Global Trustee and Fiduciary Services Bite-Sized Issue 9 2026

4 AI CRYPTOASSETS EMIR FINTECH FUND LIQUIDITY OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE RETAIL INVESTMENT STRATEGY T+1 ASIA PACIFIC AUSTRALIA EUROPE NORTH AMERICA UNITED KINGDOM Global Trustee and Fiduciary Services Bite-Sized | Issue 9 | 2026 Quick Links FINTECH MAS Commits SGD 220Million to Support Next Phase of FinTech Innovation On 31 August 2026, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced a SGD220 million commitment over three years under the renewed Financial Sector Technology and Innovation Scheme (FSTI 4.0) to strengthen Singapore’s FinTech ecosystem and accelerate innovation and technology adoption across the financial sector. MAS says that FSTI 4.0 builds on a strong foundation of Singapore’s FinTech sector, which is now home to more than 1,800 FinTech firms, employing close to 10,000 professionals across technology, data, artificial intelligence (AI), compliance, cybersecurity and business roles. MAS says that FSTI 4.0 is designed around four goals: 1. Anchor and scale innovation activities in Singapore; 2. Accelerate the development, adoption, and deployment of financial technologies, with a focus on frontier technologies; 3. Develop technology infrastructure to position the financial sector to innovate and adopt new technology solutions; and 4. Support talent development and attraction for Singapore’s FinTech ecosystem. MAS adds that, together, these four goals reflect its commitment to building a financial sector that is innovative, resilient and globally competitive. MAS explains that FSTI 4.0 will be implemented through six tracks spanning institutional innovation, AI adoption, infrastructure and platforms and talent development. Finally, MAS says that FSTI 4.0 will support FinTech firms at every stage of growth, from developing new solutions to scaling regionally and globally. Through investments in infrastructure, frontier technologies and local talent, MAS states that the scheme will strengthen Singapore’s position as a vibrant and competitive FinTech hub. Link to MAS Homepage here Singapore FinTech Festival 2026 to Explore the Five Forces Rewiring Global Finance On 26 August 2026, MAS announced that the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2026 will take place from 18 to 20 November 2026, convening global technology and finance leaders to examine the structural forces rewiring the global financial system. Organised by MAS and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), in collaboration with the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS), SFF provides a global platform for policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies, investors, and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and shape the future of finance. MAS says that the SFF 2026 will examine five forces rewiring global finance: 1. Technology – As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms productivity and growth, how can financial institutions harness it while staying ahead of AI-enabled scams, cyber threats and the coming quantum challenge? 2. Geoeconomics – As trade, investment and capital flows shift and new economic corridors emerge, how are financial networks adapting in response, and how can these networks be built to support trade and economic resilience? 3. Capital – Can productivity gains and revenue growth sustain an investment boom that has already driven AI-connected firms to around 40% of S&P 500 market capitalisation? 4. Talent – As AI transforms jobs, how can financial institutions enhance skills and capabilities of their workforce to stay competitive? 5. Policy – How can policy, governance and risk frameworks keep up as technology races ahead, to enable innovation without compromising trust and resilience? MAS adds that special programmes will be held across the three festival days.