Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)

The Middle Corridor is emerging as a vital artery for trade, connectivity, and digital integration across Eurasia. As freight volumes expand and regional economies become more interconnected, the demand for equally efficient, secure, and interoperable financial systems will only intensify. As we look forward to the Tbilisi Finance Summit this week, this pre-forum report highlights the country’s progress in open banking, blockchain experimentation, and cross-border fintech initiatives, offering a blueprint for what regional cooperation can achieve. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/gJyq2cJA Khadija D-A | Pat Patel | Phyu Thinn Kaitlyn

The Founders Peak is coming to Tbilisi, Georgia! Taking place next week on 23 October in Tbilisi, Georgia, the Tbilisi Finance Summit held in partnership with the National Bank of Georgia and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia - ეკონომიკის სამინისტრო, will spotlight the transformative power of entrepreneurship across the Middle Corridor. The Founders Peak is a TED-inspired global stage where visionary founders share the defining moments and lessons that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys. Over the past three years, the platform has featured 300+ founders from over 40 countries. 10 exceptional voices will join the ranks of those who’ve shared their resilience, clarity, and hard-earned wisdom. See you at the 'yellow circle'! Navin Suri | Sagari White | Joel L. | Aleksi Khoroshvili | Sujata Karthikeyan | Siddharth Shetty | Hasan Hasanov | Alexander Tavkhelidze | Lisa JY Tan | Nato Toronjadze | Davit Kvitsiani | Vano Chaladze

Happy Friday! As always, here's a curated list of fintech updates we've put together, just for you. 📖 👉 iCapital grows its presence in Singapore and Hong Kong https://lnkd.in/gByPGb5b 👉 AI is driving fraud attacks in finance https://lnkd.in/gePAnvnP 👉  A Budapest-based software developer and fintech company, wins DeFi prize at the Global FinTech Awards 2025 https://lnkd.in/gvmVqzD6 #GFTNWeekendReads

Our heartiest congratulations to Banking Circle on this milestone!

For the first time, The Founders Peak takes centre stage at Tbilisi Finance Summit 2025! We're bringing together a powerhouse lineup of founders to share their real, raw stories: the challenges, triumphs and lessons that shaped their journeys. Hear from entrepreneurs building the future of the Middle Corridor, discuss the shifting landscape of investment and capital, and explore what it takes to build sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in Georgia and beyond. 🔗 Apply to attend now: https://lnkd.in/g6c4EJNf - Held in partnership with the National Bank of Georgia and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia - ეკონომიკის სამინისტრო. Sandro Tavkhelidze, Wempler | Aleksi Khoroshvili, Silk Bank • სილქ ბანკი | David Kvitsiani, cnick | Hasan Hasanov, Epoint.az | Joel L., Waarde Capital | Lisa JY Tan, Economics Design | Nato Toronjadze, Tera Leasing • ტერა ლიზინგი | Pedro Santos Vieira, 500 Global | Rachit Parekh, Accel | Shota Lomtadze, BR Capital | Siddharth Shetty, Finternet | Vano Chaladze, CARGON | Navin Suri, Accenture | Sagari White | Anthony Howe

Next week, we’ll be hosting an invite-only leadership retreat with the Central Bank of Armenia, the Black Swan Summit Armenia. Designed for visionary leaders shaping the future of financial services, participants will be participating in dialogue revolving AI, tokenization, and quantum innovation. We look forward to welcoming you soon. https://lnkd.in/gjw4rPew

AI has evolved from narrow experimental automation projects into a systemic enabler of innovation, efficiency, and resilience across banking, insurance, payments, and capital markets. As the Singapore FinTech Festival celebrates its 10th year, this report covers the maturing of AI infrastructure, pioneering regulatory frameworks from jurisdictions like the EU and Singapore over the past decade, and the urgent need to balance innovation with responsibility to shape a stable and inclusive financial system for the future. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gpB-bJiF

Have you signed up to be a Next Gen Leader in fintech? If you haven't, don't put it off any longer! Open to anyone under 35 and in their early fintech career, this is an opportunity you don't want to miss. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/ge-JhBgw

In exactly one month, Insights Forum returns for future-focused problem solving on the defining issues in finance, policy, and technology. On 10-11 November, this invite-only platform unites public and private sector leaders in a high-trust environment to forge collective solutions. Under Chatham House Rules, outcome-driven roundtables will address tokenisation and stablecoins, agentic AI, systemic resilience, and the structural shifts reshaping global finance. Be part of the dialogue shaping the next decade. Apply to attend: https://lnkd.in/g5FDAiVH Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gUHEgGCN

🌏 Asia is quietly rewriting the playbook for digital finance. This week's reads gives us some insights: 👉Vietnam caps crypto pilot to 5 exchanges https://lnkd.in/gayvGVji 👉 APAC rewrites the rules of digital payments https://lnkd.in/guB4JcSn 👉 PayPay buys 40% stake in Binance Japan https://lnkd.in/gjrRfMSz