The Responsible Fintech Institute (RFI) was recently featured in an article published by The Business Times examining the growing role of stablecoins in Asia’s evolving financial landscape.
The article highlighted perspectives from both RFI Chairman Chia Hock Lai and RFI Chief Policy Officer Tanna Chong, who shared their views on the opportunities, risks, and policy considerations associated with the rapid development of stablecoin ecosystems across the region.
Stablecoins Moving Beyond Trading
While stablecoins have historically been associated with cryptocurrency markets, their role is increasingly expanding into broader financial infrastructure.
As highlighted in the article, Chia Hock Lai noted that although approximately 90% of stablecoin activity today remains linked to cryptocurrency trading, a deeper transformation is taking place within institutional and regulatory ecosystems.
The growing interest from financial institutions, regulators, payment providers, and technology firms reflects the increasing recognition that stablecoins may become an important component of future financial infrastructure, enabling more efficient payments, settlement, and cross-border transactions.
Policy and Governance Considerations
The article also explored the challenges accompanying wider stablecoin adoption, including financial crime risks, consumer protection, and regulatory oversight.
Tanna Chong highlighted the importance of addressing risks that may emerge from misuse of digital financial technologies, particularly in vulnerable communities across the region. Effective governance frameworks, cross-border cooperation, and responsible innovation remain essential to ensuring that technological advancement benefits society while minimizing unintended consequences.
Unlocking Opportunities Through Tokenisation
Beyond risk management, the discussion also examined the potential of tokenisation to support economic development and improve access to capital.
Tokenised financial infrastructure may help unlock new funding opportunities for projects across emerging Southeast Asian markets, creating more efficient pathways for investment while supporting broader financial inclusion objectives.
Supporting Responsible Digital Finance
As digital assets continue to mature and integrate with the broader financial system, RFI remains committed to fostering informed dialogue among policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, and industry participants.
Through research, industry engagement, and policy discussions, RFI seeks to contribute to the development of trusted, interoperable, and responsible digital finance ecosystems across Asia and beyond.
Source: The Business Times