The SHIFT with Danny Levy

In Episode Six of THE SHIFT, Danny Levy explores one of the biggest questions facing financial services today:What if the future of global payments isn’t built on new apps… but entirely new rails?For decades, the infrastructure powering cross-border money movement has remained largely unchanged—reliable, trusted, but often slow, expensive, and fragmented.At the same time, a new generation of technologies is emerging. Blockchain networks, stablecoins, tokenised assets, and programmable settlement layers are promising a radically different way for money to move around the world.But how much of this is real innovation—and how much is still hype?Joining Danny is Santosh Vishwasrao, Head of Payments at XDC Network, where he works at the intersection of traditional financial infrastructure, blockchain technology, and next-generation payment systems.Recorded onsite at Money20/20 Asia, this conversation explores what happens when Web3 moves beyond speculation and starts solving real-world payment challenges.The conversation explores:Why the current global payments system still relies on decades-old infrastructureWhether blockchain is replacing traditional rails—or enhancing themWhere XDC Network fits alongside established networks like SWIFTReal-world examples of cross-border payments already happening on-chain todayWhy stablecoins, tokenisation, and blockchain settlement are gaining momentumThe biggest barriers to adoption, from regulation to risk and market readinessHow cards, crypto, and traditional banking rails are beginning to convergeWhy emerging markets may adopt these technologies faster than developed economiesThe role of CBDCs in the future financial ecosystemWho stands to win—and lose—as the next generation of payment infrastructure emergesDrawing on Santosh’s experience across payments, digital assets, and financial innovation, the discussion cuts through the noise surrounding Web3 and focuses on what is actually happening today—and what could change over the next 3–5 years.Grounded, practical, and highly relevant for leaders across banking, fintech, payments, and digital assets, this episode examines the infrastructure layer quietly reshaping the future of money movement.Because this isn’t just about blockchain.It’s about who controls the rails that move money around the world.That’s THE SHIFT.

In Episode Four of THE SHIFT, Danny Levy explores one of the biggest questions emerging in financial services today:What happens when AI doesn’t just assist humans… but starts acting on their behalf?Joining him is Garry Sien - a fintech and AI leader and Chief Innovation and Solutions Officer, International at Ant Digital Technologies. He is working at the intersection of financial infrastructure, digital trust, and next-generation platform innovation. Recorded onsite at Money20/20 Asia, this conversation dives deep into the rise of agentic finance: a world where AI agents can execute trades, approve loans, move money across borders, and make decisions in real time with minimal human intervention.Together, they unpack the shift from the super-app era to what comes next: intelligent, autonomous financial ecosystems built around AI agents capable of acting — not just advising.But with that shift comes a far bigger challenge:How do you build trust into systems where humans are no longer directly in the loop?The conversation explores:Why the super-app model was only the beginningWhat “agentic platforms” actually look like in practiceThe accountability debate surrounding AI-driven financial decisionsWhether regulators may eventually treat AI agents more like digital employees than software infrastructureWhy trust, auditability, and reversibility could become foundational requirements for financial AI systemsThe balance between innovation speed and systemic riskHow banks and fintechs can compete in a world moving beyond closed big-tech ecosystemsWhat’s real today versus what’s still hype in agentic financeWhich institutions are best positioned to win over the next 3–5 yearsDrawing on Garry’s experience across fintech, cloud, cybersecurity, and AI strategy, the discussion moves beyond surface-level AI hype and into the practical realities of building financial systems that are autonomous, scalable, and trusted.Grounded, thought-provoking, and highly relevant for leaders across banking, fintech, payments, and policy, this episode examines the infrastructure, governance, and trust models that could define the next era of financial services.Because this isn’t just about technology shifting.It’s about how decisions get made… and who we trust to make them.That’s THE SHIFT.

In this episode of Digital Transformation & Leadership Danny talks to Rohan Dhanuka.Rohan leads a team that spearheads Google's AI efforts for large enterprise clients in the Financial Services, CPG and Telco sectors. Responsible for driving customer growth and revenue by bringing the best of Google to clients. Rohan is a prominent voice in the intersection of AI, marketing, and digital transformation in Southeast Asia. He has been featured in Google's thought leadership platforms, such as Think with Google, where he discusses AI adoption in finance marketing . He has also spoken at and chaired industry events like Money20/20 Asia, The MarTech Summit Singapore and the Singapore FinTech Festival.In the episode Danny and Rohan discuss how to reinvent a career & navigating industry disruption:How to evaluate career moves in terms of risk vs. opportunityHow Google has changed over the past 7 yearsHow the role of banks in fintech innovation has evolvedInsights on how AI is enabling banks to leverage their vast datasets in new waysTraditional banks vs. fintechs in terms of competitive advantageThe biggest misconception FSI has about marketing todayRedesigned life around fewer but deeper relationshipsAnd more...Are you getting every episode of Digital Transformation & Leadership in your favourite podcast player? You can find us Apple Podcasts and Spotify to subscribe.

An episode taken from the Fintech Chatter Podcast with Dexter Cousins who interviewed Danny Levy.About this EpisodeDexter Cousins calls in the expert for the annual Fintech Predictions 2025! We welcome Danny Levy Managing Director, Asia & ANZ for Money 20/20.Dexter and Danny discuss the evolution & significance of Money 2020 and they chat about the unique experience and the rigorous selection process undertaken for speakers.Danny shares insights on trends for 2025, highlighting the rapid changes in the banking scene, the rise of digital payments, and the opportunities in embedded finance. They also explore the role of AI in FinTech and the importance of maintaining energy and focus while travelling for business. About Money 20/20Money20/20 is the world’s leading, premium content, sales and networking platform for the global money ecosystem.Their events feature in-depth analytics & inspirational speakers, our world-class insight and networking opportunities help our customers stay ahead.Key TakeawaysMoney 2020 is designed to create a unique festival-like experience.The event focuses on quality networking and content over quantity.Health and wellness initiatives are now integral to event planning.Speaker selection is based on editorial integrity and industry relevance.The banking landscape in Asia is rapidly evolving with digital innovations.Digital payments are leading the way in cross-border transactions.Embedded finance presents significant growth opportunities in FinTech.AI is transforming customer service and operational efficiency in financial services.FinTech innovations can significantly improve financial inclusion.Maintaining personal health and wellness is crucial for high performance in business.About DannyWith 15 years of senior leadership experience in Singapore, Danny is an accomplished business leader with a proven track record of scaling businesses and driving record-breaking profits. As the founder and host of "Digital Transformation & Leadership," a top 100 Business podcast, Danny regularly engages with industry leaders from global companies. He is a guest host on the South China Morning Post podcast, focusing on digital transformation.Danny serves as an Ambassador for the Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA).Danny spent a decade as Managing Director at Worldwide Business Research, where he delivered consecutive record-breaking profit results and led market expansion across Asia and ANZ.Danny’s leadership philosophy centres on creating empowering environments where teams can excel. He is passionate about strategic business growth and innovation, recruiting and developing high-potential talent, building inclusive, high-performing teams, and driving innovation and digital transformation.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Money2020 and Its Impact 03:36 The Evolution of Money202006:28 Wellness and Networking at Events09:22 Speaker Selection and Content Integrity12:18 Trends and Insights from the 2025 Report15:05 Digital Payments and Cross-Border Innovations17:56 The Role of Regulators and Collaboration in FinTech20:47 Opportunities in Emerging Markets23:49 Innovations and Challenges in FinTech26:50 The Evolution of AI in FinTech29:39 Identifying Opportunities in FinTech33:20 Game-Changing Innovations in

In this episode of Digital Transformation & Leadership Danny talks to Tomas Skoumal. Tomas Skoumal is Co-founder, Co-president and Chairman at Dyna.Ai, leveraging nearly 24 years of extensive experience in retail banking and consumer finance. Prior to his tenure at Dyna.Ai, he held the position of Managing Director, Global Head of Loans at Standard Chartered Bank, overseeing the overall profit and loss of personal loan portfolios across 27 countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Dyna.Ai is a leading artificial intelligence technology service company headquartered in Singapore. They are dedicated to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of audience operations and risk management by leveraging systems, analytics, and AI-based operation solutions. Their focus is to leverage cutting-edge AI techniques to foster business digitalization and intelligentization. A wide range of institutions are served, including traditional banks, digital banks, fintech companies, insurance firms, and various other types of organizations. In the episode Danny and Tomas discuss how nowadays AI is everywhere, it’s the word on the tip of everyones tongue, but what is it that excites Tomas the most about AI today, and why? Plus: The most exciting use cases for AI on the market today How to simplify AI for your users to ensure simple access to your solutions The key challenges and opportunities when it comes to widespread use of AI within financial services and banking specifically The future of fintech and a world where AI augments human capabilities and drives unprecedented levels of innovation and efficiency The role AI will play with regards to the future of digital transformation Are you getting every episode of Digital Transformation & Leadership in your favourite podcast player? You can find us Apple Podcasts and Spotify to subscribe.

To launch a new season of Digital Transformation & Leadership we've got a special episode recorded live from the MoneyPot podcast studio at Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok. Danny talks to Tessa Wijaya the COO at Indonesian fintech Xendit, the expanding payments gateway. On top of being a driving force for the company’s growth, Tessa is also a passionate advocate for more women in tech; she initiated Xendit’s Women in Tech Indonesia program, where entrepreneurs and tech professionals share experiences in workshops and digital forums. Unlisted Xendit doesn’t disclose its profits, but it has clearly gained the confidence of many venture capital firms. In September 2021, Xendit became a unicorn after it raised $150 million in series C funding, bumping up its valuation to $1 billion. Xendit helps businesses get what’s due to them from payment channels such as credit cards, online wallets, QR codes and other tools for electronic purchases. Xendit’s website says that in fewer than five minutes, it can set up an account for a business to start receiving digital payments. In Indonesia, the company competes with Doku and Goto’s Midtrans. From fewer than 10 employees at the start, the company now has more than 900. Xendit, which initially focused on Indonesia, has expanded to the Philippines and is eyeing other parts of Southeast Asia. In the episode Danny and Tessa discuss: How Xendit has navigated local payment preferences and integrated them with existing payment infrastructures to facilitate seamless transactions. Many individuals in emerging markets may be skeptical of new financial technologies or lack the necessary knowledge to use them effectively. How Xendit has gone about overcoming these challenges. The fintech industry is highly competitive, with both local and international players vying for market share. Fintech startups in emerging markets face competition from traditional financial institutions, established tech companies, and other startups. How has Xendit has overcome this to stand out in the market. Then in part 2 of the episode Tessa talks through her entrepreneurial journey sharing what she is most proud of, the biggest risk she's taken in her career, how you go about finding strong mentors, how to find the right work/life balance, and her big career lesson. To contact Tessa get in touch via LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessawij/ To check out Xendit go to - https://www.xendit.co/en/

In this episode of Digital Transformation & Leadership Danny Levy talks to Zennon Kapron the Director of Kapronasia, one of Asia's leading financial technology research and consulting firms. Prior to Kapronasia, Zennon was the Asia Pacific Financial Industry Manager and Global Banking Industry Manager for Intel. At Intel, he helped position and sell Intel-based architecture to financial services firms globally. Before Intel, Zennon worked at Citi at a number of different technology management roles culminating in his role as CIO for Citigroup Portugal. Zennon is a recognised thought leader on fintech in Asia and a regular speaker at financial conferences and shows globally including: Money 20/20, TradeTech, Sibos, SIFMA, Innovate Finance, Future of Fintech in Asia, APFIC and many others. He has testified in front of the U.S. Congress on matters of China Fintech and is regularly quoted in the press and television appearances including CNBC, Bloomberg, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times to name a few. Zennon is the author of 'Chomping at the Bitcoin: The Past, Present and Future of Bitcoin in China' published by Penguin as well as countless reports and commentaries on the state of financial technology in Asia. He is also a Top Voice on LinkedIn in Asian finance talking about fintech, payments, digital banking, DeFi, CBDCs. In the episode Zennon shares insights on: The surge in digital payments in Asia and how this is playing out across the entire region. How for more than a decade, the Asian tech ecosystem has been dominated by “super-apps:” platforms such as WeChat, Alipay, and Meituan that offer an enormous network of services all in one integrated app. Something Elon Musk has recently labeled an ‘everything app’. Zennon shares what constitutes a super app. And if are all platforms that are regarded as a super-apps are worthy of the title. If BNPL in Asia will replace traditional credit cards. Government led domestic card networks replacing Mastercard and Visa. A commonly held belief around digital banks in Asia that Zennon passionately disagrees with. Zennon's counter-intuitive, half-crazy prediction about the next five years for the Asian payments industry. To get in touch with Zennon get in touch via LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zennon/ To check out Kapron Asia go to - https://www.kapronasia.com/

In this episode of Digital Transformation & Leadership Danny Levy talks to Wenbin Wong the Managing Director, GrabFin, where he oversees Grab's fintech business in Singapore. He works closely with partners and regulators to deliver services to Grab's users, drivers and merchant partners. Prior to this, he was the Head of Product for GrabFin, setting the vision and delivery of usable, innovative products that enable social and financial mobility across Southeast Asia. He joined Grab in 2015 and held various roles before assuming his current position, and was Chief Product Officer at Ovo and Director of Strategy at Grab. Grab is Southeast Asia’s leading superapp, offering a suite of services consisting of deliveries, mobility, financial services, enterprise and others. Grabbers come from all over the world, and they are united by a common mission: to drive Southeast Asia forward by creating economic empowerment for everyone. Six in 10 Southeast Asian adults are unbanked or underbanked and nine in 10 do not have credit cards. Grab Financial Group (GFG) is a leading Southeast Asian fintech platform which aims to meet their needs by providing simple, transparent, and flexible financial products. GFG comprises GrabFin (digital payments, financing, insurance, rewards, and wealth management) and Digibanks - Grab’s regional digital banking business. In the episode Wenbin shares insights on how they're establishing Grab as the #1 super app in Singapore and Southeast Asia, how they've made financial services more accessible for different user groups, how GrabFin has evolved post pandemic, insights on embedded finance, supporting the growth of everyday enterprises, BNPL integration, key lessons learned and how that is impacting what they're doing moving forward, and what's next for GrabFin. To connect with Wenbin get in touch via LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wenbinwong/ or email wenbin.wong@grab.com For more information on Grab visit - https://www.grab.com/sg/ Are you getting every episode of Digital Transformation & Leadership in your favourite podcast player? You can find us Apple Podcasts and Spotify to subscribe.