One of the most memorable moments in my 2025 happened just a few weeks ago, when I got hired as a writer by (signed an NDA not to reveal the company’s name, so let’s just call it an e-commerce agency) and got kicked out three days after signing my contract. If you’re familiar with how badly Erik Ten Hag performed at Leverkusen, well, at least he survived until day ten, a privilege I didn’t have.

They called me one day in September and told me it would begin with a three-month probation period, followed by a performance evaluation. Three days later, I was called into HR and told we had to part ways. I repeat, after three days in.

I’m not sure if this start and finish in the same week approach is becoming common in workplaces today, but no organisation should feel ethically justified in terminating someone after only three days without any warning or chance to improve. According to Seek, firing an employee without providing a reasonable opportunity to address concerns violates basic fairness expectations, making such actions appear arbitrary and irrational.

However, being someone raised with Asian values, I tend to look for positives in every situation. After hours (or days) of reflecting, here’s what I discovered.

Adaptability in modern workplaces

One of the most immediate things I learned was how adaptability has become an integral norm in modern workplaces, as it ensures that employees have what it takes to engage in challenges and meet the expectations set at their organisations. The increasing demand and flow of modern workplaces lead to an increase in employers’ expectations of what their employees can and should do.

Also Read: How your HR team can help with crisis management

In my case, I realised I didn’t hit the ground running fast enough, which likely contributed to the decision. Data from Morton Fraser MacRoberts shows that 20 per cent of new employees fail probation, and 30 per cent leave within the first 90 days. Not quite three days, but I suppose mine was a special case. Either way, the numbers show that adaptability is critical for survival.

Being proactive and taking initiative matters

Adaptability helps you survive. Proactivity helps you thrive.

Today’s focus on work-life balance sometimes discourages employees from going the extra mile, but the reality is that initiative remains one of the few things that clearly differentiates us from AI. If machines are catching up on execution, then human judgment, intent, and initiative become more valuable than ever.

Going the extra mile also applies beyond workplaces. In relationships, effort strengthens connection. In marketing, it separates brands from the rest. The same applies professionally. Taking initiative signals commitment and helps build trust early on.

The whole experience taught me something simple: no one is responsible for our growth except us. If we want to stand out, especially when we are still new and have little influence over culture or processes, we have to do more than what is asked. And with AI always advancing, determination may be what keeps us ahead.

Do you agree that human determination will always take us ahead in the race against AI?

—

Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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Granite Asia has achieved the first close of its pan-Asia private credit strategy, Libra Hybrid, securing more than US$350 million in commitments as investor appetite for non-dilutive financing accelerates across the region.

Anchored by Temasek, via its private credit platform Aranda Principal Strategies, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, and the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), the strategy targets a total fund size of US$500 million.

Additional capital commitments came from global institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, Granite Asia’s general partners, and the firm’s 25-year network of founders and entrepreneurs.

Also Read: Granite Asia launches US$250M Libra Fund to power Asia’s mid-market growth

Granite Asia has already deployed and committed roughly 30 per cent of the fund across six transactions, with more deals currently in execution. The strategy expands the firm’s long-standing track record in tech investing, which spans over 500 companies and 63 IPOs globally, into the fast-growing private credit arena.

Meeting rising demand for flexible, non-dilutive financing

Private credit has emerged as a key financing alternative for Asian businesses navigating supply-chain redesigns, market expansions, and technology-driven modernisation. Granite Asia aims to provide structured, non-dilutive capital to profitable enterprises undergoing such transitions.

“We’re seeing strong demand for private credit from companies undergoing transformative growth, redesigning supply chains, expanding into new markets, or modernising through technology,” said Ming Eng, Managing Partner at Granite Asia, who leads the firm’s private credit strategy.

“These businesses require not just financing solutions beyond traditional equity or debt, but a trusted partner with specialised expertise and a deep regional track record. This dynamic creates a compelling opportunity for our investors: access to Asia’s growth through a capital-preserving credit strategy that delivers stable yields, augmented by structured upside through value-add, such as revenue sharing, designed to pursue equity-like returns without taking on equity-like risk,” Eng added.

Jenny Lee, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia, added: “Private credit is a natural extension of our platform and reflects the evolving capital needs of the visionary founders and businesses we back. It strengthens our ability to provide comprehensive financing solutions –from equity to credit — built on the same discipline, insight, and long-term partnership that define Granite Asia. It reflects our proven ability to leverage our unique strengths and ecosystem to innovate and unlock value – partnering up with the region’s leading investors to drive growth across Asia.”

Growing team and pan-Asia coverage

To support its expanding private credit footprint, Granite Asia has doubled the size of its credit team this year, with Eng leading regional efforts. Momentum across the broader platform—which now spans venture, growth, and credit strategies with over US$6 billion in assets under management—continues to build amid rising demand for flexible capital solutions.

The Libra Hybrid strategy integrates credit investing with the firm’s deep tech expertise and operational value-creation capabilities. Its pan-Asia presence and proprietary sourcing channels, which include relationships with founders, corporates, financial institutions, and broader ecosystem partners, further strengthen deal flow and regional coverage.

Why private credit matters for Asia’s scaling companies

Private credit, typically structured as secured loans or mezzanine debt, offers an alternative to both equity and traditional bank financing. With more predictable income through interest and fees, it generally carries lower risk and provides moderate liquidity compared with private equity.

For Southeast Asia’s startup and mid-market ecosystem, Granite Asia’s first close marks a meaningful injection of capital at a time when bank lending remains constrained and scaling companies increasingly seek flexible, non-dilutive funding to support growth and digital transformation.

Also Read: Granite Asia, Integral form US$100M JV to drive Japan-global tech expansion

Asia’s private credit market has expanded rapidly over the past three to four years, with the sector projected to grow from US$59 billion in 2024 to US$92 billion by 2027. Growth drivers include a rising middle class, urbanisation, infrastructure demand, and the retrenchment of traditional SME lending. Direct lending IRRs have hovered around 13–14 per cent, offering a yield premium compared with public markets.

A portfolio spanning Southeast Asia’s digital economy

Granite Asia’s portfolio includes many of the region’s most prominent tech and digital leaders, such as Sea Group, Grab, Gojek, Tokopedia, Bukalapak, OYO Rooms, Zalora, Carousell, Razer, PatSnap, ShopBack, RedDoorz, Klook, Lazada, Traveloka, Gogoro, Ninja Van, Carro, Kata.ai, and VGI Global Media — companies that collectively represent Southeast Asia’s rapid expansion in e-commerce, fintech, logistics, and digital media.

As the firm doubles down on its integrated venture, growth, and credit platform, the Libra Hybrid strategy positions Granite Asia at the forefront of a private credit wave reshaping how Asian businesses finance modernisation and scale.

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The global financial markets entered a holding pattern this week, caught between resilient labour market data and the looming Federal Reserve decision. Investors showed restraint, refraining from aggressive positioning as they awaited clarity on interest rate policy, but beneath the surface of this apparent calm, a subtle recalibration of risk sentiment was already underway.

In traditional markets, mixed equity performance, rising Treasury yields, and a firmer dollar reflected persistent uncertainty. In a parallel universe, the crypto market surged more than two per cent in just 24 hours, driven by a confluence of technical, institutional, and regulatory forces that suggest a growing divergence in how macro signals are interpreted between legacy finance and digital assets.

The US labour market continues to defy expectations of softening. The latest JOLTS report revealed job openings rose to US$7.67 million in the September to October period, well above the US$7.15 million forecast. This data point reinforces the narrative of underlying economic strength, which in turn complicates the Federal Reserve’s path toward easing.

Despite this, many strategists still anticipate a 25 basis point rate cut at the December FOMC meeting. Such an expectation hinges on the assumption that recent softness in inflation readings and subtle shifts in labour dynamics will ultimately outweigh the headline strength in job openings.

Treasury yields responded accordingly, with the 10-year yield climbing to 4.184 per cent and the two-year jumping to 3.611 per cent, signalling that markets remain sceptical about the durability of any dovish pivot. Meanwhile, the dollar edged higher, pushing USD JPY to 156.88, though expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike in December could reverse that trend through narrowing yield differentials.

Also Read: Fed decision looms: Crypto cracks under US$3.07T as ETFs bleed US$3.47B in one month

Within this traditional macro framework, equities exhibited fatigue. The S&P 500 dipped 0.1 per cent, the Dow Jones fell 0.38 per cent, and only the Nasdaq managed a modest gain of 0.13 per cent. This divergence within US indices underscores the market’s preference for growth-oriented tech exposure amid macro ambiguity.

Regional Asian equities mirrored this cautious tone, closing mixed as traders braced for the Fed’s verdict. The prevailing strategy calls for consolidation in portfolios, with a tilt toward non-US value and mid-cap plays to generate alpha, suggesting that global diversification remains a prudent hedge against US-centric policy risk.

But while traditional markets tread water, crypto roared back with conviction. Bitcoin rose 2.96 per cent, and Ethereum surged 9.02 per cent, lifting the broader market by 2.49 per cent. This move was not speculative froth but rather a technically driven rally with institutional fingerprints and regulatory validation.

At the heart of the action was a classic short squeeze. Over US$163 million in BTC shorts were liquidated in 24 hours, the largest such event since November 25, after prices vaulted above the 94,400 resistance level. This created a self-reinforcing cycle.

As shorts were forcibly closed, their covering purchases pushed prices higher, triggering even more margin calls. Perpetual futures funding rates, which had been negative for nearly 10 days, flipped positive to 0.00218 per cent, confirming a shift in trader sentiment from defensive to optimistic.

Crucially, this rally was not just retail-driven momentum. Institutional demand re-emerged with tangible force. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded US$1.55 billion in net inflows this week alone, reversing a period of outflows and pushing total assets under management to US$124.24 billion. This re-engagement suggests that institutional players view current levels as attractive entry points, especially if they anticipate a dovish tilt from the Fed.

Further evidence came from on-chain data showing a single entity, likely Bitmain, acquiring US$432 million worth of Ethereum, highlighting strategic accumulation at a time of macro uncertainty. Notably, crypto’s 24-hour correlation with the Nasdaq 100 spiked to 0.72, its highest since October. This strong linkage implies that both markets are responding to the same macro catalysts, namely softening Fed rhetoric and the potential for declining real yields, which historically serve as tailwinds for risk assets.

Perhaps most significant was the regulatory development from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. In Letter 1188, the OCC clarified that federally chartered banks can act as intermediaries for crypto transactions without holding the underlying digital assets on their balance sheets. This guidance removes a longstanding legal grey area and provides banks with a clear pathway to participate in the crypto ecosystem as service providers.

Coupled with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s launch of a tokenised collateral pilot, the regulatory landscape is shifting from adversarial to enabling, at least for institutions. The impact is twofold. On one hand, it reduces operational and compliance risk for traditional finance players looking to enter crypto markets.

On the other hand, it could inadvertently raise barriers for retail participants if compliance overhead increases. Still, the net effect is bullish, as institutional capital requires regulatory certainty before deploying at scale.

Also Read: Markets rally on Fed easing bets: Here’s why Crypto’s move is different

From a strategic standpoint, these developments align with a broader thesis. Crypto is evolving from a speculative asset class into a component of diversified institutional portfolios. The recent rally reflects not just a technical rebound but a recalibration of market structure. Leverage is being shed and rebuilt more sustainably, institutional inflows are stabilising spot prices, and regulatory clarity is lowering systemic friction. Even so, caution remains warranted.

The Fear and Greed Index sits at just 30 out of 100, signalling that market participants are still operating from a defensive posture. Much now hinges on the Fed’s tone in its upcoming statement. A dovish signal, perhaps acknowledging progress on inflation or hinting at a December cut, could catalyse a broader risk-on rotation, extending gains across both equities and crypto.

One key question lingers. If Bitcoin dominance continues to wane, will altcoins like Ethereum and Solana sustain their momentum? Ethereum’s nearly 9 per cent surge suggests strong conviction in its post-merge fundamentals and institutional utility, especially as layer two adoption accelerates. Solana, though not mentioned in the data provided, often benefits from spillover demand during ETH rallies due to its high throughput architecture and growing DeFi activity. If the macro backdrop turns favourable, capital rotation into these higher beta assets could intensify.

In sum, while traditional markets remain in a holding pattern dictated by central bank uncertainty, crypto markets are exhibiting signs of structural maturation. The rally is not merely a reaction to price action but the result of deeper forces. Deleveraging, renewed institutional interest, and regulatory progress form the pillars of a healthier, more resilient market, one that may still be volatile but is increasingly influenced by fundamentals rather than pure sentiment.

As the Fed prepares to speak, all eyes will be on whether its message validates the growing optimism in risk assets or reins it in with a reminder of persistent inflationary pressures. Either way, crypto is no longer an isolated sideshow. It is now a barometer of institutional confidence and macro adaptation in a rapidly shifting financial landscape.

—

Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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Southeast Asia is emerging as a critical hub for innovative financial asset products, driven by digitally savvy youth consumers who exhibit a strong appetite for self-directed finance and risk. While local digital wealth platforms gain scale, foreign investing apps are seizing opportunities, focusing keenly on the affluent segment.

Digital wealth platforms in the region are starting to reach scale, with multiple platforms surpassing US$1 billion in assets under management (AUM). According to the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report prepared by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company, AUM for digital wealth in ASEAN-10 is forecast to reach US$90 billion in 2025, representing a strong 21 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the SEA-6 markets from 2023 to 2025.

Also Read: e-Conomy SEA 2025: Digital lending hits US$91B, QR networks go regional

The digital wealth value proposition

Digital wealth startups attract customers primarily through a compelling value proposition centred on price and convenience. Key factors driving adoption include:

• Lower fees compared to traditional instruments.
• A fully digital, seamless onboarding experience.
• Simple and clearly articulated financial products.

A common strategy employed by these platforms is customer acquisition through high-yield cash management products, followed by upselling consumers to higher-risk investment portfolios as their account balances mature.

Foreign investment apps outpace local peers

The investment, budgeting, and crypto categories show intensified competition between local and foreign entities. Foreign finance and crypto firms are accelerating their expansion into Southeast Asia, viewing the favourable market conditions — especially the young, risk-tolerant demographic — as ideal for scaling digital asset products.

While Southeast Asian (SEA) apps and foreign apps have an almost equal count in the top app rankings (108 SEA apps vs 107 foreign apps), the difference in user growth is striking:

• Foreign apps: Showed 10 per cent year-on-year (YoY) active user growth.
• SEA apps: Grew at a comparatively modest 3 per cent YoY.

This disparity, where foreign apps are achieving 3.2X the active user growth of local apps in this category, suggests that foreign players are successfully targeting the more affluent, self-directed investors.

Digital insurance and micro-lending

Digital insurance, although starting from a smaller base, is also poised for accelerated growth, with annual premium equivalent (APE) and gross written premium (GWP) forecast to reach US$2.7 billion in ASEAN-10 by 2025. This market is projected to reach approximately US$6.2 billion by 2030, showing steady maturation.

Also Read: SEA e-commerce surges to US$185B as video commerce becomes the new growth engine

In the digital lending space, small-scale micro-lenders continue to chase the underbanked population, aiming to provide financial access to underserved segments. The ability of digital banks to leverage ecosystem data for better risk underwriting ensures that they can continue to target niche segments, reinforcing the broader digital financial services (DFS) ecosystem.

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Asia Pacific has emerged as the world’s most dynamic crypto region, with Singapore overtaking the US to become the top-ranked country in Bybit’s newly released World Crypto Rankings (WCR) 2025.

Developed with DL Research, the data-driven index evaluates crypto readiness across 79 markets using 28 metrics and 92 data points — offering one of the most comprehensive assessments of global adoption to date.

Also Read: Why institutional money is flowing into crypto, even as fear grips retail

Vietnam and Hong Kong also landed in the global top ten, underscoring the region’s accelerating leadership in digital assets. Six Asia Pacific markets ranked among the world’s top twenty, signalling a powerful mix of regulatory clarity, institutional participation and grassroots-driven use cases.

Singapore: Regulatory clarity and institutional maturity secure global leadership

Singapore’s rise to No. 1 reflects its robust licensing regime, strong cultural engagement and clear regulatory frameworks. More than 11 per cent of Singaporeans hold crypto, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s progressive structures — including the Payment Services Act, enhanced AML/CFT rules and expanding regulatory sandboxes — have attracted global exchanges and Web3 innovators.

The next phase, according to industry observers, will be scaling retail usage and expanding transactional applications such as stablecoin payments and on-chain payroll.

Vietnam and Hong Kong showcase contrasting paths to adoption

Vietnam, ranked ninth globally, stands out as the highest-performing emerging market. Nearly 20 per cent of its population owns crypto, driven by remittances, savings and inflation hedging. It ranks first worldwide in transactional use and DePIN device adoption, illustrating how necessity continues to drive innovation.

Also Read: How stablecoins are disrupting traditional financial systems

Hong Kong, at No. 10, has fuelled a comeback through regulatory restructuring and institutional re-engagement. Its user penetration ranks eighth globally, while its progress in tokenisation and stablecoin frameworks positions it as a bridge between Western finance and China’s capital-controlled environment. The next challenge: deepening retail adoption.

Broader regional momentum: The Philippines, Australia and South Korea

The Philippines ranks 17th, supported by strong institutional readiness and a mobile-first base of crypto users. Australia, in eleventh place, benefits from deep research capabilities and a thriving innovation culture. South Korea, despite high retail enthusiasm and large domestic exchanges, remains constrained by regulatory bottlenecks that limit its global influence.

“Asia Pacific’s ascent in the crypto space is redefining what’s possible for global finance,” said Helen Liu, Co-CEO of Bybit. “The World Crypto Rankings highlight how this region is setting the pace for the industry — whether through Singapore’s regulatory leadership, Vietnam’s grassroots momentum, or the Philippines’ drive for financial inclusion.”

Stablecoins and new use cases accelerate across Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia’s crypto evolution is also being propelled by rapid stablecoin adoption. USDC and USDT are increasingly used for cross-border payroll, particularly among fintech startups employing distributed teams. On-chain payroll reduces costs and settlement times while mitigating volatility risk.

Across the region, crypto uptake is reinforced by several converging drivers: financial inclusion for underserved populations, youthful digital-native demographics, gaming and play-to-earn ecosystems, rising institutional involvement and proactive government support.

Also Read: How stablecoins are quietly reinventing the global dollar system

Singapore’s regulatory leadership and its vibrant ecosystem — including players such as AuroBlocks, INVINCIX Solutions and numerous Web3, DeFi and identity-focused startups — continue to position the city-state as the region’s anchor for innovation.

A region shaping the global future of crypto

The WCR 2025 findings make one point clear: Asia-Pacific is not just catching up, but setting the pace for global crypto adoption. From institutional infrastructure to grassroots innovation, the region’s diverse strengths are reshaping the future of digital finance, and industry players worldwide are taking notice.

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When I stepped into the centre of the red dot, the literal heart of the TEDx stage, something unexpected happened.

I stopped thinking.

Not in a panic, not in fear, but in a moment of absolute clarity.

For someone who still identifies as a “technical speaker”, this should have been the point where structure kicked in: the rehearsed script, the memorised transitions, the carefully timed punchlines.

Except… I didn’t rehearse.

I didn’t memorise a script.

I had pointers, and a story I had never actually spoken out loud in full — not even once — before the moment I took that step under the lights. I chose not to attend rehearsal because I wanted the first time I delivered my TEDx talk to be the real first time. Whatever came out would be the truth in its rawest, most human form.

And strangely, that felt right.

Because this wasn’t just about giving a talk. It was about redefining myself.

In that moment, standing inside that bright, perfectly circular symbol of “ideas worth spreading”, I realised: I’m not just a technical speaker anymore.

The future was already on stage, we just didn’t notice

TEDx Forbes Park gathered speakers across three thematic batches — identity, reinvention, and innovation. In Batch 3, I was slotted alongside founders and leaders shaping the next wave: AI systems, blockchain, reinvention narratives, and human resilience.

Grace Yeo, whom I’ve had the privilege of mentoring as part of Cast 3 of the Speakers Society Accelerator, delivered a talk titled “The Skill Everyone Forgot – And Why It’s Costing Us Everything.” Her message was a reminder that in a world full of noise, intentional expression is becoming a rare and valuable currency.

Next to her was my talk: “How AI Gave Me Back My Time – And My Freedom.”

Two very different lenses. Two very different stories. One shared truth: The world of speaking is shifting — and fast.

TEDx didn’t make this shift happen. But standing on that stage made the change impossible to ignore.

The red dot is iconic, but it is no longer the full story

TEDx will always carry meaning. The legacy, the brand, the red circle beneath your feet — it is a milestone thousands aspire to.

But here’s the reality, the industry doesn’t like to talk about: In 2025, the speaking landscape has expanded far beyond institutional stages.

Authority no longer comes from a single talk. It comes from:

• Democratisation of stages: Anyone with a message and consistency can build an audience.
• AI-enhanced speaker workflows: Ideation, scripting, research, and content distribution can now be done at scale.
• Personal branding > credentials:  Your voice, style, and story outweigh traditional badges.
• Community-driven authority: Where you belong matters as much as where you speak.
• The rise of niche thought leadership: Specificity now outperforms general expertise.
• The shift from talks to ecosystems: A single speech is a moment. An ecosystem is a movement.
• Stages are becoming marketing, not mastery: Talks create awareness. Your systems create impact.

TEDx is still powerful — absolutely. But it is no longer the defining moment. It is one moment in a much larger architecture of influence. And that’s what hit me when I stepped into the light.

Also Read: Speaking before you scale: Your voice is your most powerful asset

The industry’s real problem isn’t visibility, it’s infrastructure

Most founders, creators, and aspiring speakers don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with clarity.

They don’t know how to:

• Package their voice,
• Build consistent visibility,
• Construct a long-term authority pathway,
• Leverage AI without losing authenticity,
• Turn speaking from performance into opportunity.

The speaking industry, as we know it, still operates like the past:

• Fragmented
• Gatekept
• Prestige-driven
• Lacking data
• Lacking technology
• Lacking support systems

Yet the demand for voices — real, relatable, trustworthy voices– has never been higher.

This disconnect is exactly what TEDx made visible. When everyone on stage has something to say… why do only a few continue to grow after the event? Because the modern speaking economy requires what traditional structures don’t provide: An ecosystem.

What excites me: The future of speaking is already being built

Here’s where everything changes, and honestly, why the red dot meant more to me than I expected.

We’re entering a decade where:

• Every speaker will have an AI agent. Not just for prep but for content creation, distribution, audience engagement, and insights.
• Speaking becomes data-backed. Imagine knowing which themes resonate, which lines land, and which platforms amplify your impact.
• Visibility becomes automated. A world where your best ideas are repurposed into articles, videos, carousels, micro-talks, and more – without you burning out.
• Community-led stages will rival institutional ones. TEDx will stand, but so will movements powered by peers, creators, and niche communities.
• Expertise + storytelling becomes the new hybrid authority. Not one or the other — both.
• Your voice becomes your identity. Not your resume. Not your accolades. Your voice.

This is the direction of the industry. This is the direction of the next era of thought leadership. And this is why the red dot felt less like a destination and more like a doorway.

Also Read: The automated speaker: Why voice, not volume, is the next growth lever

What TEDx actually taught me about freedom

My talk was about how AI gave me back my time and my freedom. But TEDx gave me something else: a reminder that freedom is the ability to define yourself, rather than having someone else do it for you.

I used to think of myself as “technical”. Structured. Process-driven. Analytical.

And yet, on that stage, I told a story I had never rehearsed. I spoke from instinct, not structure. I trusted memory, not memorisation. I let the moment carry me instead of controlling it.

And it worked. Because freedom isn’t the absence of structure — it’s the confidence to deviate from it.

The new generation of speakers

Watching Yeo deliver her talk, I felt something shift. Not in her — she has always had fire in her message. But in how I understood the landscape.

We weren’t two speakers checking items off a professional bucket list. We were two women stepping into an industry that is no longer defined by who lets you speak… but by what you choose to do with your voice after.

TEDx was the stage. But the next chapter comes from everything that follows. For both of us. For anyone stepping into thought leadership in this era. For a global speaking economy that’s ready for reinvention.

The red dot isn’t the end — it’s the beginning

Standing on that circle taught me that we’re moving into an era where:

• Influence is built, not bestowed,
• Communities amplify faster than institutions,
• AI elevates human stories rather than replacing them,
• And the freedom to define your identity is the ultimate advantage.

TEDx was a milestone. But the future — the real one — starts after you step off the stage.

Because speaking is no longer about the moment. It is about the movement you build from it.

And for the first time, standing there in the light, I realised: I’m not just a technical speaker. I am part of shaping the future of how voices travel.

—

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MetaComp, Singapore’s licensed stablecoin cross-border payments and treasury management provider, has secured US$22 million in one of the largest raises at a pre-Series A round for a regulated stablecoin payments player in 2025.

The investors include Eastern Bell Capital, Noah, Sky9 Capital, Freshwave Fund, and Beingboom Capital.

“StableX and VisionX give enterprises the speed of stablecoins with the safeguards of regulated finance,” MetaComp’s Chairman and co-founder Dr Bo Bai said. “It is validation from top-tier investors that regulated stablecoin settlement will be one of Asia’s defining financial rails over the next decade.”

Also Read: MetaComp finds 3-tool KYT setup reduces crypto compliance blind spots by over 99 per cent

The round follows MetaComp’s launch of the StableX Network, powered by its VisionX risk-intelligence engine — a next-generation settlement layer enabling 24/7 FX execution, multi-chain liquidity routing, and automated compliance.

Singapore’s growing influence as a digital finance hub

MetaComp’s growth reinforces Singapore’s emergence as the region’s anchor for institutional-grade digital finance. With a Major Payment Institution licence under the market regulator MAS and a strong compliance infrastructure, MetaComp bridges traditional finance and digital assets via a Web2.5 architecture that unifies SWIFT rails with leading stablecoin networks.

Singapore’s regulatory clarity — including MAS’s 2023 rules governing single-currency stablecoins — has accelerated adoption by enterprises and financial institutions seeking compliant, real-time settlement solutions. This clarity has also made Singapore the preferred base for scaling stablecoin infrastructure across Southeast Asia.

Stablecoin settlement gains momentum across SEA

MetaComp claims it currently processes over US$1 billion in monthly transaction volume across 30-plus markets, reflecting rising enterprise demand for instant, transparent and compliant cross-border settlement.

The StableX Engine supports over 10 stablecoins, including USDT, USDC, RLUSD, FDUSD, PYUSD and WUSD, and integrates deeply with KYT databases and real-time monitoring systems through VisionX. This shared intelligence layer enhances inter-institution collaboration while maintaining regulatory-grade oversight.

Investors see this as the foundation for MetaComp’s next phase. “Stablecoin payments are entering a structural growth phase,” said Ron Cao, founder of Sky9 Capital. “MetaComp has secured an advantageous position.”

Scaling into SEA, South Asia and the Middle East

With fresh capital, MetaComp will accelerate the expansion of StableX Network, enabling local-fiat in, stablecoin rails across borders, and local-fiat out, a key requirement for enterprises operating across jurisdictions.

The company expects demand for regulated stablecoin settlement to surge in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East as trade flows intensify and treasury teams modernise their workflows.

Also Read: Crypto crime has a map: Where victims—and losses—are concentrated in 2025

Noah noted that MetaComp’s integrated “Payments + Treasury Management” approach positions it for significant scale across emerging markets, supported by Singapore’s robust regulatory frameworks and banking connectivity.

A defining moment for regulated digital finance in Asia

As Southeast Asia moves away from fragmented, high-cost cross-border transfers, regulated stablecoin settlement is emerging as the region’s next major financial infrastructure layer. MetaComp’s pre-A funding is not merely a capital injection; it is a signal that Singapore is shaping the future of cross-border payments and treasury management.

With deep regulatory alignment, growing enterprise adoption, and expanding regional demand, MetaComp is positioned to play a central role in building Asia’s next generation of digital financial rails.

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If you’re building a startup, your initial focus is probably straightforward: develop a great product or service and start selling. That early hustle, services, products, and customers are foundational.

But as your business scales, one of the most transformative strategies to accelerate growth lies in financing. Smart financial strategies don’t just fund growth; they create entirely new ecosystems, enabling companies to become integral parts of their customers’ daily lives.

Leveraging financing for growth

Look around. Many of today’s market leaders didn’t just scale, they built financial ecosystems around their core offerings. Leveraging financial instruments and building proprietary payment infrastructure has empowered businesses to deepen customer engagement, boost revenue, and solidify market dominance.

Take Apple as a prime example. Initially known solely as a hardware innovator, Apple’s strategic pivot into financial services reshaped its business trajectory. With Apple Pay, the company didn’t just simplify payments, it positioned itself as an essential tool in consumers’ financial lives.

Apple Card, introduced in partnership with Goldman Sachs, further embedded Apple into the financial ecosystem, giving customers new reasons to stay loyal and increasing lifetime value. Today, Apple’s financial services are integral components of its ecosystem, enhancing its core product lineup and customer retention.

Another stellar example is Shopify. Initially, Shopify was simply an e-commerce platform helping small businesses launch online stores. However, Shopify recognised that financing was a bottleneck for many entrepreneurs. Enter Shopify Capital.

By providing merchants easy access to funds based on their sales data, Shopify didn’t just diversify its revenue streams, it dramatically improved customer success rates and loyalty. This financial layer, seamlessly integrated into their platform, ensures merchants remain within Shopify’s ecosystem, reinforcing their market position and driving exponential growth.

Also Read: How Malaysia and Indonesia are redefining Islamic finance in SEA

Building robust financial ecosystems

Then there’s Amazon, the undisputed master of leveraging financial infrastructure for growth. Amazon Payments allowed the company to own the transaction flow, providing unmatched convenience for customers. Moreover, Amazon built upon this with Amazon Lending, offering sellers easy access to capital.

By understanding merchants’ sales data intimately, Amazon can offer personalised financial products precisely when sellers need them most. These strategies enabled Amazon to create a powerful, self-reinforcing ecosystem where customers and sellers are deeply intertwined within Amazon’s broader marketplace.

Square, now Block, also exemplifies how financial infrastructure can radically transform a business. Initially a simple payment-processing solution, Square rapidly expanded into a full-fledged financial powerhouse.

Square Capital offers loans to small businesses, Cash App facilitates peer-to-peer payments, investments, and crypto trading, and their acquisition of Afterpay introduced a buy-now-pay-later model. By owning the financial rails, Block solidified its place as a go-to financial platform, dramatically broadening its market reach and revenue potential.

Integrating financial services for customer success

These examples illustrate a crucial insight: financing isn’t merely about raising money, it’s about strategically embedding financial tools directly into your business model to enhance customer experiences and drive sustainable growth. Companies that successfully deploy financial infrastructure enjoy greater customer retention, higher lifetime value, and increased market power.

Also Read: How to navigate through the vast opportunities in the finance industry

For startups looking to scale, the lesson is clear: think beyond products and services. Consider how financial services or infrastructure might integrate into your core offerings. Start by analysing your customer’s financial pain points. Is accessing capital challenging? Are payment processes cumbersome? Could seamless financing significantly enhance customer experiences or retention? By addressing these financial friction points, startups can forge deeper, more profitable customer relationships.

This strategy isn’t limited to tech giants. Even smaller, growth-stage companies can integrate financial services strategically. Offering tailored financing, simplified payments, or embedded lending can dramatically differentiate your company from competitors. Startups can partner with fintech platforms or even develop their own payment systems, gradually building toward greater financial autonomy and stronger market positioning.

In the long term, creating proprietary financial infrastructure transforms your business from a mere service provider into an indispensable partner in your customer’s success. The result? Increased revenue streams, stronger customer retention, and ultimately, exponential growth.

If you’re planning your startup’s next growth stage, don’t overlook the transformative potential of financing. Whether through embedded payments, lending products, or complete financial ecosystems, strategically leveraging financial instruments can significantly elevate your business trajectory.

The most successful companies of the next decade won’t just sell great products, they’ll empower their customers through financial innovation, driving sustainable, scalable growth for years to come.

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In these fast-paced times, companies need to be agile, innovative, and efficient to stay in the game. One of the most effective strategies for achieving this is staff augmentation.

Whether you’re scaling up for a major project, addressing skill gaps, or seeking cost-effective solutions, staff augmentation offers a flexible and strategic approach to workforce management.

What is staff augmentation?

Staff augmentation is a workforce strategy where businesses bring in external professionals on a temporary or project basis to supplement their existing teams. Instead of hiring full-time employees, companies can leverage skilled experts for specific roles, ensuring they have the right talent at the right time.

Let’s talk about the benefits of staff augmentation

• Access to a global talent pool

One of the biggest advantages of staff augmentation is the ability to access a diverse and highly skilled talent pool. Businesses are no longer restricted by geographical boundaries and can bring in top-tier talent from around the world to meet their specific needs.

• Cost-effectiveness

Hiring full-time employees comes with significant costs, including salaries, benefits, office space, and training. Staff augmentation eliminates many of these expenses, allowing businesses to optimise their budgets while still acquiring the expertise required to execute projects efficiently.

• Scalability and flexibility

It enables businesses to scale their workforce up or down based on project demands. Whether it’s a short-term project, seasonal workload, or a long-term initiative, companies can quickly adapt to changing needs without the complexities of traditional hiring.

• Faster time-to-market

With staff augmentation, businesses can bring in experienced professionals who are ready to contribute immediately. This significantly reduces onboarding time and accelerates project timelines, ensuring faster product launches and service delivery.

• Reduced administrative burden

Traditional hiring processes involve lengthy recruitment cycles, legal formalities, and employee benefits management. With staff augmentation, these responsibilities are handled by the staffing provider, allowing businesses to focus on core operations.

Also Read: Why startups should prioritise brand reputation from day one

• Specialised skill sets

Many businesses require niche expertise for specific projects, such as AI development, cybersecurity, or cloud computing. Instead of training existing employees, companies can onboard specialists who bring in-depth knowledge and experience, leading to better project outcomes.

• Seamless integration with in-house teams

Unlike outsourcing, where entire projects are handled externally, staff augmentation ensures that external professionals work alongside your existing team. This promotes better collaboration, alignment with company culture, and knowledge transfer within the organisation.

How it enhances business growth

By leveraging staff augmentation, businesses can focus on innovation, efficiency, and growth without being constrained by traditional hiring limitations. It allows organisations to:

• Take on bigger projects without long-term commitments
• Improve productivity with the right expertise
• Stay competitive in evolving industries

As the future of work continues to evolve, companies that embrace staff augmentation will position themselves for sustained success.

If you’re looking to enhance your workforce with top-tier talent, now is the time to explore staff augmentation as a powerful growth strategy.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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In the world of artificial intelligence, Large Language Models (LLMs) generate responses based on a set of parameters — model quality, temperature, and top_p — each influencing how the model functions and its ability. But I feel success in life follows a similar formula.

At its core, a person’s ability to succeed is shaped by their experience, adaptability, mindset, emotional intelligence, and a sprinkle of luck. Let’s break it down.

The “model” — Experience and ability

An LLM is only as good as the data it’s trained on. Similarly, a person’s knowledge, skills, and experiences shape their capacity to make informed decisions. The broader and deeper their experience, the better their ability to navigate challenges. However, just like an AI model, experience alone isn’t enough—it needs the right settings.

Temperature — Risk-taking and adaptability

In LLMs, temperature controls how creative or conservative the output is. A high temperature makes responses more unpredictable, while a low temperature keeps things structured.

In life, this mirrors risk-taking and adaptability. A bold entrepreneur (high temperature) might experiment with multiple business ideas, while a stable professional (low temperature) follows a steady, predictable career path. The key is knowing when to adjust—too high, and decisions become chaotic; too low, and opportunities may be missed.

Top_p — Mindset and focus

The top_p setting in an LLM controls how wide or narrow the model considers potential answers. In people, this translates to mindset and focus.

• A person with a fixed mindset (low top_p) might limit themselves to traditional paths, avoiding risk.
• A growth-oriented person (higher top_p) explores more possibilities, staying open to new opportunities.

Also Read: LLM prompting, fine-tuning, RAG, or AI agents: Which AI is better for marketing?

A healthy balance between focus and flexibility is crucial—too narrow, and you may miss creative solutions; too broad, and you may lack direction.

EQ and SQ — The human intelligence layer

No AI model can replace the power of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social Intelligence (SQ) in human success.

• EQ (Emotional Intelligence): The ability to manage emotions, handle stress, and stay motivated despite setbacks.
• SQ (Social Intelligence): The ability to read people, build relationships, and navigate social dynamics.

In essence, EQ and SQ act as fine-tuning mechanisms, helping people communicate better, lead teams, and turn knowledge into real-world impact.

The “luck factor” — Randomness in life

Even with all the right ingredients, luck plays a role. Just like an LLM sometimes generates unexpected but brilliant outputs, life can take unpredictable turns. Right place, right time, right connection—these uncontrollable factors can tip the scales.

But here’s the thing: the more you refine your model (experience), adjust your temperature (risk-taking), optimise your top_p (mindset), and fine-tune with EQ/SQ, the better you position yourself for success.

Final formula for success

If we put it all together:

Success = Experience × Ability × Adaptability × Mindset × EQ × SQ × Luck

The right balance of these factors determines outcomes. Some people succeed despite lower ability because their mindset and social intelligence compensate. Others struggle despite talent because they resist change or neglect relationships.

So, if you’re looking to “optimise your model” for success, take a moment to check your settings. Are you limiting your potential with a rigid mindset? Are you taking calculated risks? Are you leveraging emotional and social intelligence? Fine-tune your approach, and success will perhaps, not be just a possibility, but a probability.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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