerging fintech companies, financial inclusion, regulatory leadership, sustainable innovation and AI development.
Kenneth Gay, MAS Chief FinTech Officer, said the initiative was designed to connect technology developers with organisations capable of deploying their solutions.
“The Global FinTech Hackcelerator brings together FinTech firms and industry partners to address specific business challenges, test practical applications and create opportunities for commercial deployment,” Gay said in an October statement.
The festival will also feature investor meetings, startup presentations, international exhibition pavilions and networking programmes connecting founders, investors and financial institutions.
The FinTech festival comes as Singapore continues to position itself as a centre for financial innovation, digital payments and cross-border financial collaboration.
The country’s regulatory approach has increasingly focused on creating room for emerging technologies while establishing safeguards around digital assets, AI applications and financial infrastructure.
The 2026 gathering will therefore provide an opportunity for industry participants to assess whether technological developments are translating into practical improvements and sustainable business models.
With discussions extending beyond innovation to include geopolitical developments, investment priorities and workforce readiness, the event will also examine the challenges facing financial institutions as they adapt to a changing economic environment.
As the global financial industry enters another phase of digital transformation, the outcomes of the November gathering could help shape conversations around regulation, investment and the future direction of financial technology.
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