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The latest Blockchain and Digital Assets session brought together global participants to explore one of the most transformative shifts now reshaping global trade: the tokenisation of trade finance assets. Led by Saloi Benbaha, Head of XDC Network Enterprise Alliance & Ventures and Global Women in AI Ambassador, the session unpacked how tokenisation, harmonised standards and cross-industry collaboration are redefining efficiency, transparency and trust across the trade ecosystem.

With a career spanning telecom, banking, blockchain and energy, and fresh from receiving the Policy Pioneer Award at the House of Lords, Saloi delivered a masterclass on what financial institutions must understand to stay competitive in a rapidly digitising world.

Tokenisation as a Catalyst in Trade Finance

Saloi began by outlining why tokenisation is emerging as a foundational pillar in trade finance. Traditional trade processes are burdened by fragmented systems, inconsistent data, paper-heavy workflows and long settlement cycles. Tokenisation offers a fundamentally different model—one where assets, documents and processes can be digitised, standardised and exchanged with programmable trust.

By converting trade assets such as invoices, letters of credit, guarantees or receivables into tokens, institutions can benefit from:

• Faster settlement

• Improved liquidity

• Greater transparency and auditability

• Reduced operational risk

• Enhanced interoperability across platforms and borders

Tokenisation, Saloi emphasised, is not simply a technology upgrade. It represents a structural shift toward digital-native trade finance.

Why Standards and Interoperability Matter

A central theme in Saloi’s presentation was the critical need for standards. Tokenisation cannot scale in isolation. It requires:

• Shared data models

• Common identity frameworks

• Legal and compliance harmonisation

• Industry-wide agreement on asset definitions

Saloi highlighted how emerging frameworks—such as the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) and those developed by leading industry bodies—are paving the way for unified digital trade ecosystems. Without such standards, tokenisation risks becoming siloed, fragmented and incompatible across markets.

Collaboration as the Engine of Adoption

Tokenisation thrives through collaboration, not competition. Banks, corporates, fintechs, regulators and technology networks must co-design solutions. Saloi’s work at the XDC Network Enterprise Alliance exemplifies this collaborative model, bringing stakeholders together to build shared infrastructure and tackle adoption barriers collectively.

She also emphasised the growing importance of public-private coordination, particularly around regulatory clarity and cross-border legal frameworks.

Becoming Tokenisation-Ready: Skills and Capabilities

Saloi provided a clear blueprint for organisations preparing to embark on tokenisation initiatives. Key skill areas include:

• Understanding digital asset frameworks

• Navigating compliance and regulatory design

• Smart contract literacy

• Process redesign and workflow digitisation

• Cross-functional collaboration between technology, operations and legal teams

Tokenisation is not an IT project, it is an organisational transformation that requires new digital competencies across the value chain.

Integrating Tokenised Solutions with Legacy Infrastructure

One of the session’s most practical discussions centred on how banks can integrate tokenisation into existing trade finance systems. Saloi highlighted that the most effective strategy is to begin with well-defined, high-value use cases, and then:

1. Identify assets that benefit most from digitisation

2. Map the current processes and pain points

3. Build tokenised modules that integrate via APIs

4. Adopt a phased rollout that maintains continuity with legacy operations

The goal is not to replace existing infrastructure immediately but to extend it with digital layers that introduce automation and interoperability.

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5 Key Learning Outcomes from the Session

1. Tokenisation transforms trade finance by digitising assets end-to-end
It streamlines processes, increases liquidity, accelerates settlement and reduces friction that has long slowed global trade.

2. Standards are essential for scalable adoption
Without alignment on data, identity and legal frameworks, tokenisation remains isolated. Industry-wide standards unlock interoperability and global connectivity.

3. Collaboration drives real-world implementation
Tokenisation succeeds when banks, corporates, regulators and networks work together to redesign trade processes, not when each operates alone.

4. Successful tokenisation requires new digital skills across organisations
Teams must understand blockchain concepts, regulatory expectations, smart contracts and process redesign, not just technology.

5. Integration with legacy systems must be phased and strategic
Institutions should start with clearly defined assets and use cases, then layer tokenisation onto existing infrastructure through modular, API-driven approaches.

As trade finance undergoes rapid digital transformation, tokenisation stands out as a powerful enabler of transparency, speed and global interoperability. Saloi’s session showed that the future of trade will not simply be digitised, it will be standardised, collaborative and token-powered. For institutions looking to stay competitive, now is the moment to build the skills, partnerships and technological foundations needed to thrive in this new era. With growing momentum across industries and governments, the shift toward digital trade finance is no longer a possibility, it is already underway.

 

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What is fintech?

Fintech is largely concerned with the innovative use of technology to improve and automate the supply of financial services, making processes easier and less tedious for businesses, business owners, and consumers. For instance, rather than commuting to a bank to apply for a loan, you can do so now online. As a result, human intervention is reduced, and transactions are carried out using your technology and mobile devices. It’s utilized to deliver, allow, and improve financial services like payment, wealth management, money transfer, and moneylending. An example of two popular financial apps in Singapore are PayNow and GrabPay.

Digital transformation is predominantly driving the fintech employment market, which means that the positions you see and those that are being created are primarily digitally driven. The fintech industry, as one of the fastest-growing, is well-suited to persons who are passionate about technology, particularly those who want to have access to and work with newer technologies, or who want to gain experience working with newer technologies.

Fintech Investments Over the Years

Fintech financing in Singapore grew at a rapid pace in 2021, with the sector setting new annual funding and deal activity records barely nine months into the year. Fintech firms raised well over $2.1 billion in the first three quarters, breaking the $2 billion barrier for the first time. There were eight deals that were worth more than $100 million pushed the overall capital spent to a new high, accounting for 57.8% of total fundraising for the period. In 2020, there was only one deal of that size.

What are the in-demand Fintech Job Roles?

According to the Forbes Report, the average number of security breaches in businesses has increased by about 40% over the year. The demand for specialized cybersecurity personnel is continuously increasing as cyber-attacks become more sophisticated, particularly on more modern financial platforms. This includes positions in IT security and vulnerability management, which aim to ensure that financial services and transactions are conducted in a secure manner.

Furthermore, because fintech requires a lot of interaction with computers and mobile apps, the front end of apps is crucial — that is, how they look, including the workflow processes required to utilize them, as well as the user experience (UX) and user journey. UX designers, user interface (UI) designers, digital project managers, and digital product managers are in high demand as a result. Another sector that will continue to thrive is data analytics, especially as fintech companies strive to improve their offers and capabilities. Take a look at our Fintech Job Report to identify more of the various fintech job roles and the relevant skills required to excel in it.

What Does it Take to Transition to the Fintech Industry?

Front and Back-end Developers

The importance of programming cannot be overstated. Full-stack developers that work with data, servers, and systems engineering, as well as algorithmic programming specialists, are in high demand as well. From a technological standpoint, you will be able to quickly enter this field if you are able to reskill yourself and brush up on trending technologies, such as the present demand for talents as a Android/iOS mobile developer. Those with good logical and critical thinking skills may choose to seek a career in the fintech business, particularly in areas such as programming and coding, which are logic-based.

Data Scientist/Analyst

Someone with a statistical background would be a great fit for data analysts as this is the type of skill set required for mining data. This could also lead to more technical jobs such as data scientists in fintech firms who formerly have experienced in laboratories and are now interpreting data and predicting current and future market trends.

Advice for Fintech Enthusiasts to Move Into this Sector

Keep upgrading and re-skilling yourself if you’re already in the fintech business. It’s never too late to start if you’re interested in working in the sector. Because of the industry’s rapid growth, it’s acceptable to start from scratch. For example, someone in their 30s with a mid-level job who wishes to change careers can start from the bottom and work their way up. CFTE offers a range deal of Fintech courses with available subsidy to ease your budget! Please take a look at our available Singapore Fintech Courses.

Conclusion

We expect the fintech boom to continue, which is good news for current employees, particularly those who are constantly widening their skill sets, as well as fresh people eager to join the field. It’s crucial to remember that in this sector, change is unavoidable.In order to properly deal with the industry’s quick developments, fintech personnel must be nimble and adaptable. Employees will need analytical and critical thinking abilities in addition to applicable technical and financial skills to approach difficulties creatively.

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The Top 3 Fintech Trends in Singapore for 2022:

1. Virtual Banking takes off

According to a new report by Fintech News Singapore and Alibaba Cloud, consumers and businesses are flocking to digital banking services, local BNPL players are raising massive rounds of funding, and PayNow, Singapore’s instant electronic payment service, is seeing massive volumes of transactions, demonstrating strong uptake of digital payments. As banking habits change and technology develops, Singaporean consumers and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are rapidly adopting virtual banking, according to our analysis. Customer sign-ups for DBS Bank’s Digibank mobile app increased by 216 percent year over year between June and August 2020. (YoY). Digibank has a customer base of 3.5 million people.

Similar development has been reported by local rival Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), which said that the number of new SME accounts created online increased by 2.4 times in Q1 2020 compared to the previous year. Similarly, in Q1 2020, United Overseas Bank (UOB) saw a 406% YoY rise in online investment product purchases. Customer expectations are evolving, and demand for digital financial services is increasing, resulting in an increase in virtual banking usage.

2. Digital Payments Accelerate

The rise of digital payment solutions, particularly e-wallets, is being fueled by the increase of online shopping, the shift toward cashless payments in brick-and-mortar establishments, and advancements in real-time payment. According to the FIS 2021 Global Payments Report, e-wallets were the second most common payment method for e-commerce purchases in Singapore in 2020, after credit cards. E-wallets are predicted to surpass credit cards and account for 27% of all online purchase transactions by 2024. Individual registrations for PayNow, Singapore’s peer-to-peer (P2P) financial transfer service based on the Fast And Secure Transfers (FAST) rapid interbank payment rail, increased by 1.6 million in 2020, increasing the total to 4.9 million. In the meantime, PayNow Corporate registrations have more than doubled to almost 240,000.

3. Increase use of BNPL

BNPL is another thriving fintech area in Singapore. BNPL arrangements are a sort of short-term financing that allows customers to buy something and pay for it over time.Since the beginning of the pandemic, these items have grown in popularity in Singapore, as consumers seek to stretch their dollars and online merchants aim to capitalize on the move to online channels to promote sales. According to Milleu Insight research, 30% of Singaporeans aged 25 to 40 have utilized a BNPL service. The greatest motivators for using BNPL services, according to 67% of users, are prizes or cashbacks. BNPL providers have stated that they are seeing a lot of traction and growth. During the epidemic, Hoolah, one of Singapore’s most famous players, had a 1,500 percent increase in transactions.

Conclusion

There are many ways to contribute to the fintech ecosystem, but first it is always best to have the basic understanding of what fintech really is. CFTE provides great fintech courses where you can chat with our CFTE’s customer support to guide you on which fintech path is best suited for you. You can check out the CFTE page to find out more about their self-paced flexible courses from Digital Payments to Open Banking and Artificial Intelligence in Finance. For Singaporean PR and residents, there are loads of subsidies and discounts 80-90% for your benefit, so just reach out to learning@cfte.education to find out more!

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What is Fintech?

The use of current technologies to the services supplied by the financial sector is known as financial technology, or ‘Fintech.’ This can include things like online banking or cryptocurrency like bitcoin. Consumers will find it easier to connect their funds to technology as a result of the technology’s design. Fintech was once limited to the banking sector, but it has since expanded to include a wide range of other uses. It allows an individual to pay his bills or trade stocks more easily with the help of technology. It also ensures that businesses reach out to new clients that they might not have been able to reach earlier owing to their remote locations. In a nutshell, fintech has brought the offline and online worlds together.

Transformation of Fintech over the decade

Fintech isn’t one of those industries that exploded in popularity overnight. The industry as we know it now is the consequence of a number of advancements over time, beginning with the introduction of credit cards, which were designed to alleviate the burden of carrying liquid currency. With the banking industry’s migration to digital services, this became a defining feature. A few years later, ATMs were introduced, and banking institutions began to adhere to more accurate record-keeping practices.

With the introduction of online banking in the 1980s, e-commerce exploded, making it difficult for traditional banking systems, which relied on methods like the telegraph to transmit financial information, to keep up with the new technology because people’s attitudes toward banks shifted dramatically. The majority of financial sector activity had been digitized by the 21st century. One of the key factors contributing to this is the growing number of individuals who have access to smartphones with internet connections, which has made it even easier to conduct online transactions using software and programs like as Google Pay.

The Recent Development in Fintech

To get to where it is now, financial technology has undergone a significant transformation. Initially, financial institutions tried their hand at e-commerce in order to capitalize on the global excitement around the digital revolution. Various financial industries are currently attempting to stay up with the latest technological advancements. From managing a business online to paying bills online, the banking procedure has seen significant changes in the period of technology advancements, resulting in the ‘digital’ becoming the ‘mainstream’.

The financial industry has been attempting to develop partnerships with technologies such as AI and Blockchain in order to minimize costs and risks. Robots are programmed to recognize patterns and navigate, and with the arrival of technologies such as chatbots, it is safe to predict that robots will soon be able to take over the role of the traditional bank teller. Another feature is the development of technology in such a way that it becomes intelligent enough to respond to the demands of customers, forcing businesses to alter their customer interactions based on the context of exchange.

Furthermore, financial institutions must improve their cyber-security to ensure that their consumer base is not harmed. Blockchain as a public ledger (a database that stores data in blocks that are then chained together) will soon be a highly important aspect of the financial sector due to its efficiency and transparency. For financial accounting, KYC verification, and security analytics, a large number of financial institutions now use cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS). Regulatory agencies are also attempting to adapt to technology in order to solve potential difficulties.

Fintech Effect on Financial Services

The financial sector’s digitalization has been a revolution. Banking institutions have always been on the lookout for new technology to assist them improve customer service, which is where fintech comes in. Technology has aided in the promotion of innovation and the improvement of efficiency. Their main goal is to improve the financial services given to consumers through customer experience management while also reducing the banks’ need on branches to operate. Apart from the banking sector, fintech has had an impact on the insurance industry, and the days of going in person and filling out papers to claim insurance are long gone. By implementing the KYC documentation process, fintech firms have made investors’ jobs easier.

Online payments via smartphone applications are the most frequent method of payment, and practically every establishment, from a hotel to a restaurant, accepts digital payments, paving the path for the emergence of a cashless economy. Although fintech has enabled the banking sector to streamline procedures, it still has a long way to go before it can prosper.

Conclusion

The ability of humans to adapt to change is at the heart of all technical growth, and fintech is the outcome of one such human trait that stimulates innovation. Fintech and banking have joined forces to help restore the financial sector by assisting both the banking sector and the clients at the same time. They assist in the provision of features that can be integrated with financial platforms via various applications.

The financial system is transitioning to a completely new paradigm that will address everything from digital identification to digital sovereignty. Fintech services, which provide a wide range of financial services, will soon become prevalent in the banking sector and in fintech start-ups. Fintech, on the other hand, will suffer a reaction if the banking sector is disrupted in any way. Fintech companies’ existence has cleared the door for financial inclusion, making banking services more accessible and convenient. If you want to learn more about Fintech, check out our dedicated subsidised fintech courses just for you!

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Is Fintech the new financial service norm?

Online banking is now the standard, and mobile wallets are available across the country, thanks to the e-commerce boom. The rising popularity of cryptocurrencies is also a sign that fintech isn’t just a passing fad, but rather a long-term innovation to the traditional financial ecosystem. Candidates in this sector are in such high demand that they frequently receive multiple job offers. Fintech companies are not only helping democratize financial services, but they are also creating jobs. Below are ways how fintech companies are improving user’s daily lives:

Fintech factors that improve our daily activities

1. Creating a Financial Ecosystem That Is Completely Digital

Fintech has made mobile banking on our smartphones the new normal by bringing financial services online. Money can be transferred to Singapore-registered banks or mobile wallets locally. Aspire, Wise, YouTrip, and Revolut are some of Singapore’s prominent neobanks.

As if that weren’t enough, fintech has made foreign transfers far cheaper, easier, and safer for digital citizens than they were five years ago. Wise, formerly Transferwise, is the most well-known local fintech firm for low-cost international transfers. Every month, Wise transfers £5 billion to its members, saving them £3 billion in bank costs.

2. Blockchain for Security Service Adaptation

Blockchain, the world’s premier software platform for digital assets, has contributed to the expansion of fintech. It is in charge of hundreds of millions of transactions all around the world. Blockchain is just a method for recording data, but the way the data is stored on the blockchain makes it difficult to hack or steal. Fintech, which deals with such sensitive data, would be unable to ensure data privacy to customers without the use of blockchain technology.

The Singaporean government is launching a S$8.9 million program to investigate and develop blockchain technology because it has become so vital to fintech. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is also working with JP Morgan Technology to develop its own Bitcoin-like digital currencies based on blockchain.

3. Push to convert into a Smart Financial Center

Singapore aspires to be a world leader in fintech with its booming fintech landscape. Singapore is still a long way from being Silicon Valley, but it is making progress. The region is being molded into a “smart financial centre” that is innovative on two fronts: being favorable to and encouraging innovation, as well as promoting infrastructure and new technology.

The purpose of the smart financial centre vision is to turn the entire country into a hub by adopting a broad innovative growth mindset. MAS intends to simplify payments, encourage secure cloud computing, provide affordable online insurance, and facilitate the safe and secure digitalization of financial services.

4. Green Fintech Is Here to Stay

Singapore is encouraging the rise of green fintech as part of its effort to instill innovation in its culture. The word refers to funding environmentally friendly and green programs that help to safeguard the environment, promote sustainability, and combat climate change. Climate experts have been warning us that we need to act quickly to avert the “time bomb” of climate change, and one way fintech is helping to combat global warming is through funding meaningful activities.

As the Asia-Pacific region as a whole has committed to being more sustainable, Singapore hopes to lead the way in green fintech. Singapore is already the largest green finance centre in ASEAN, accounting for half of all green bonds and loans.

How to be a part of the Fintech momentum?

There are many ways to contribute to the fintech ecosystem, but first it is always best to have the basic understanding of what fintech really is. CFTE provides great fintech courses where you can chat with our CFTE’s customer support to guide you on which fintech path is best suited for you. You can check out the CFTE page to find out more about their self-paced flexible courses from Digital Payments to Open Banking and Artificial Intelligence in Finance. For Singaporean PR and residents, there are loads of subsidies and discounts 80-90% for your benefit, so just reach out to learning@cfte.education to find out more!

Conclusion

As Singapore presents itself as Asia’s top fintech environment, it is also emphasizing that the fintech sector in Singapore is about more than simply making money, it is also about creating a positive impact on the people it serves.

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Singapore Fintech Report 2021: Blockchain takes center stage

One of the fintech verticals that has become well-known in Singapore is blockchain and cryptocurrencies, which now dominate the local fintech scene. Of the 430 fintech startups identified in Singapore, 19% operate in the blockchain and cryptocurrency vertical, making them the largest segment, on the payments front (16%), investment and wealthtech (14%), and regtech (11%).

The Singapore Blockchain Innovation Program aims to accelerate technology development and adoption, and will involve nearly 75 companies to conceptualize 17 blockchain-related projects over the next three years in sectors starting with trade and logistics, and supply chain. This year also saw the Payment Services Act (PSA) come into effect, which requires cryptocurrency businesses to obtain a license from the MAS to comply with anti-money laundering/combating terrorism financing (AML/CFT) regulations. Singapore’s new law has been lauded for providing regulatory clarity on emerging asset classes and industries, and potentially luring companies in the space to set up shop in the city-state. That is why, it is great to catch up with the latest fintech news and updates to support Singapore’s fintech society. Below are the Top 4 rising payment startup ventures that are making noise in early 2022:

Top 4 rising payment startup ventures in Singapore

1. AirWallex

Origin: Melbourne

Year: 2015

Company Value: $5.5B (source)

Airwallex Pte Ltd is a payments platform transforming the way businesses move and manage money globally. It is one of the fastest growing financial technology companies, operating across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America today with over 1,000 employees in 19 locations globally. On 13th January, the fintech platform announced its official launch in Singapore, following its grant of a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The Singapore team is expected to quadruple by the end of 2022 and you can be one of them! Click the link here to apply to their opening job vacancy

2. Xfers

Origin: Singapore

Year: 2015

Company Value: $600M (source)

Founded by a group of friends in Silicon Valley, Xfers aims to accelerate financial access within Southeast Asia by enabling businesses to accept payments and send money through bank transfers, e-wallets and offline channels. The company is a Major Payment Institution licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore for e-money issuance. Xfers boasts a range of last-mile financial rails including the Xfers Send, Xfers Accept, Xfers Wallet, and StraitsX. 

PayFazz Financial, a Jakarta Fintech Startup invested $30M to join partnership for Xfers’ enterprise solutions, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure in exchange for expansion and sizable agent network in Indonesia. With this strategic investment, the two companies will form a new entity called Fazz Financial Group (FFG).

“The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has also driven a big surge in online sales and transactions across Southeast Asia, so there is a huge need for online payments by businesses and merchants across the region” – Tianwei Liu (Xfers co-founder)

3. PineLabs

Origin: Singapore

Year: 2015

Company Value: $3B (source)

PineLabs Pte Ltd,  Singapore’s Unicorn Fintech startup is a payments platform for merchants in India and South-east Asia that offers solutions for in-store and online payments as well as prepaid, loyalty and “pay later” programmes. It closed a US$600 million (S$807 million) fund-raising round with some of the world’s largest investors, including Fidelity Management & Research and BlackRock, as it targets an initial public offering (IPO) within 18. The digital payments provider backed by Sequoia India and Mastercard, is moving ahead with preparations for a US listing and seeks to raise about US$500 million (S$678 million), according to people familiar with the matter. If you are interested in joining, you can check here for their job openings. 

4. Brankas

Origin: Indonesia

Year: 2016

Company Value: $64M (source)

Brankas, specialises in enabling access to financial and identity data, payments initiation and other developer tools. It provides financial institutions, fintechs and online businesses with API-based solutions, and has raised US$20 million in Series B funding led by early-stage investor Insignia Ventures Partners. It also operates in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Following the fund-raising, it is looking to deepen its payments, data and API product menu in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. (API stands for Application Programming Interface, a software intermediary that enables two applications to talk to each other.) The round was joined by Brankas’ existing backers Beenext and Integra Partners. Other investors are payments giant Visa, AFG Partners and Treasury International, which is backed by fintech entrepreneurs Jeff Cruttenden of Acorns and Eli Broverman of Betterment.

Conclusion

While funding raised by fintechs globally almost doubled from 2020 to S$137 billion in 2021, funding for Singapore fintechs has grown by 2.5 times between 2020 and 2021. The most recent quarter, Q3 2021, has been the strongest yet, with about S$1.9 billion raised by local fintechs. It is all the hype right now and if you want to know more about E-payments, you can always learn more about with CFTE’s Payments in Finance (offering 80-90% subsidy for Singaporean Residents & PR’s). If you are interested in managing Fintech ventures, CFTE’s Intrapreneurship Course is right for you! Or you want to find out about the global fintech startup, check out our Ranking of Largest Fintech Companies in 2022.

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Why consider a job in Fintech?

Fintech hires people with a wide range of expertise, from institutional bankers to creative marketers. The fact that you’re a problem-solver is crucial. If you are, a job in fintech can provide you with limitless challenges. While the financial services industry has made significant progress in remoulding the world’s financial infrastructure, empowering consumers, and allowing businesses to thrive, there is still much more to be done. Our imagination is the only limit. To help you on your job search, Below are 3 top tips to write an awesome fintech resume:

3 Top Tips to Write an Awesome Fintech Resume

1. Be Specific in your dream job

It is best to write an introductory summary of your career motivation on the top of your resume to tell the employer why you want this position. As you know, fintech jobs are broad and it is best to narrow it down to your passion and advantageous skills to set your professional qualities apart from the competition. The job areas are divided into two: Finance and technology. Having any work or project experience that may support your job position decision is vital. In the finance industry, we have: business and financial analyst, compliance expert, account executive and financial manager. In the technology industry, we have: quality assurance and control, product/project manager, data scientist/analyst, blockchain/web/app developer and fintech analysts.  

2. Skills that organizations are looking for

It is utmost important to write down your hard and soft skills on the top or side of your resume. Fintech jobs are all about finding people with an Intrepreneurship mindset. Hard skills such as Financial Fundamentals and Programming, Machine Learning, CryptoCurrency and BlockChain are various skills and qualities that can help you set yourself apart from the competition. Then soft skills, such as good team communication and collaboration, leadership, adaptability, consistency and curiosity are vital in teamwork to achieve the organisational goals.

3. List down only the relevant project and work roles

One thing a recruiter dislikes, is a long written resume with general information about your past work background. If you have loads of finance projects and work experience, keep it a 2-page resume (not 1.5 page). For fresh graduates, keep it only a page for the recruiter to read easily. Your education background is better if it is a degree related to the finance or technology industry (importantly STEM). Just list down all your course finance projects and case studies and extracurricular clubs that you may be the treasurer or director of. Overall, it depends on how many years of experience you’ve got. You can check out these CV Samples to gain inspiration and an overall view of how it might look.

Conclusion

Fintech jobs can be fulfilling as it involves more exciting programming languages and remote working. Even Though you may have years of finance/tech experience or are just getting started in the field, a Certified Fintech Course is a great way to accelerate your fintech learning. CFTE learners gain insights on the latest financial technology news and exchange ideas and experiences with professional fintech experts that provides them with the skills they need to bring value to a potential employer and this fast emerging industry as a whole. You can chat with CFTE’s customer service to guide you on which fintech path is best suited for you. You can check out the CFTE page to find out more about their self-paced flexible courses from Digital Payments to Open Banking and Conversational Artificial Intelligence in Finance. For Singaporean PR and residents, there are loads of subsidies and discounts up to 90% for you to gain, so just reach out to learning@cfte.education to find out more!

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If banking, finance and technology had a baby, it would be Fintech. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the fintech industry to become one of the most interesting and highest-paying job opportunities in the world. It is booming around the world, including Singapore (the tech heart of Asia). With this huge demand, they require fintech experts to work on these smart development and blockchain engineering projects. Global investment in FinTech has been so active in recent years that the Monetary Authority of Singapore has launched an initiative, the FinTech and Innovation Group, and pledged to spend hundreds of millions of Singapore dollars to develop the FinTech sector in Singapore. That is why it is good to learn the fintech foundation skills for growing entrepreneurs to create potential unicorn fintech startups.

But Is it Worth Working in Fintech?

If you are into digital innovative ideas to improve financial services… then yes!! Traditional companies like DBS and OCBC are now taking part of this new momentum and are integrating to produce digital payment services and features such as Paylah and Paynow! Those organisations will have extend subsidiaries that focus on migrating to tech. We are seeing this improvement as well in physical banks from SMS-Queeue Numbers to automate ATM Machines. Also salary ranges from S$104,000 to S$108,000 for Fintech jobs in Singapore. You can find various Fintech jobs at various job sites such as Jobstreet and Glassdoor. To get you started on moving towards this digital path, below are a few suggestions for the top master programmes in Singapore to study Fintech.

Here are the Top 5 Master in Financial Technology Programme:

National University of Singapore (NUS): Msc in Digital Financial Technology

Total Duration/Total Fee = 18 Months (Full-time)/S$62,000

This new flagship graduate programme in FinTech is designed to help students build a strong foundation in computing and finance, and features a range of elective modules organised along 3 tracks: Computing Technologies, Financial Data Analytics and Intelligence, and Digital Financial Transactions and Risk Management. The programme is intended primarily to help prepare graduates for challenging but rewarding careers as AI software developers, data scientists, FinTech security specialists, financial quantitative analysts and other similar professions in financial institutions or FinTech firms

Nanyang Technology University (NTU): Msc in Financial Technology

Total Duration/Total Fee = 12 Months (Full-time)/S$55,000

The Master of Science in FinTech hosted by the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. The curriculum is built on Data Science, AI, and IT, and provides students with the FinTech skills necessary to navigate the changing landscape of the finance industry. Students will choose a specialisation either Digital Financial Services (DFS) or Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) that will help to develop in-depth mastery of disruptive technologies in finance, including financial automation, financial cryptography, and digital financial service.

Singapore Management University (SMU): The Master of IT in Business (FTA) Financial Technology & Analytics Track

Total Duration/Total Fee = 12 Months (Full-time) & 24 Months (Part-time)/S$51,360

The industry-acclaimed MITB Financial Technology & Analytics (FTA) programme prepares and develops graduates and professionals with the financial technology and analytics skills that are highly demanded by the world of finance. The courses involved specialisation in Analytics Technology & Applications, Fintech, Digital Transformation, IT Management and a practicum that involve either doing an internship or capsule project. Students must complete and pass a total of 15 Course Units (CUs) with a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 to graduate with the MITB degree. Scholarships and discounts are available as well for locals and foreign applicants.

Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) & Goldsmith, University of London: Msc in Data Science and Financial Technology

Total Duration/Total Fee = 24 Months (Part-time)/S$41,600

This innovative programme will provide graduates with in-demand quantitative and analytical skills necessary to embark on a successful career in FinTech or in the financial services sector. The Data Science and Financial Technology programme combines the technology from big data and analytics, mobile computing and modern financial services. Goldsmiths’ Computing Department believes that the critical factor in the study is learning by doing and experimenting. The required modules and an applied project will allow the student to gain a strong foundation of knowledge, as well as practical experience and the opportunity to tailor learning to meet individual career ambition.

Amity Global Institute Singapore & University of Stirling: Msc of Science in Financial Technology

Total Duration/Total Fee = 12 Months (Full-time)/S$20,000

MSc Financial Technology aims to give you the knowledge and skills required to work in the new and emerging fintech sector. You’ll be taught innovation management techniques to immediately make a difference in any organisation or company you work for. Graduates will be able to design and implement software applications that will take advantage of the new open banking regulations. You will be able to gain data analytics and machine learning skills required by new data driven models of financial services provision. The course is delivered via lectures, seminars, workshops, business games (debates), practical projects and independent study to support learning and increase employability.

Alternatively,

if you do not have the time, that is completely understandable! Working as a professional for a full-time job takes much commitment and balancing with Masters may be difficult. There are more flexible options as well to learn Fintech such as joining e-learning CFTE certified Fintech courses. CFTE is a well-known UK Fintech Specialisation Course toolkit covering from Payments in Digital Finance to Open Banking and Artificial Intelligence where you will be taught by professionals and experts from the financial and tech service industries. Plus we are offering 80-90% subsidy for the Courses listed above to Singaporean Residents and Permanent Residents. For Non-Singaporean citizens, there are available discounts, even options for a monthly instalment and bundle packages for flexible payments.

Conclusion

Overall, fintech jobs is the new thing and area that is going to stay and grow for years to come.  Many fintech companies are small start-ups so business and entrepreneurial skills are important.  Fintech is a disruptive technology, bringing great changes to the ways that banks and insurance companies operate. Click here if you want to find out about other fintech courses in Singapore. You can also find out the top fintech-ranking companies here.

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Singapore Fintech Festival 2021 is focused on the emergence of Web 3.0 and its impact on the future of financial services. Designing, building and maintaining sustainable financial services on Web 3.0 that meets the needs of an increasingly globalised marketplace.

Over 45 sessions run by leading academics, practitioners and thought leaders related to the strategy, trends and technical knowledge required to thrive within this space. This year, there is a brand new event platform with the ability to personalise your SFF 2021 experience according to your needs and to ensure you acquire any accredited qualifications as part of your continuing professional development.

Don’t miss the opportunity to watch the Singapore Fintech Festival and earn a specialised certificate in Web 3.0 knowledge in Financial Services.

To attend the Singapore Fintech Festival 2021 – click fintechfestival.sg and register now to avoid losing your place. For those associated with educational institutions, public agencies and non-profit organisations you can obtain free online SFF access once you register. The dates for the Singapore Fintech Festival are 8th to 12th November 2021.

What to attend at Singapore Fintech Festival 2021?

Monday 8th November, 2021: Designing Financial Services

8th November (Designing Financial Services) starts the week off with a market-changing impact series based around the rapidly emerging decentralised financial products. The foundational firesides are on the application of financial services in capital markets, insurance, asset management, consumer banking and wholesale banking. After the core strategy sessions, the deep dive sessions are about the impact of web 3.0 in two distinct sectors; consumer banking and the insurance/pension market.

Top sessions to attend on the 8th November for Core Strategy

• Market-Changing Impact Series: Decentralised Financial Products with Balaji Srinivasan, Former Chief Technology Officer at Coinbase and Partner at a16z (Moderated by Sopenudu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore) – 08:30am (SGT) – 00:30am (GMT)
• Insurance with Mike Wells, Group Chief Executive, Prudential – 09:20am (SGT) – 01:20am (GMT)
• Wholesale Banking with Takis Georgakopoulos, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan and Tan Su Shan, Group Head of Institutional Banking, DBS – 10:35am (SGT) – 02:35am (GMT)
• Realising the Value of Blockchain in Financial Services with Pradyumna Agrawal, Managing Director, Investment (Blockchain) from Temasek and Jeremy Kranz, Managing Director, GIC – 11:00am (SGT) – 03:00am (GMT)

Top sessions to attend on the 8th November for Deep Dive

• Web 3.0 in Insurance/Pension Market with Jonathan Larsen, Chief Innovation Officer, Ping An Group Hugh Karp, Founder, Nexus Mutual Annabelle Kwok, Director, Head of Data and Analytics (Asia), Prudential – 03:00pm (SGT) – 07:00am (GMT)
• Web 3.0 in Corporate/Investment Banking with Umar Farooq, Chief Executive Officer, Onyx by JP Morgan and Robert Leshnar, Chief Executive Officer, Compound – 03:30pm (SGT) – 07:30am (GMT)
• Driving New Commercial and Partnership Models with Embedded Finance delivered by Dhivya Suryadevara, Chief Financial Officer, Stripe – 04:20pm (SGT) – 08:20am (GMT)
• Decentralised Finance: Redefining the Architecture with Stani Kulechov, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Aave, Sergey Nazarov, Co-Founder, Chainlink and Rene Reinsberg, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Celo – 04:40pm (SGT) – 08:40am (GMT)

Tuesday 9th November, 2021: Building Financial Services

9th November (Building Financial Services) – The core strategy sessions are focused on building a web 3.0 tech stack for the future. It involves understanding what it takes to build the value exchange layer of the internet with 4 foundational firesides around distributed ledger technology, AI, machine learning, IoT, 5G and quantum computing.

The deep dive sessions to end the day surround building and embedding responsible AI- namely reference architecture, model choices, evaluation criteria, managing bias and data. To complete the deep dive- there’s a final look at the adoption of quantum technology and its relevance to financial services alongside the cybersecurity implications.

Top sessions to attend on the 9th November 2021 for Core Strategy

• The Future of Money with Dr Neha Narula, Director of Digital Currency Initiative, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – 07:30am (SGT) – 23:30pm (GMT)
• Market-changing Impact Series: Building the Value Exchange Layer of the Internet with Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum Founder, Ethereum Foundation and Raoul Paul, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Real Vision – 08:55am (SGT) – 00:55am (GMT)
• Quantum Computing with Dr Alan Baratz, President & Chief Executive Officer, D-Wave Systems – 10:40am (SGT) – 02:40am (GMT)
• 5G with Chuck Robbins, Chief Executive Officer, Cisco – 10:20am (SGT) – 02:20am (GMT)

Top sessions to attend on the 9th November 2021 for Deep Dive

• Building and Embedding Responsible AI with Dr Lachlan McCalman, Chief Practitioner, Gradient Institute Shameek Kundu, Head of Financial Services, Truera, Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, Professor, National University of Singapore, Professor Steven Miller, Professor Emeritus of Information Systems, Hybrid Intelligence Advisory – 01:30pm (SGT) – 05:30am (GMT)
• Adopting Quantum Technology with Dr Bob Sutor, Chief Quantum Exponent, IBM Moderators: Dr Yvonne Gao, Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore, Centre for Quantum Technologies – 02:45pm (SGT) – 06:45am (GMT)
• DLT Networks Deployed and In Production with Carl Wegner, Chief Executive Officer, Contour, Richard Brown, Chief Technology Officer, R3c Moderator: Alan Lim, Head, FinTech Infrastructure Office, Monetary Authority of Singapore – 03:35pm (SGT) – 07:35am (GMT)
• In Conversation with Al Kelly with Alfred F. Kelly, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Visa – 06:35pm (SGT) – 10:35am (GMT)

Wednesday 10th November, 2021: Sustainable Financial Services

10th November (Sustainable Financial Services)- The core strategy sessions are based around sustainability in travel, food, and carbon sequestration. This will be followed by a sustainable finance impact panel series looking at impact investing, financing, insurance and measurement.

To finish the week’s strategy sessions there’s a G20 series: 2021 presidency. The deep dive sessions surround technology for sustainability such as renewable energy, carbon sequestration, battery and waste management technology. This coincides well with the final topics looking at green data, innovation for sustainability and new investment instruments like crypto and tokenised instruments.

Top sessions to attend on the 10th November 2021 for Core Strategy

• Impact Investing with Stephen Bird, Chief Executive Officer, abrdn plc and Lisa Genasci, Chief Executive Officer, ADM Capital Foundation – 09:20am (SGT) – 01:20am (GMT)
• G20 Series: 2021 Presidency Fireside Chat with Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco Governor, Bank of Italy – 10:45am (SGT) – 02:45am (GMT)
• Marketing-changing Impact Series: In Conversation with Global CEOs 1. Sustainable Travel: Reinventing the Way We Travel 2. Sustainable Food: Responsible Food Production and Consumption 3. Sustainable World: Revitalising the World Through Carbon Sequestration – 08:20am (SGT) – 00:20am (GMT)

Top sessions to attend on the 10th November 2021 for Deep Dive

• New Investment Instruments with Darius Sit, Co-Founder & Chief Information Officer, QCP Capital, Sam Bankman-Fried, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, FTX Moderator: Michael Casey, Chief Content Officer, CoinDesk – 11:30am (SGT) – 03:30am (GMT)
• Unicorn Case Studies in FinTech with Jefferson Chen, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Advance Intelligence Group and Niraan de Silva, Chief Executive Officer, VNLIFE – 12:00pm (SGT) – 04:00am (GMT)
• Embedded Finance Case Study with Rachmat Kaimuddin, Chief Executive Officer, Bukalapak and Prajit Nanu, Co-Founder & CEO, NIUM – 12:30pm (SGT) – 04:30am (GMT)
• Sustainable Finance Impact Panel Series: Impact Measurement with Professor Jeff Obbard, Head of Climate Science Research Programme Office, Centre for Climate Research Singapore, Centre for Climate Research Singapore, Ministry of Sustainability & Environment – 02:50pm (SGT) – 06:50am (GMT)
• Investors’ Spotlight on LATAM: The World’s Fastest Growing Market with Carlos Garcia, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Kavak and Hernan Kazah, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, KASZEK – 05:00pm (SGT) – 09:00am (GMT)
• The Evolution of Venture Capital: Global Learnings for SEA with Helen Wong, Founding Managing Partner, QR Ventures and Koh Tuck Lye, Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Shunwei Capital Moderator: Nikhilesh Goel, Co-Founder & Group Chief Executive Officer, Validus – 05:25pm (SGT) – 09:25am (GMT)
• Deal Makers’ Perspectives: Path from Venture, Growth to Exit with Gan Wee Leong, Head of Equities ASEAN, China Renaissance, Arnaud Granger, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director & Head of Southeast Asia, Greenhill & Co. Asia (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. – 06:20pm (SGT) – 10:20am (GMT)

11th and 12th November 2021

To finish the week of learning; Oxygen by APIX, will provide advanced digital courses and masterclasses. This is followed by a deep dive into specific countries like the Philippines and India as part of the World Fintech Festival. Alongside this, you will be able to access the innovation lab crawl, deal making activities, deal Fridays and the roundtables.

What is Oxygen?

• Oxygen by APIX an up skilling platform for financial institutions, FinTechs and tech enthusiasts with carefully curated masterclasses, panels, podcasts and research content from industry experts dedicated to promoting worldwide knowledge sharing.

A breakdown of different stages and sections at Singapore Fintech Festival 2021:

Green Shoots Online Discussions

Green Shoots is a collection of online discussions where leading speakers across the planet share their practical insights and stories on the most topical issues facing financial services, public policy and technology. It’s a great way for individuals of any experience and skill level to gain a greater understanding of Fintech and the individuals that work within this space.

Deal Fridays

Deal Fridays is an opportunity that has been generously organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Enterprise Singapore- they intend to provide year-long, end to end support for start-ups, investors and organisations to increase commercial success through investment deals, collaboration opportunities and partnerships.

Global Fintech Hackcelerator

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) launched the MAS Global FinTech Hackcelerator which seeks to identify and recognise ground-breaking solutions that can enable the financial sector to respond to the existential challenge of our time – climate change.

Who can enter the Global Fintech Hackcelerator?

The Global FinTech Hackcelerator is open to all start-ups with a market-ready product. Winners will walk away with a total cash prize of S$150,000, and the chance to conduct a Proof-of-Concept with a Singapore-based Financial Institution with up to S$200,000 from MAS’ FSTI Proof-of-Concept grant.

This year’s Global FinTech Hackcelerator focuses on Green Finance and the role of Green FinTechs in the ecosystem.

Innovation Lab Crawl

On the 11th and 12th of November Innovation Labs will open their doors and showcase their up-and-coming FinTech innovations through prepared tours, exhibitions and talks, in physical, hybrid and virtual formats. The Innovation Lab Crawl schedule will be released in late October, so get your SFF pass now to catch all the updates.

Talent Pavillon

The Talent Pavilion is a part of the Singapore Fintech Festival with an array of events, job opportunities, upskilling and reskilling courses over the course 5 days, from 7-11 December 2020.

You will have a chance to explore what the Fintech space is about through live events, panel discussions and chats with Fintech founders.

Under Career Support, you will be able to discover what government initiatives (e.g. grants, subsidies, programmes etc) that can help you pivot your career or excel your career in the Fintech space. From the 7 – 8 December, explore new job opportunities in the Virtual Career Fair and speak with potential employers.

The SFF Global Fintech Awards

SFF Global Fintech Awards are the highest achievement for any Fintech innovation. This year’s theme is “Emerging from a pandemic, the road to recovery”. Both a relevant and useful theme where these awards will recognise Fintech initiatives that contribute to new growth opportunities, greater financial inclusion amid the circumstances surrounding Covid-19. This year, it’s about rewarding the Fintech Innovations that are helping to alleviate the global suffering caused by Covid. This year’s award is supported by PwC Singapore. There are a total of 12 award categories.

What are the different awards available?

For corporates- Singapore Fintech (Singapore Founder), ASEAN Fintech, Singapore Financial Institution and Global Award

FinTech Employer of the Year, Partners of Fintech, Social Impact Award, Knowledge Enterprise Award

For Individuals- Top 10 Fintech Leaders, ASEAN Fintech Leaders, Women in Fintech, FinTech Leaders under 30

Who are the Singapore FinTech Festival 2021 Speakers?

The Singapore Fintech Festival hosts globally renowned speakers from some of the largest technology, financial services and investment organisations in the World. The likes of IBM, Bank of Italy, Stripe and Paypal will be letting their C-level executives and brilliant talent speak at the event to help provide attendees with a taste of  the future of financial services.

Dr Bob Sutor

Chief Quantum Exponent

IBM

Bob Sutor, a technical leader and executive in the IT industry for over 30 years. The author of books about quantum computing and coding called Dancing with Qubits and Dancing with Python.

Dan Schulman

President & Chief Executive Officer

PayPal

Dan has been recognised as one of Fortune’s top 20 Businesspersons of the Year and he is the recipient of the 2017 Brennan Legacy Award, given in recognition of his contributions to social justice.

Dhivya Suryadevara

Chief Financial Officer

Stripe

Dhivya Suryadevara is chief financial officer at Stripe, a global technology company that builds economic infrastructure for the internet.

Michael Miebach

Chief Executive Officer

Mastercard

Michael Miebach, President of Mastercard, is responsible for overseeing the sales, marketing, products, services, and technology organisations for the company. Mastercard’s Board unanimously elected Michael to succeed Ajay Banga as Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2021.

Vitalik Buterin

Ethereum Founder

Ethereum Foundation

Vitalik is the creator of Ethereum. He first discovered blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies through Bitcoin in 2011, and was immediately excited by the technology and its potential.

Balaji Srinivasan

Former Chief Technology Officer of Coinbase & General Partner at a16z

Balaji S. Srinivasan is currently angel investing and taking some time off. Formerly the CTO of Coinbase and General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, he was also the cofounder of Earn.com (acquired by Coinbase), Teleport (acquired by Topia), and Coin Center.

Ignazio Visco

Governor of Bank of Italy

Ignazio Visco was appointed Governor of the Bank of Italy in November 2011 and renewed in November 2017, after a long career with the Bank that began in 1972. The Governor is also Chairman of the Joint Directorate of Italy’s Insurance Supervisory Authority.

Michael Casey

Chief Content Officer CoinDesk

Michael Casey is the Chief Content Officer at CoinDesk, the leading media platform for the blockchain and digital asset community, and the author of CoinDesk’s weekly Money Reimagined newsletter as well as a co-host of the podcast of the same name.

Sergey Nazarov

Co-Founder Chainlink

Sergey Nazarov is the Co-founder of Chainlink, the leading decentralized oracle network used by global enterprises and projects at the forefront of the blockchain space.

Koh Tuck Lye

Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer Shunwei Capital

Mr. Koh is co-founder and CEO of Shunwei Capital, an early to growth stage venture fund with over US$3 billion in funds under management. Shunwei Capital invests primarily in China, and also in India and Indonesia.

How to get the Web 3.0 Certificate at Singapore Fintech Festival?

Web 3.0 Certificate Module 1

8th November is about designing financial services through web 3.0- this day focuses on the tokenisation of financial products, business payment transformation, capital market infrastructure and the impact on operations. It would be greatly useful for those involved in investment and corporate banking. The latter half of the day is focused on global trends panels; where experts discuss business models within embedded finance, decentralised finance, next-gen payment infrastructure and the need for a multi-jurisdictional SME platform namely in Asia and Africa. Everyday is finished with a guest of honour and a sponsored networking event to ensure you are able to build strong, cohesive and useful networks within the industry.

Web 3.0 Certificate Module 2

9th November surrounds the processes around building financial services specifically around DLT networks. Considering public and private DLTs, the designing of decentralised finance technologies using DLT and implementing DAPPS alongside the cybersecurity considerations required to build web 3.0 financial services. Once you finish learning, you will learn about the following global trends; digital currencies and their global adoption, web 3.0 layers for SMEs, building greener ai and its impact on the environment, the state of quantum technology and DLT gaining mainstream technology status. Once these discussions are complete, you’ll be in store for another guest of honour.

Web 3.0 Certificate Module 3

10th November makes up the final module on sustainable financial services- this is specially taught using Fintech unicorn case studies to understand the scaling considerations, processes, deployment of funds, hiring and culture. This provides learners with real life examples to substantiate their learning. The trends panel focuses on the trends of the largest markets (US and China), the investor’s spotlight on LATAM, the evolution of venture capital and the path to net-zero emissions. This lively discussion will be again followed by the final guest of honour.

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