More than 75 Asian and Global Banks Heading to Money20/20 Asia this April

Money20/20 Asia 2025 is convening over 75 global and regional banks in Bangkok, signaling a critical juncture for cross-border collaboration in the APAC region. For fintech professionals, the heavy presence of both traditional incumbents and disruptive neobanks highlights the shifting power dynamics and regulatory priorities within Asia’s rapidly evolving financial ecosystem.

What was announced

Money20/20 Asia 2025 is scheduled to take place in Bangkok, bringing together a diverse lineup of more than 75 Asian and global financial institutions. The event features a broad spectrum of the banking sector, ranging from traditional powerhouses and investment giants to disruptive neobanks. Key participants confirmed for the gathering include J.P. Morgan, HSBC, Standard Chartered, KakaoBank, Maybank, Kasikorn Bank, National Australia Bank, and Ambank Group.

A central theme for this year’s show is the integration of Asia’s central banks and regulators, emphasizing a regional commitment to public-private sector collaboration. High-level speakers from the regulatory space include Mrs. Roong Mallikamas, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Thailand; Mr. Adnan Zaylani, Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia; and Ms. Chuchi Fonacier, Deputy Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. They are joined by Mr. George Chou, Chief Fintech Officer at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and Ms. Jomkwan Kongsakul, Deputy Secretary General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Thailand.

The agenda is set to address critical industry hurdles, specifically the path to profitability for digital banks and the implementation of AI technology in "beyond banking" services. By hosting these discussions in Bangkok, the event aims to provide a platform for influential voices in fintech, payments, and banking to explore the evolving digital landscape and drive financial innovation across the Asian continent.

"The path to profitability for digital banks is challenging, yet entirely achievable with the right strategy. At Kakaobank, we are committed to building a customer-centric, innovation-driven banking platform where we offer loan products, not only Kakaobank's, but from over 50 partner companies redefining our customers' everyday financial experiences. Our efforts have led us to serve over 80% of South Korea's working population. Money20/20 Asia is the premier fintech event in APAC, bringing together the most influential voices in fintech, payments, and banking to shape the industry's future. It provides the perfect stage for Kakaobank to showcase our success, share our vision of going beyond banking with AI technology, and explore the evolving digital banking landscape alongside industry leaders driving financial innovation across Asia."

Daniel Yun, Founder and CEO of KakaoBank Corp.

The companies involved

The institutions participating in the Bangkok event represent a cross-section of the global financial hierarchy, categorized into traditional powerhouses, private and investment giants, and disruptive neobanks. Among the established global players are J.P. Morgan, HSBC, and Standard Chartered, which operate alongside significant regional entities such as Maybank and Kasikorn Bank. These institutions represent the traditional core of the market, now navigating a landscape increasingly influenced by digital-first competitors.

KakaoBank stands as a primary example of the disruptive neobank sector. The company has achieved a dominant market position in South Korea, serving more than 80% of the country’s working population. Its business model relies on an innovation-driven platform that integrates its own financial services with products from over 50 partner companies, utilizing AI technology to expand its reach. The involvement of major regulatory bodies, such as the Bank of Thailand and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, underscores the event's role as a bridge between these commercial entities and the public sector, reflecting a market where regulatory alignment is essential for fintech scaling.

What this means

The heavy involvement of central banks alongside neobanks like KakaoBank suggests that the "wild west" era of fintech in Asia is transitioning into a more structured, regulator-led phase of innovation. For traditional banks, the pressure is no longer just about digitizing existing services, but about maintaining relevance as neobanks achieve massive scale and prove their path to profitability. The focus on Bangkok also highlights Thailand’s growing influence as a regional fintech hub. The industry now faces a critical question: can this collaborative spirit between regulators and private players accelerate the rollout of interoperable cross-border systems, or will national interests continue to fragment the APAC market?