Introduction
Asia FinTech Alliance (AFA) is a regional coalition of fintech associations across Asia. Publicly launched in 2023, it brings together national and regional fintech associations to support innovation, policy dialogue, ecosystem collaboration and responsible digital finance development. AFA works as a coordination platform connecting fintech communities across Asian economies rather than as a direct-membership trade association for individual companies.
What is Asia FinTech Alliance and who does it represent
Asia FinTech Alliance represents fintech associations operating across Asian markets. Its members are industry associations, each connected to a national or regional fintech ecosystem, rather than individual fintech companies joining directly as ordinary members.
Through those associations, AFA indirectly connects fintech companies, payment providers, digital finance platforms, investors, regulators, technology firms, banks and ecosystem stakeholders across Asia. Its role is to strengthen regional cooperation, share market knowledge and support dialogue on digital finance priorities that affect multiple jurisdictions.
Mission and advocacy focus
AFA’s mission is to advance fintech innovation, policy dialogue and industry collaboration across Asia. It supports cooperation between fintech associations so that local ecosystems can share experience, build stronger regional links and respond to common challenges in digital finance.
Its advocacy and ecosystem work are especially relevant where Asian fintech markets face shared issues such as cross-border payments, fraud prevention, financial inclusion, digital identity, open finance, crypto-assets, regulatory fragmentation and responsible innovation. AFA helps member associations coordinate around regional priorities while preserving each market’s local regulatory context.
Policy domains
- Regional fintech collaboration — Support for cooperation between fintech associations, local ecosystems and digital finance communities across Asia.
- Policy dialogue and regulatory learning — Exchange of regulatory experience, market knowledge and policy priorities between member economies.
- Digital payments and cross-border finance — Relevance for payment innovation, remittances, merchant payments, wallets, account-based payments and regional payment connectivity.
- Anti-fraud and cybersecurity cooperation — Work connected to fraud prevention, scams, cyber resilience, trust and secure digital financial services.
- Financial inclusion — Support for fintech models that expand access to payments, credit, savings, insurance and investment tools.
- Open finance and data innovation — Relevance for financial data access, API-enabled services, account connectivity and customer-permissioned data.
- Fintech ecosystem development — Support for startups, scale-ups, investors, technology providers and associations building stronger fintech markets across Asia.
Geographic scope and cross-border reach
AFA covers Asia through its member fintech associations. Its network spans multiple Asian economies, including major fintech markets in East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
The alliance’s value is strongest where fintech companies and associations need regional visibility, policy exchange, partnership opportunities and knowledge sharing across markets. It does not provide local licensing, passporting, regulatory approval or payment scheme access.
Why Asia FinTech Alliance matters for payments operators
Asia FinTech Alliance matters for PSPs, payment processors, digital wallet providers, remittance companies, merchant payment firms, embedded finance providers and payment technology companies operating across Asian markets. Its influence is indirect but useful: AFA connects the fintech associations that shape local ecosystem dialogue in many jurisdictions.
For payment operators, AFA is especially relevant where payments intersect with cross-border finance, digital wallets, instant payments, remittances, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, open finance, financial inclusion and regional market expansion. AFA can help operators understand common regional themes and identify association-level entry points in different Asian markets.
The teams most likely to follow AFA include policy, partnerships, business development, government affairs, regulatory strategy, product, risk, fraud, market expansion and senior leadership teams.
Who runs Asia FinTech Alliance and who are the members
Asia FinTech Alliance operates as a member-driven coalition of fintech associations. Its governance includes representatives from member associations across Asian economies, with elected leadership and regional coordination activity.
The alliance is designed around association-to-association cooperation. This means its members are fintech associations rather than ordinary corporate members such as banks, PSPs or technology vendors.
Members and participant categories
AFA’s membership is best described by association type and regional role. Through its member associations, the alliance indirectly reaches a wide range of fintech and digital finance companies across Asia.
| Category | Typical participants |
|---|---|
| National fintech associations | Country-level fintech associations representing local fintech ecosystems |
| Regional fintech organisations | Associations or ecosystem bodies connecting fintech companies across a wider market or subregion |
| Payment and digital finance communities | PSPs, wallets, remittance firms and payment technology companies connected through local member associations |
| Open finance and data communities | API providers, account connectivity firms and financial data companies represented through national ecosystems |
| Regtech and cybersecurity communities | AML, KYC, fraud prevention, digital identity and cyber-risk firms connected through local associations |
| Lending, wealthtech and insurtech communities | Digital lenders, investment platforms, insurance technology firms and other fintech verticals represented indirectly |
| Ecosystem partners | Investors, accelerators, banks, technology providers, public-sector stakeholders and development partners connected through local networks |
Working groups and community activity
AFA supports regional cooperation through summits, policy dialogue, member-association coordination, ecosystem initiatives and thematic collaboration. Its activity may cover payments, fraud prevention, financial inclusion, open finance, cross-border fintech partnerships, regulatory learning and digital finance innovation.
Member associations may participate in regional statements, forums, knowledge-sharing initiatives, leadership meetings and joint projects that strengthen Asia’s fintech ecosystem.
What does Asia FinTech Alliance publish and who does it influence
Policy and regulatory engagement
AFA’s policy influence is mainly regional and ecosystem-based. It helps fintech associations exchange views on issues that affect multiple Asian markets, including digital payments, fraud prevention, financial inclusion, open finance, cybersecurity, digital identity and regulatory innovation.
Its audience includes fintech associations, regulators, public-sector stakeholders, ecosystem builders, investors and industry participants looking for regional perspectives on financial technology.
Research, reports and ecosystem resources
AFA participates in regional fintech research and ecosystem reporting. Its materials and partner publications may cover Asian fintech market trends, regulatory priorities, investment conditions, technology adoption, financial inclusion and cross-border digital finance.
For PSPs and payment companies, useful themes include cross-border payments, anti-fraud cooperation, regional wallet development, instant payments, remittances, market access themes and digital finance regulation.
Events and convenings
AFA participates in and supports regional fintech convenings, including AFA Summit activity and events connected to FinTechOn. These events bring together fintech associations, fintech companies, financial institutions, regulators, investors, technology providers and ecosystem stakeholders.
The alliance’s convenings are relevant for payment operators seeking regional market insight, association-level relationships, policy visibility and cross-border partnership opportunities.
How to engage with Asia FinTech Alliance
AFA engagement is most relevant for fintech associations and ecosystem bodies across Asia. Individual fintech companies usually engage with AFA indirectly through their home-market fintech association.
Who can participate
Participation is most relevant for national and regional fintech associations that represent fintech ecosystems in Asian economies. Fintech companies, PSPs, banks, investors and technology providers may engage through events, local member associations, partnerships or ecosystem initiatives.
For payment operators, the practical route is usually to join or engage with the relevant fintech association in the market where the company operates, then use AFA-linked events and regional initiatives for broader Asia visibility.
Asia FinTech Alliance membership tiers and fees
AFA should not be described with ordinary corporate membership tiers for fintech companies. Its membership model is association-led, so participation conditions depend on the role of the association, ecosystem body or partner involved.
Companies should confirm current engagement routes through AFA or through the relevant local fintech association in their target Asian market.
What participants commit to
Participating associations typically support regional fintech collaboration, knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, events and joint ecosystem initiatives. Companies engaging through local associations or AFA-linked events may contribute expertise, attend forums, build partnerships and support regional digital finance development.
FAQ
Who are Asia FinTech Alliance’s members?
AFA’s members are fintech associations across Asian economies. Individual fintech companies, PSPs and banks are usually connected indirectly through their national or regional fintech association.
Can a PSP join Asia FinTech Alliance directly?
A PSP usually engages with AFA through its local fintech association or through AFA-linked events and ecosystem initiatives. Direct corporate participation may depend on current AFA partnership or event routes.
Why does AFA matter for PSPs?
AFA matters for PSPs because it connects fintech associations across Asia, where many payment issues are regional: cross-border payments, fraud, wallets, remittances, instant payments, open finance and financial inclusion.
What does AFA do?
AFA supports regional fintech collaboration, policy dialogue, ecosystem exchange, research participation and convenings between fintech associations across Asia.
Is AFA focused only on payments?
No. Payments are an important part of AFA’s relevance, but the alliance covers the broader fintech ecosystem, including open finance, lending, regtech, insurtech, wealthtech, crypto-assets, cybersecurity and financial inclusion.
Does AFA help with market entry in Asia?
AFA can help companies understand regional fintech networks and association-level contacts. Formal market entry, licensing, compliance and local operating approval remain country-specific and are handled through local advisers, regulators and market partners.
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