(Original article in Japanese was published for FinTech Journal on May. 26, 2025)
https://www.sbbit.jp/article/fj/163878
Author: Makoto Shibata, Head of FINOLAB
Money20/20 Asia 2025, one of the world’s largest fintech events, was held from April 22–24 in Bangkok, Thailand, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC). Since its inception in 2012 in the U.S., Money20/20 has grown into a global platform driving innovation in payments, financial services, and technology, now spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
After being previously hosted in Singapore, the Asia edition returned in 2024 to Bangkok post-COVID. The 2025 schedule includes events in:
- Bangkok (Asia): April 22–24
- Amsterdam (Europe): June 3–5
- Riyadh (Middle East): September 15–17
- Las Vegas (USA): October 26–29
What Sets Money20/20 Different?
A key strength of the event is its focus on networking. Attendees can use the official app to view participant profiles, request meetings, and reschedule if needed. The Connections Lounge, centrally located in the venue, facilitated 15-minute meetings with impressive efficiency compared to other global events.
Main Theme and 3 Key Topics at Money20/20 Asia
The overarching theme of Money20/20 Asia was:
“Empowering Humanity Through Collaboration: Pioneering Secure, Frictionless, and Sustainable Fintech Innovation in Asia.”
Though somewhat abstract, this theme reflects an effort to highlight the regional uniqueness of the Asian fintech landscape.
Key Topic 1: Cross-Border Payments
Cross-border remittances and payments dominated the exhibition floor. Global players like Wise and Nium showcased their services, along with blockchain-based solutions from Circle, Ripple, and others.
E-commerce-focused payment providers such as LianLian Global and Worldline also had a strong presence. Major international and local banks, as well as Visa and Mastercard, emphasized global payment services.
Overall, the event had similarities with SWIFT’s annual SIBOS conference.
Key Topic 2: AI and Fintech
AI-powered innovation in finance was a hot topic across four main stages.
Generative AI’s impact on regulation, business operations, innovation, and fundraising was discussed from various perspectives (regulators, banks, startups, VCs).
While assessments varied, all agreed that AI is driving an unprecedented transformation in finance.
Key Topic 3: Financial Inclusion and Sustainability
There were discussions around expanding access to financial services and balancing environmental goals with economic growth—especially relevant in Asia’s diverse economies.
However, these sessions received less attention, as most participants were more focused on payment-related themes.
6 Notable Startups You Might Not Know About in Japan:
At the venue, areas like “Innovation Village” and “Startup Hangout” showcased promising startups aiming to break away from traditional finance. Among them, the following six stood out for their innovation and business scalability:
- OmniWave
Provides next-gen asset management intelligence using AI and machine learning. Unlike many startups vaguely claiming to use AI, OmniWave clearly demonstrated value by analyzing big data—including social media—to generate actionable investment advice.
- Riverchain
Targets the construction industry with digital solutions for working capital and supply chain efficiency. A standout for embedding finance into a traditionally analog industry through focused digital transformation.
- Papaya
Offers POS and payment systems tailored for F&B shops in Southeast Asia. It focuses not on technical innovation but on usability for small businesses, helping them benefit from digital payments.
- Coded Solution
Aims to connect Web3 and AI, offering tokenization, blockchain infrastructure, and digital payments. Unlike many vague Web3 pitches, they showed concrete use cases like securities issuance and stablecoin-based payments.
- Giraffe AI Labs
Bridges legacy finance with blockchain through advanced market technologies and infrastructure. Based in Singapore, with expansion into Dubai and Canada, they aim to become a global fintech player.
- Payd
Provides earned wage access for freelancers and part-timers, already serving over 100,000 users in Thailand and Malaysia. Their approach meets the growing need for flexible financial services across employment types.
Themes from Six Japanese Representatives
At the event with 250+ speakers, six Japanese speakers from regulators, financial institutions, startups, and VCs spoke on:
- Kenji Ikeda (Financial Services Agency): Japan’s approach to sustainable fintech and green finance collaboration across Asia.
- Nobuya Kawasaki (Mitsubishi UFJ Bank Singapore): How legacy banks innovate and collaborate with startups to handle digital transformation.
- Kohei Ueda (Mizuho Bank Singapore): AI, blockchain, and machine learning’s impact on banking and challenges in tech adoption.
- Shinichi Takatori (Kyash CEO): The future of banks focusing on smartphone-centric customer experience and debates on human vs AI customer service.
- Takeshi Nagasawa (Merpay CEO): Fintech’s role in driving next-gen e-commerce payments amidst growing competition.
- Akio Tanaka (Headline Asia): Venture capital trends in fintech amid the AI revolution and global investment outlook.
What Should Japanese Fintech Stakeholders Learn?
Money 20/20 Asia, while smaller than other fintech events, offered a well-balanced program with keynotes, panels, exhibitions, and networking. The event was user-friendly with thoughtful logistics for attendees. However, the heavy focus on payment solutions may have left participants interested in other areas wanting more. It would provide some learnings to us in Japan to think about planning any FinTech related events in the future.