Highlights from Money20/20 Asia
This week saw Money20/20 Asia held in Bangkok, Thailand, with a packed agenda covering some of the most important issues in the continent and beyond. Not only was I there to launch our joint report to a packed crowd of attendees and press, but I also had the pleasure of speaking in the session ‘From Fragmentation to Frictionless: Cross-Border Payments in 2025 and Beyond’.
Key takeaways from Money20/20 Asia
The conference has grown quickly over the past few years, and 2025 saw a vibrant event more closely packed with engaging talks, networking and discussion. Here are some of the general trends I spotted while I was there:
- Cross-border payments is the number one topic on the minds of the Asia conference attendees. Within this is both the challenge and opportunity of tackling friction in payments in the region, with many discussing how partnerships and interoperable projects can take on the challenge.
- As reflected in our report, stablecoins are generating considerable interest as cross-border payments infrastructure. There was a divergence of opinions here. Many of the bigger payments companies are now exploring the use of stablecoins and uncovering new use cases along the way. The global banks, however, remain more on the sidelines waiting to see if one of the biggest players will make the first move.
- Dedollarisation and movement away from dependence on the dollar and USD institutions was a hot topic, as this counterbalances with how China and the broader APAC region will respond in the current macro environment.
Key takeaways from my session
My session, ‘From Fragmentation to Frictionless: Cross-Border Payments in 2025 and Beyond’ saw me joined by DCS Innov CEO Ceridwen Choo and Durianpay Co-Founder and CEO Natasha A. Hartoro, in a panel moderated by Money20/20 VP of Fintech Strategy Zachary Anderson Pettet.
Building on the insights of the report, this was a lively discussion focusing on the opportunities and challenges for the region. Here are some of the key takeaways:
- Asia is a leading hub for cross-border payments innovation and is seeing something of an infrastructure revolution fuelled by changing rails and shifting industry dynamics.
- Several technologies are driving this change, including interoperable QR codes, wallet-to-wallet rails and stablecoins, with the latter generating particular potential – although it is not without its challenges and detractors. There is particular potential in retaining Web2 UX with Web3 infrastructure, allowing for technological innovation without radically changing the user experience.
- The future for the region lies in orchestration and interoperation. It is unlikely we will see a single, dominant technology emerge, so making different rails, regulatory regimes and payment methods work together with minimal friction is set to be a central priority for future development.
How can I develop my strategy with Asia in mind?
