Asia-Pacific Fintech Alliances Respond to Digital Governance Needs

MUMBAI (Azat TV) – The burgeoning fintech landscape across the Asia-Pacific region is prompting a critical focus on robust digital governance, with recent alliances signaling a concerted effort to establish frameworks addressing trusted data access, privacy, security, competition policy, and regulatory standards. On February 10, 2026, a series of landmark announcements underscored this shift, particularly in India, where collaborations are now actively shaping the future of financial services regulation and cross-border innovation.

At the forefront of these developments is a strategic partnership announced at the Black Swan Summit India 2026 in Bhubaneswar: the Startup Policy Forum (SPF) and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) formalized their collaboration. This alliance is designed to accelerate fintech and digital innovation not only within India but also across international borders, specifically by fostering coordinated policy engagement, ecosystem development, and cross-border growth programs. The move, made in the presence of senior ministers, industry leaders, and global ecosystem stakeholders, highlights the growing recognition that rapid technological advancements in finance demand equally sophisticated governance structures.

Building Digital Governance for India’s Fintech Ecosystem

The collaboration between SPF and GFTN directly addresses the complexities of a rapidly evolving digital financial sector. SPF, which represents over 65 high-growth Indian startups collectively valued at more than US$100 billion, works closely with government institutions to strengthen India’s innovation policy ecosystem. GFTN, a Singapore-headquartered platform established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, connects policy, technology, and finance leaders across more than 130 countries, aiming to advance resilient and inclusive financial systems.

Their joint efforts will concentrate on several critical areas of digital governance. These include strengthening global–India innovation corridors, enabling structured policy dialogue between regulators and industry, and supporting the international expansion of high-growth Indian startups. Priority policy domains encompass digital finance infrastructure, responsible artificial intelligence, digital assets, cross-border payments, and regulatory innovation. This comprehensive approach underscores the necessity of harmonized standards to manage the risks and opportunities presented by advanced fintech solutions.

Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO of SPF, emphasized the partnership’s significance, stating that it ’embeds India’s startup ecosystem more deeply into global financial and technology networks. By combining SPF’s on-ground policy advocacy with GFTN’s global platforms, we can drive regulatory coherence, cross-border growth and long-term innovation that benefits entrepreneurs and consumers alike.’ This statement directly reflects the need for clear, consistent rules to ensure fair competition and protect consumers in a digital economy.

Innovation Driving the Need for Regulatory Clarity

The push for enhanced digital governance comes as fintech innovation continues its rapid pace. In India, MIDASX, a prominent player in the country’s fintech ecosystem, reported a record-breaking 30% revenue growth in Q3 FY 25–26, marking its strongest quarterly performance. This success is attributed to the launch of a comprehensive AI-powered fintech platform that integrates multi-asset financial product distribution, empowering intermediaries to deliver improved financial services at scale. The platform streamlines onboarding, transaction management, analytics, and advisory support, facilitating rapid user adoption and client engagement. Such advanced platforms, while transformative, amplify the need for clear guidelines on data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and consumer protection.

Aakash Bansal, Co-Founder and CEO of MIDASX, described this period as a ‘transformational phase,’ articulating a vision to build the infrastructure for the future of financial distribution in India. The company’s roadmap includes deepening platform engagement, expanding into underserved regions, enhancing AI capabilities, and strengthening advisor engagement—all areas where robust digital governance will be crucial for sustainable growth and maintaining trust.

Broader Trends in Fintech Collaboration and Inclusion

Beyond India, the global fintech landscape also saw other significant collaborations aimed at fostering inclusive growth. In Nigeria, the Ibadan Digital Academy (IDA) unveiled a strategic partnership with Ajoti, a fintech firm focused on digitizing trusted savings systems known as AJO (Rotating Savings and Credit Association, or ROSCA). This collaboration aims to promote and expand access to inclusive financial innovation for underserved communities, leveraging consistency and collective discipline over traditional credit scoring. IDA will provide technical expertise and incubation support to help Ajoti develop and deploy its product across Nigeria. While geographically distinct from the Asia-Pacific focus, this initiative highlights a universal trend: fintech’s evolution towards interconnected, policy-driven, and technology-enabled ecosystems that serve broader societal needs, inherently requiring careful regulatory oversight.

The collective drive towards financial inclusion, technological innovation, and ecosystem growth, as demonstrated by these partnerships and platforms, underscores a fundamental truth: the future of fintech will be shaped by the ability to seamlessly blend technology, policy, and community impact. The developments of February 2026 illustrate that, particularly in dynamic regions like Asia-Pacific, establishing a comprehensive digital governance regime is not merely a regulatory burden, but an essential foundation for fostering innovation responsibly, ensuring trusted data access, safeguarding privacy and security, and promoting fair competition for the benefit of millions.