Launch of the “Agentic DeFi Forum” in Singapore
In a step reflecting the accelerating convergence of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital finance, the Singapore Innovation Center and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Singapore launched the “Agentic DeFi Forum” as part of SMEICC 2026, bringing together leading figures from governments, the financial sector, academia, and technology companies to discuss how AI and blockchain are reshaping financial markets and the digital economy.
Forum Details
The forum was held on August 6, 2026, at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Center and lasted half a day, providing a platform for discussion on agentic AI, decentralized finance (DeFi), tokenization of real-world assets, trusted digital infrastructure, and the regulatory frameworks needed to support responsible innovation in Asia. The event also serves as the official media session for the launch of Singapore Blockchain Week, scheduled for November 2026.
SMEICC 2026 hosts Guest of Honor Mr. Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development. Under this year’s theme “Beyond Partnerships: Where Does the Next Growth Come From,” the event is expected to welcome more than 5,000 business leaders from across the region, while the Agentic DeFi Forum will host about 250 invited participants representing the digital finance ecosystem.
Prominent Speakers and Panel Sessions
The program features prominent speakers from several institutions, including Anchorage Digital, Alpha Ladder Group, BitGo, Chainalysis, Canton Foundation, FOMO Pay, MetaComp, the National University of Singapore, the Singapore FinTech Association, StraitsX, R25, Xapo Bank, and Zenith, along with other partners from the regional ecosystem.
The panel sessions will address how AI-powered autonomous agents are reshaping investment and financing decisions, the rise of tokenized assets, cross-border digital finance, decentralized identity, post-quantum security, and the governance frameworks needed to entrench trusted innovation.
Participant Remarks
Associate Professor Edward Tay, Head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Office at the NUS School of Computing, a member of the Singapore Accreditation Council, and Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Singapore Blockchain Week, said that Singapore’s leadership in AI governance and accreditation gives it a solid foundation for the next phase of digital finance. He noted that close collaboration among universities, the private sector, and regulators positions the country at the forefront of responsibly leading the adoption of agentic AI and digital assets.
Heslin Kim, Chair of the Organizing Committee of Singapore Blockchain Week and Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Zenith, said: “Singapore’s strength has always been its ability to connect people, capital, and ideas across borders. As AI and blockchain become increasingly interconnected, the opportunity is not only to adopt new technologies but to build trusted partnerships that accelerate responsible innovation.”
Holly Fang, President of the Singapore FinTech Association, said: “Singapore’s rise as a trusted hub for digital finance was built on close partnership among regulators, financial institutions, and innovators. This public-private partnership will become even more important as agentic AI and blockchain converge with digital finance.”
Tianwei Liu, CEO and Co-Founder of StraitsX, said: “The next digital economy will not revolve around human users alone; it will increasingly include AI agents participating in commercial activities. To enable this future, we need trusted financial infrastructure that allows these agents to complete transactions securely, compliantly, and at scale.”
Tin Pei Ling, Co-Chair of MetaComp, said: “Payments are the cornerstone of a resilient digital economy, and Singapore’s position as a trusted and well-regulated hub gives it a real advantage in shaping payments infrastructure across the region.”
Five-Party Memorandum of Understanding
Moving from dialogue to execution, the forum witnessed the signing of a five-party memorandum of understanding between Singapore Blockchain Week and Raffles Capital and VIA Labs, in collaboration with Animoca Brands, AIDX Tech, the China-Singapore AI Association (CSAIA), and the HICOOL Global Entrepreneurs Summit of the Beijing Overseas Talents Association (BOTA).
The partnership aims to enhance cross-border cooperation, expand innovation networks, and create new opportunities for companies, entrepreneurs, and technology communities in Singapore and Asia. It will support several strategic initiatives, including the launch of an AI-powered agentic commerce ticketing platform developed by VIA Labs in collaboration with Animoca Brands, and deepening engagement in Raffles Capital’s AI x DeFi Convergence Pitch Competition.
About Singapore Blockchain Week
Singapore Blockchain Week (SBW) is a platform supported by the government and leading institutions, connecting agentic commerce, DeFi, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies, alongside institutional and real-world asset tokenization.
As the first leading global blockchain event with a cross-border character, the week’s program spans the Republic of Singapore and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone in southern Malaysia. The week runs from November 13 to 17, 2026, and includes conferences, specialized forums, networking events, and ecosystem development initiatives.
Source
Source: Yellow.com – September 3, 2026: https://yellow.com/ar/press-releases/منتدى-التمويل-اللامركزي-المعتمد-بالوكلاء-لدفع-الجيل-القادم-من-الاقتصاد-الرقمي-في-سنغافورة
