The Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2025 has officially opened, marking its 10th anniversary with a record lineup of global policymakers, central bankers, and industry leaders gathered to define the next decade of financial innovation.
Running from November 12–14 at the Singapore Expo, this year’s theme, “A Decade of Transformation: The Blueprint for the Decade Ahead,” highlights how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, tokenization, and quantum computing are reshaping global finance.
Global voices and visionary discussions
The festival’s opening day featured keynote sessions from UOB CEO Wee Ee Cheong and Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who discussed leadership, innovation, and economic realignment in the digital age. Dr. Axel Weber of the Global Finance & Technology Network reviewed the fintech sector’s impact on global regulation, while Goldman Sachs’ George Lee examined the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and markets.
Other notable speakers include François Villeroy de Galhau (Banque de France), Peter Kažimír (National Bank of Slovakia), and Lucy Rigby KC MP, the UK’s City Minister. Over 800 speakers are expected, including executives from Mastercard, Ripple, Binance, DBS, and Ant Group.
AI and tokenization at the center
Artificial intelligence continues to dominate the agenda, with sessions exploring “AI in Finance: Governance, Stability and the Next Supervisory Frontier” and “C-Suite Insights: Roadmap for AI in Financial Services.” Parallel panels focus on tokenization and programmable money, including “Stocktake on Digital SGD” and “Tokenization Takes Off: Singapore Joins APAC’s Race to Full Coverage by 2027.”
The Bank for International Settlements’ Andréa Maechler will discuss tokenized deposits as a foundation for the future monetary system, while Visa, Ant International, and PayPal will explore next-generation payment rails.
From CBDCs to stablecoins
A key highlight of SFF 2025 is the ongoing discussion around central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins. Sessions such as “CBDCs: When and What’s Required to Move from Pilots to Public Money?” and “Impact of Stablecoins: Managing Compliance and Financial Stability Risks” are expected to shed light on the integration of public and private digital money systems.
Industry leaders including the Bank of Korea’s Chang Yong Rhee, Circle’s David Katz, and the Bank of England’s Sasha Mills will share insights on how digital currencies can coexist with traditional finance.
What’s next for global finance
As SFF celebrates a decade of transformation, the focus is clearly on collaboration—between regulators, technology providers, and financial institutions—to build a secure, inclusive, and interoperable financial ecosystem.
According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the next decade will require “a balance between innovation and stability,” as the world transitions to a more digital and tokenized financial system.