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Singapore MAS and SFA Announce 2025 Global FinTech Hackcelerator and FinTech Excellence Award Winners
On 13 November 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Singapore FinTech Association announced the winners of the Global FinTech Hackcelerator and the FinTech Excellence Awards at the Singapore FinTech Festival. The awards celebrate innovative solutions developed by financial institutions, technology firms and individual leaders shaping the FinTech landscape. The Global FinTech Hackcelerator focused on artificial intelligence for financial services and featured seventeen finalists pitching on Demo Day. Three winning teams received eighty thousand dollars each. The FinTech Excellence Awards recognised solutions that advance inclusivity, sustainability, regulatory strength and emerging technology adoption. Eight winners were selected by an international judging panel from one hundred and fifty five submissions.
Bank of England, Singapore MAS and Bank of Thailand Launch Joint Exploration of Synchronised Cross Border FX Settlement
On 13 November 2025, the Bank of England, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Bank of Thailand announced a joint initiative to explore synchronised settlement mechanisms for foreign exchange transactions, under Project Meridian FX and aims to test settlement models that link real time gross settlement systems with distributed ledger based environments. The participating central banks will assess interoperability across their systems and examine multilateral use cases involving different settlement infrastructures.
Singapore MAS and Deutsche Bundesbank Sign MoU to Advance Tokenisation and Cross Border Digital Asset Settlement
On 13 November 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Deutsche Bundesbank signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on cross border digital asset settlement. The MoU aims to enhance international financial transactions, including flows between Singapore and Germany. The MoU focuses on developing settlement solutions that reduce cost and processing time for cross border transfers. It also promotes common standards for payments, foreign exchange and securities settlement involving tokenised assets.
Singapore MAS Completes First Live Trial of Interbank Overnight Lending Settlement Using Wholesale CBDC
On 13 November 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore announced the successful completion of a live trial for settling interbank overnight lending transactions using wholesale central bank digital currency. The trial took place on the Singapore Dollar Test Network, an operational shared ledger designed to support settlement of tokenised financial assets. DBS, OCBC and UOB participated in the pilot and recorded the first live issuance of Singapore dollar wholesale central bank digital currency in their official books and regulatory filings.
Singapore MAS Charts AI and Tokenisation Roadmap at FinTech Festival 2025 with Call for Global Collaboration
On 13 November 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore outlined its vision for the next decade of financial innovation during the second day of the Singapore FinTech Festival. The remarks by Managing Director Chia Der Jiun elaborated on the festival’s growth into a global platform and traced the evolution of Singapore’s FinTech ecosystem since 2016.
Singapore MAS Outlines Climate Finance Framework at COP30 with Focus on Credible Solutions, Capabilities and Capital
On 12 November 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore set out its climate finance priorities at the COP30 Singapore Pavilion during Finance Day. The opening speech by Managing Director Chia Der Jiun titled “From Pledges to Projects: The Role of Credible Financing Solutions, Capabilities, and Capital” stating the need to convert global climate pledges into investable projects.
Singapore MAS and Law Enforcement Strengthen Joint Efforts Against Financial Crime
On 31 October 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced that it is working closely with the Singapore Police Force through the Anti-Money Laundering Case Coordination and Collaboration Network (AC3N) to follow up on the ongoing case involving Prince Holding Group. The collaboration underscores Singapore’s commitment to safeguarding its financial system from illicit activities by deepening coordination between financial regulators, enforcement agencies, and financial institutions (FIs). MAS confirmed that suspicious transaction reports had been filed early, and several FIs had proactively taken risk mitigation measures, including closing suspicious accounts, thereby preventing larger sums from remaining within the financial system.
Australian ASIC Notes Cboe Global Markets’ Decision to Divest Its Australian and Canadian Operations
On 1 November 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) acknowledged Cboe Global Markets’ decision to sell its Australian and Canadian market businesses i.e. Cboe Australia and Cboe Canada, as part of a global strategic realignment focusing on its core derivatives business. ASIC observed that Cboe had reaffirmed the strong performance of both operations and their positioning for continued growth within a supportive regulatory environment that promotes competition. The Commission confirmed that it will work closely with Cboe throughout the divestment process to ensure an orderly and transparent transition to suitable new ownership while maintaining market integrity and investor confidence.
Australian ASIC Seeks Feedback on Proposal to Remake Derivative Clearing Rules to Support OTC Market Stability
On 28 October 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released its proposal to remake the ASIC Derivative Transaction Rules (Clearing) 2015 (the 2015 Rules), which are due to sunset on 1 April 2026. The proposal aims to preserve the continued operation of Australia’s over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives central clearing framework and to ensure compliance continuity under the Australian Corporations Act 2001.
Australia ASIC Obtains Interim Travel Ban Against Blockchain Global Director Amid Ongoing Investigation
On 29 October 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced that it had secured interim travel restraint orders against Blockchain Global Limited (in liquidation) director Zijing Xu, also known as Ryan Xu. The Federal Court of Australia issued the orders on 20 October 2025, prohibiting Mr Xu from leaving or attempting to leave Australia until 20 December 2025. ASIC sought the orders on an ex parte basis, meaning Mr Xu had not yet been heard by the Court, citing concerns arising from its ongoing investigation into the collapse of a crypto asset exchange formerly operated by Blockchain Global. The matter was initially listed for an inter partes hearing on 30 October 2025 but was subsequently varied by consent, extending the restraint until 28 November 2025.
Australia ASIC Releases Summary of Consultation Feedback on Updated Digital Asset Guidance
On 29 October 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) published its summary of industry and stakeholder feedback to Consultation Paper 381: Updates to INFO 225 Digital Assets – Financial Products and Services (CP 381). The consultation sought industry views on ASIC’s proposed updates to Information Sheet 225 and its accompanying transitional framework for stablecoins, wrapped tokens, and digital asset intermediaries. The summary reflects input from 51 non-confidential respondents, covering financial institutions, digital asset service providers, consumer groups, and professional advisers. The feedback has informed ASIC’s decision to grant class no-action relief, extend transitional periods, and include additional examples in the updated guidance.
Australia ASIC Clarifies Regulatory Framework for Digital Assets and Grants Transitional Relief to Support Innovation
On 29 October 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) published updated guidance clarifying the application of existing financial services laws to digital assets, reinforcing investor protection while supporting innovation in Australia’s rapidly developing digital economy. The update extends ASIC’s Information Sheet 225 Digital Assets: Financial Products and Services (INFO 225) and confirms transitional support measures ahead of proposed digital asset law reforms. Stablecoins, wrapped tokens, tokenised securities, and digital asset wallets are confirmed as financial products under existing law. ASIC also introduced a sector-wide no-action position effective until 30 June 2026 and proposed targeted relief for digital asset distributors and custodians to ensure a smooth regulatory transition. The updated guidance is positioned to align with the Australian Government’s forthcoming Digital Assets and Payments (DAP) legislative framework, providing legal certainty and operational confidence to firms across the market.
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