Responsible Fintech Institute appoints two seasoned executives as Executive Fellows to steer digital finance governance

RFI’s new fellows bring more than three decades of experience in financial services, digital transformation, and academic research. Professor Chia, an adjunct professor at NUS‑AIDF and senior advisor to the Boston Consulting Group, has spent his career bridging traditional banking with fintech innovation across Asia and the Middle East. Professor Loh, the inaugural Singapore Distinguished Professor at Murdoch University, adds a scientific‑rigor perspective from his work in bio‑innovation and sustainability. Together, they are tasked with aligning global policy, forging institutional partnerships, and guiding the development of interoperable standards for digital assets, AI governance, and embedded finance.

The technology and policy gap

McKinsey estimates that stablecoins networks now process trillions of dollars in transactions each year, yet only about US $390 billion reflects genuine payment activity. This disparity highlights a broader industry challenge: technology outpaces the rules that make it safe for enterprises and consumers. RFI’s Executive Fellows will focus on three levers:

• Framework development – Drafting principles for AI‑enabled financial services and cross‑chain asset settlement.
• Stakeholder coordination – Convening banks, regulators, and fintech startups to test interoperability prototypes.
• Thought leadership – Publishing research that translates complex technical standards into actionable guidance for CEOs and CMO‑level marketers.

Industry impact and competitive context

RFI is not the only nonprofit shaping digital‑finance policy; the Financial Stability Board and the World Economic Forum run parallel initiatives. However, RFI’s Singapore base gives it proximity to the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s open‑banking sandbox, the EU’s PSD2 ecosystem, and the emerging “Finternet” model championed by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure for embedded finance. By anchoring its work in both regulatory and technology communities, RFI can influence standards that rival those from the Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE) and the Blockchain Interoperability Alliance.

For enterprise marketing teams, the ripple effect is tangible. Clearer AI‑governance rules reduce compliance risk when launching predictive‑analytics campaigns, while interoperable cross‑border payments protocols simplify cross‑border promotions and loyalty‑point conversions. Marketers can also leverage RFI’s research to craft narratives that position their firms as “responsibly innovative,” a differentiator increasingly valued by B2B buyers.

Market landscape

The digital‑payments market is projected by Gartner to grow at a 12 % CAGR through 2028, driven largely by embedded finance solutions that embed payment flows directly into SaaS products. At the same time, IDC reports that 65 % of banks plan to integrate blockchain‑based settlement layers within the next three years. These trends create a fertile environment for RFI’s policy work, especially as regulators in the U.S., EU, and APAC scramble to keep pace with rapid product cycles.

RFI’s focus on AI governance dovetails with a Forrester survey indicating that 78 % of financial‑services executives consider responsible AI a top‑priority for 2026. By providing a neutral forum for standards‑setting, RFI helps prevent a fragmented regulatory patchwork that could otherwise slow fintech adoption and increase compliance costs for multinational firms.

Top Insights

• Executive expertise bridges gaps – Loh’s scientific methodology and Chia’s fintech strategy create a rare blend of policy rigor and market pragmatism, accelerating responsibly‑innovation cycles.
• Stablecoin usage remains limited – McKinsey’s $390 B figure shows that while transaction volume is high, genuine payment adoption lags, underscoring the need for clearer standards.
• AI governance is becoming mandatory – With 78 % of financial executives prioritizing responsible AI, RFI’s work will likely become a reference point for compliance programs.
• Embedded finance drives cross‑border growth – IDC’s forecast of blockchain settlement adoption signals that RFI’s interoperability frameworks could become a de‑facto standard for global commerce.
• Marketing can leverage responsible‑innovation narratives – Firms that align with RFI’s guidelines can differentiate themselves to enterprise buyers seeking low‑risk, future‑proof solutions.

Looking ahead

RFI’s Executive Fellowship program, which selects senior leaders with at least 20 years of experience, signals a long‑term commitment to shaping a “responsibly innovative” fintech ecosystem. As digital assets, AI, and embedded finance converge, the institute’s neutral stance could become a linchpin for harmonizing standards across continents, ultimately enabling enterprises to roll out new services faster and with fewer regulatory surprises.

Get in touch with our fintech expert