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Singapore fintech sees surge in investments despite global trade fragmentation and tariff escalation: KPMG’s Pulse of Fintech H1’25
This makes it the highest amount of investments the country has seen since the first half of 2023, where investments had hit US$1.59 billion across 125 deals. Compared to H1 2024, deal values had risen by about 87 percent year-on-year, and 28 percent from H2 2024.
Investments were predominantly driven by deals in the payments, cryptocurrency and AI and machine learning verticals, which accounted for the lion’s share of the total deal size recorded for Singapore. Deals in the payment vertical were spread equally across early and late-stage deals, while cryptocurrency and AI and machine learning verticals largely saw early-stage deals.
Global fintech investments saw $44.7 billion across 2,216 deals in H1 2025, a dip from the $54.2 billion recorded across 2,376 deals in H2 2024.
“The data for Singapore shows that the country is seen as a strategic hub for fintech innovation, supported by robust regulatory frameworks that have shaped a financial ecosystem known for its efficiency, resilience, and trustworthiness,” said Anton Ruddenklau, Partner, Head of Financial Services, KPMG in Singapore and Global Head of Fintech and Innovation for Financial Services, KPMG International.
“In a climate shaped by global trade tensions, the ability to enable decentralised, tech-driven, and non-traditional financial solutions will be critical. As traditional financial flows face disruption, the demand for agile, resilient infrastructure will see higher demand,” he added.
| Fintech verticals | Singapore | Global | ||
| Ranking | Deal Size
US$ (million) |
Ranking | Deal Size
US$ (million) |
|
| Payments | #1 | 474.66 | #4 | 4,644.02 |
| Crypto | #2 | 254.10 | #1 | 8,371.1 |
| AI & ML deals | #3 | 234.50 | #2 | 7,220.16 |
| InsurTech | #4 | 147 | #3 | 4,800 |
| Reg Tech | #5 | 39.80 | #5 | 2,079.3 |
| Cybersecurity | #6 | 6.50 | #9 | 115.2 |
| ESG (New) | #7 | 0* | #6 | 1,134.77 |
| Proptech | #8 | 0* | #7 | 331.0 |
| WealthTech | #9 | 0 | #8 | 214.2 |
*Deal sizes were not revealed despite some deals being recorded
Singapore’s fintech payments sector defies global trends
In Singapore, fintech investments in the payments sector climbed to US$475 million in the first half of 2025—an almost eightfold increase from H2 2024. Globally, the payments segment saw US$4.6 billion in H1 2025.
In Singapore, this rise was anchored by mega-deals such as Airwallex’s US$301 million raise, positioning the country as a regional epicenter for digital payments innovation.
“Singapore’s fintech firms are capitalising on the demand for agile, interoperable payment platforms that can navigate tariff-induced complexities,” said Mr Ruddenklau.
Deal records indicate that the top three deals targeting companies focused on cross-border payment solutions.
This trend highlights not only the sustained demand for digital payment applications, but also a growing appetite for infrastructure that enables real-time, cross-border retail and commercial transactions. As global commerce becomes increasingly digital and interconnected, investors are prioritising scalable, tech-enabled platforms that can address the complexities of international payments—such as compliance, currency conversion, and settlement speed—while maintaining security and user trust.
Singapore’s digital assets and currencies sector leads in deal activity amid global momentum
Singapore’s digital assets and currencies sector recorded 48 deals in H1 2025—the highest number of deals among all fintech verticals—despite a slight dip from 53 deals in H2 2024. With US$254.1 million in investments, the sector ranked second in deal value, underscoring its resilience and investor appeal.
The two largest deals were secured by protocol provider Giants Planet and blockchain intelligence and tooling platform Coinseeker.co, each raising US$30 million.
This could be early signs of an emerging trend where institutional stakeholders are driving the demand for regulated financial services, pushing up demand for infrastructure that allows for scalability, interoperability, and real-world utility.
Investors are increasingly backing platforms that can support secure, compliant, and high-throughput ecosystems. The emphasis on infrastructure also reflects growing demand for enterprise-grade solutions that can integrate with traditional financial systems while enabling decentralised innovation.
AI-powered fintech continues to surge in Singapore
Singapore’s AI-powered fintech sector saw a new high in H1 2025, with the artificial intelligence and machine learning vertical attracting US$234.5 million across 22 deals— surpassing previous records seen in 2023 and 2024.
A large share of these investments was directed toward business productivity tools and financial software, reflecting a strong appetite for AI solutions that enhance operational efficiency and support digital transformation.
Looking ahead, we could possibly see more hyper-personalised financial services, where AI tailors products and advice to individual user behaviours and preferences. Regulatory technology (RegTech) is also set to expand, with AI streamlining compliance and risk management in increasingly complex financial environments.
Global Key Highlights for H1’25
- Global fintech investment saw the softest six-month period since H1’20, with just $44.7 billion in investment across 2,216 deals.
- Global M&A deal value fell from $26.7 billion in H2’24 to $19.9 billion in H1’25, while PE investment fell from $4.4 billion to $1.4 billion; global VC investment remained steady over the same timeframe, rising marginally from $23 billion to $23.4 billion.
- The EMEA region was the only major region to see fintech investment grow—from $11.1 billion across 780 deals in H2’24 to $13.7 billion across 759 deals in H1’25.
- The Americas attracted the most fintech investment in H1’25, with $26.7 billion invested across 1,092 deals in H1’25—down from $35.7 billion across 1,150 deals in H2’24.
- The ASPAC region had the softest level of fintech investment, with just $4.2 billion across 363 deals in H1’25, compared to $7.3 billion across 444 deals in H2’24.
- At the sector level, digital assets, AI, and regtech were all trending well ahead of 2024’s investment levels at mid-year. Digital assets had $8.3 billion in investment in H1’25—compared to $10.7 billion during all of 2024, while AI saw $7.2 billion in investment—compared to $8.9 billion in all of 2024.
“Given the geopolitical situation globally, much of the fintech investment globally we’ve seen so far in 2025 has been very strategic, rather than broad-brush speculative investments. Firms were more focused on cost cutting and on divesting non-core and underperforming assets than new deals. The increase in AI-focused fintech investment dovetails with that. Both investors and institutional users are very keen on the potential of generative AI and agentic AI—and startups that are to improve efficiencies and drive value through GenAI will command premium valuations and significant investment. Fintech-focused AI is only going to get hotter headed into the back half of 2025,” he added.
Hashtag: #KPMGInternational #Fintech
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About KPMG International
KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.
KPMG firms operate in 143 countries and territories with more than 265,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.
KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.
Graduate salary data provides useful guidance, but it should not be read in isolation. Starting salary is one indicator of return on investment. It should be considered alongside employment rates, full-time permanent employment, industry pathways, career support, programme fit and long-term skills relevance.
For students considering Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page provides a reference point for understanding graduate outcomes. The page explains how SIM graduates have performed in the Private Education Institution Graduate Employment Survey (PEI GES), where they have worked, and how SIM supports students in building career readiness.
Why the PEI Graduate Employment Survey matters
For students considering private education pathways, the PEI Graduate Employment Survey (GES) is an important reference because it provides employment and salary outcomes for graduates from registered private education institutions.
The 2024/2025 PEI GES focused on economically active fresh graduates who graduated between May 2024 and April 2025 from full-time Bachelor’s level External Degree Programmes. The survey covered about 6,150 full-time graduates across 26 private education institutions, with a response rate of 61.6 per cent, and was conducted from October 2025 to January 2026.
Among 2,600 economically active PEI fresh graduate respondents in the labour force, 78.9 per cent secured employment within six months of graduation. The median gross monthly salary for PEI fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment remained stable at S$3,500.
This makes the PEI GES useful for students and parents who want to compare graduate outcomes within the private education sector. It also allows SIM’s graduate outcome data to be read against a broader PEI sector benchmark.
What SIM graduate outcome data shows
SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page reports that SIM fresh graduate respondents recorded 81.0 per cent secured employment, 77.9 per cent currently employed, 47.0 per cent in full-time permanent employment and a median gross monthly salary of S$3,565. The page attributes these figures to Skills & Workforce Development Agency 2024/2025 PEI GES.
| Indicator | SIM | Avg of All PEI (include SIM) |
| Secured employment | 81.0% | 78.9% |
| Full-time permanent employment | 47.0% | 46.9% |
| Median gross monthly salary | S$3,565 | S$3,500 |
This comparison places SIM’s graduate outcomes at the top spectrum of the PEI sector. It also shows why employability should be assessed through more than one indicator. Secured employment, full-time permanent employment and median gross monthly salary each provide a different view of graduate outcomes.
Secured employment indicates whether graduates entered work, accepted job offers or were taking steps to start a business venture. Full-time permanent employment provides a view of stable employment. Median gross monthly salary shows the middle salary point among full-time permanently employed graduates.
Where SIM graduates have worked
SIM graduates have entered a range of sectors, including aviation, aerospace and engineering, airline and tourism, banking and financial services, information and communications technology, cybersecurity, insurance, consumer services, public sector and government, consulting and professional services, healthcare, logistics, transportation, retail and manufacturing.
These employer destinations are relevant because students are not only selecting a degree. They are also considering possible pathways into industries, job functions and future career options. A business-related pathway may support roles in banking, consulting, retail, logistics or entrepreneurship. A technology-related pathway may lead to opportunities in information and communications technology, cybersecurity, data, digital services or business technology roles.
How students should compare salary, employability and ROI
A practical approach to comparing degree options is to consider four areas: relevance, return, readiness and resilience.
| Factor | What to consider |
| Relevance | Does the degree connect to industries that are hiring? |
| Return | What do employment and salary outcomes show? |
| Readiness | What career support, internship guidance and employer exposure are available? |
| Resilience | Can the skills support future career changes? |
This approach helps students avoid selecting a degree based only on the highest salary benchmark. While starting salary is an important consideration, long-term value also depends on whether the student can build relevant skills, gain experience and adapt to changes in the labour market.
How SIM supports employability
SIM supports students through career preparation and employer engagement, including résumé writing, interview preparation, job search guidance, career fairs, employer talks, recruitment events, internship search guidance and workshops that build communication, teamwork, problem-solving and professional confidence.
Such support is relevant to return on investment because employability is influenced not only by the qualification awarded, but also by how prepared students are to enter the workforce. Career readiness, employer exposure and workplace skills can support the transition from study to employment.
Conclusion
Graduate starting salary is an important consideration for students and parents assessing higher education options in Singapore. However, it should not be the only measure used to evaluate a degree pathway.
A more balanced assessment considers employment rates, full-time permanent employment, median gross monthly salary, industry pathways, career support and long-term skills relevance. This provides a broader view of how a higher education pathway may support employability and future career development.
When read together with the PEI Graduate Employment Survey, national salary benchmarks and SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page, graduate outcome data can help students and parents make more informed decisions about salary expectations, employability and return on investment.
References
- SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/parent-resource-hub/graduate-outcome-employability
- SWDA PEI Graduate Employment Survey 2024/2025 – https://www.swda.gov.sg/home/skills-career-resources/private-education-resources/graduate-employment-survey/2024-2025
- Employment Outcome for PEI Graduates – https://www.swda.gov.sg/home/newsroom/employment-outcomes-for-private-education-institution-graduates-remain-stable-in-2024-2025
- SIM Career Service – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/career-services
Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About SIM Global Education
SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is a leading private education institution in Singapore and the region. We offer more than 140 academic programmes ranging from diplomas and graduate diploma programmes to bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes with some of the world’s most reputable universities from Australia, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and the United States. SIM GE’s cohort is made up of 17,000 full- and part-time students and adult learners, of which approximately 41% are international students hailing from over 50 countries.
SIM GE’s holistic learning approach and culturally diverse learning environment aim to equip students with knowledge, industry skills and employability competencies, as well as a global perspective to succeed as future leaders in a fast-changing, technologically driven world.
For more information on SIM Global Education, visit www.sim.edu.sg
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SBI Global Asset Management and DigiFT Launch JX, Bringing a Japanese Asset Manager’s Equity Strategy On-Chain for the First Time
The launch comes as investor attention returns to Japanese equities, supported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s continued push for listed companies to improve capital efficiency and demonstrate greater awareness of share-price performance. It also reflects a broader evolution in tokenization: the value of tokenized RWAs distributed on public blockchains grew from USD 5.9 billion to USD 21.9 billion globally in 2025, moving the category beyond cash-like instruments and into actively managed public-market strategies. DigiFT was an early mover in this shift, launching a tokenized U.S. equity income fund developed with BNY in January 2026. This shift is now extending directly into Japan’s own institutional market, where SBI Group has been among the country’s most active builders of on-chain financial infrastructure.
DigiFT holds Capital Markets Services and Recognised Market Operator licences from MAS, as well as Type 1 and Type 4 licences from the Hong Kong SFC – a dual regulatory standing that has made it a tokenization and distribution partner for global and regional asset managers, including UBS Asset Management, Invesco, BNY and Franklin Templeton. DigiFT’s roster now extends into Japan, through SBI GAM’s participation, adding a Japanese listed-equity strategy to that lineup for the first time. DigiFT is launching the JX Token on Solana, further expanding the availability of regulated RWAs on-chain, with ecosystem participants including Solana Company, Huma Finance and Plume.
SBI Holdings brings its own substantial on-chain track record to the collaboration. The group reported consolidated revenue of JPY 1.90 trillion for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2026, with its Crypto-asset Business segment generating JPY 89.6 billion in revenue over the same period. SBI Holdings has taken direct stakes across the region’s tokenization infrastructure, including leading a $50 million investment in Startale Group to build a blockchain purpose-built for tokenized securities, and holding a majority stake in Osaka Digital Exchange, operator of a secondary market for security tokens in Japan.
JX is structured around the underlying strategy managed by SBI AM. This authorized, manager-referenced model is critical as regulators are increasingly distinguishing tokenized securities developed with issuer or manager alignment from products that provide only indirect economic exposure. In a joint staff statement issued 28 January 2026, the U.S. SEC staff drew a formal line between issuer-sponsored tokenized securities, which can represent true ownership, and third-party products that typically offer only synthetic exposure or custodial entitlements – signalling an intent to encourage the former while curbing the spread of the latter.
Henry Zhang, Founder and Group CEO, DigiFT: “Our mission at DigiFT has always been to bring real, institutional-grade assets on-chain through infrastructure that investors and asset managers can actually trust. JX extends that mission to Japan for the first time, opening regulated, on-chain access to Japanese equities. We’re proud to build this with SBI Group, one of Japan’s most forward-looking financial institutions, and excited about what this partnership signals for the future of tokenization across the region.”
Hashtag: #DigiFT
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Smilegate LORDNINE Launches Pre-Registration for New Growth-Accelerated Server ‘Helena’ in Celebration of 1st Anniversary… 32,000 USDt Reward Event Underway
- Pre-registration for new server Helena opens July 14… Official launch on July 29
- Sweeping new server growth-support systems, including 50% additional EXP via Mastery Buff
- Rich rewards including a 32,000 USDt reward event, limited edition skins, and 1,111 summon tickets
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – EQS Newswire – 15 July 2026 – Smilegate announced on Tuesday, July 14 that pre-registration has begun for ‘Helena’, a new growth-accelerated server for the MMORPG 《LORDNINE: Infinite Class》 (developed by NX3 Games), in celebration of the game’s 1st anniversary.
Pre-registration for the new Helena server is available through the official LORDNINE page (https://l9asia.onstove.com/en), with the official launch scheduled for July 29 at 7:00 PM.
Helena is a growth-accelerated server designed to allow players to level up characters faster than on existing servers. Key features include a Mastery Buff that provides an additional 50% EXP gain and more than 40,000 ‘Fragments of Ancient Relics’ to support character progression, helping players settle in smoothly during the early stages.
To celebrate the launch of the Helena server, Smilegate has prepared a variety of events, including a 32,000 USDt reward event. Helena server users can participate in in-game attendance and mission events to obtain three Hero-grade avatars and three artifacts, as well as up to 1,111 summon tickets.
A pre-registration event will also be held. Users who sign up for pre-registration will receive a limited edition skin, and among users who refer 20 friends through the pre-registration page, a drawing will be held with winners receiving an iPhone 17 Pro.
In addition, a skin design contest will be held to celebrate the 1st anniversary. Participants can freely submit skin designs they would like to see released in LORDNINE. In-game rewards worth up to 80 million KRW are up for grabs, and notably, the grand prize-winning design will actually be released in-game.
For more information about the game, please visit the official page (https://l9asia.onstove.com/en).
| Contact Point | Office | Mobile Phone | ||||
| Sangjik Oh, Team Leader | 031-630-3142 | 010-5236-0571 | sj****@*******te.com | |||
| Hyeran In, Deputy General Manager | 031-630-3143 | 010-3291-6710 | hr****@*******te.com | |||
| Jiwon Hong, Deputy General Manager | 031-630-3144 | 010-4135-0298 | jw****@*******te.com | |||
| Taehyun Park, Assistant Manager | 031-630-3179 | 010-6805-1177 | th****@*******te.com |
Hashtag: #Smilegate
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
