Here’s our take on 10 people who could move the markets in 2023.
Economic events, news updates and earnings seasons all impact the financial markets. But what about individuals? Here’s our take on 10 people who could move the markets in 2023.
10 - Mark Zuckerberg
The CEO of Meta Platforms is now a household name. Renaming Facebook to Meta Platforms and investing heavily into virtual reality (VR) headsets were giant leaps into the immersive virtual. Investors were however, not too impressed with changes at the company and the stock lost around 70% in 2022.
This brought him down to $140 billion of net worth after losing $100 billion hours after the announcement. Zuck’s excitement around the Metaverse’s prospects could continue to drive sentiment around NFTs and cryptos. Commentary around the economy and Meta Platforms’ layoffs (13% of its workforce) may also impact markets in 2023.
9 - Janet Yellen
Yellen created history in 2021 by becoming the first person to simultaneously head the White House Council of Economic Advisors, Federal Reserve, and US Treasury Department. Yellen is the current Secretary of the Treasury. The admirer of “cool rocks” has a net worth of $20 million.
Yellen has always been an economic dove. In 2022, she rejected the notion of high inflation being a consequence of the pandemic-related incentives and said it would not last long.
She has also been vocal about the US not heading into a recession. Yellen’s moves to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict could continue to lift market sentiment.
8 - Changpeng Zhao
The founder and CEO of Binance has a vision to make the exchange a bridge between crypto and fiat currency. Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, with a daily trade volume of about $9.5 trillion, which is close to 67% of the digital money market and has become competition free after the FTX debacle.
The Chinese-born math whiz had initially offered to buy FTX, the second most popular crypto-exchange. However, he narrowly escaped the turbulence as FTX came crashing down. Zhao has been listed among the top 150 richest people in the world by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and has a net worth of $13 billion.
7 - Marry Barra
The first woman to run one of the three biggest automakers in the US, Marry Barra has plans for General Motors to sell only zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Barra drove GM to eliminate gender gap in payrolls and GM has invested billions in electric vehicles, self-driving cars, and the ride-share service Maven under her guidance.
Barra’s net worth is estimated at $94 million. Her ambition is to overtake Tesla by selling 1 million electric vehicles by 2025 and double General Motor’s annual revenues to $280 billion by the end of the decade.
6 - Christine Lagarde
Lagarde is the first woman to become finance and economy minister of France, head of the International Monetary Fund and President of the ECB. She has had a tough tenure, assuming office in November 2019, with many European countries dealt a hard blow by covid lockdowns and economic impact.
The Eurozone experienced record-breaking double-digit inflation that was worsened by the energy crisis resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war. As soon as Lagarde decided to curb inflation with interest rate hikes, the euro collapsed by 20% and fell below the US dollar for the first time in 20 years.
She has been struggling to avert a bond market crisis and sovereign debt defaults, despite raising interest rates and easing asset purchases. Lagarde has indicated that inflation in the Eurozone has “not peaked out” yet, hinting at further monetary tightening.
5 - Jerome Powell
The Fed chief has the power to move markets every time he announces the country’s monetary policy and makes comments around inflation. His net worth is estimated at $50 million. Powell’s hawkish stance on inflation by consecutive and massive interest rate hikes throughout 2022 fuelled recessionary fear.
Although, his monetary tightening is expected to continue in 2023, the pace of hikes may be less aggressive. Powell in his last press conference in 2022, said he was looking at a price-gauge across the service sectors, as the labour markets hold the key to understanding inflation.
4 - Joe Biden
Biden had served as the US Vice President under Barak Obama and defeated Donald Trump in the US Democratic Presidential elections in late 2020. Last year was rough for the markets, with the S&P 500 declining 20%.
Biden is only second to Herbert Hoover, whose Presidential reign saw the worst year for the financial markets. Biden announced the largest-ever Strategic Petroleum Reserve release to tackle surging oil and gas prices. This led to a massive decline in oil prices in 2022. Biden also sanctioned the ramping up of domestic oil production, with the aim of leading global oil supply.
The Democratic Party is now facing an unprecedented challenge of historically high inflation, which could continue to impact the US dollar and equity markets.
3 - Xi Jinping
The President of People’s Republic of China, dubbed as the “Emperor of Everything”, was initially declared as “princeling” when he first got elected as Chinese Communist Party leader and then President.
The leader of the world’s most populated country scrapped the term limits by amending the Chinese constitution empowering him to hold the chair for life. He is known for his slogan “Chinese Dream,” which in his words is the “Road to Rejuvenation” of the country.
Perhaps not the Chinese Dream, but Xi Jinping’s dream seems to have come true, with a net worth of $1.2 billion. The US-China trade war, China’s controversial zero-covid policy and crackdowns on the private sector have cost the Chinese market billions of dollars. Although Jinping supported Russia on the Ukraine conflict, he has abided by Western sanctions.
2 - Vladimir Putin
The President of the world’s 11th largest economy, Putin has been the premier of Russia since 1999 and has almost always been elected by a large majority (76% in 2018). In 2020, Putin signed an executive order for amending the Russian Constitution to allow him to run for another two six-year terms.
In February 2022, Putin announced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war led to sanctions against Russia and oil supply shortages, stroking the worst recessionary fears. The sanctions caused Russian stocks to crash, sending the MOEX index lower by 44% in 2022, the worst year since 2008.
This shook the global markets, fuelling inflation and causing a major energy crisis across Europe. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and a pullback on energy supplies caused the euro to reach parity with the US dollar. It has also caused food supply shortages in the region.
The Bank of Russia could join other central banks in raising interest rates in 2023, if it continues to face labour shortages and import restrictions. Russia’s central bank has kept its key interest rate at 7.5% so far. An end of the war with Ukraine could lift all financial markets around the globe in 2023.
1 - Elon Musk
The CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and now Twitter always manages to stay in the news! Musk heads all product design, engineering and global manufacturing of Tesla’s EVs and solar energy products.
In January 2021, Musk changed his Twitter bio to #bitcoin, sending the cryptocurrency 20% higher in just a few hours. Towards the middle of the year, he suggested he had fallen out of love with it and tweeted about Tesla’s plans to no longer accept Bitcoin payments. The crypto immediately fell from more than $54,800 to around $45,700, hitting its lowest since March 1, 2021. Musk had a similar effect on Dogecoin.
When he tweeted about this crypto in 2021, the price of Dogecoin skyrocketed more than 300% in four hours. The CEO of Tesla grabbed the headlines with his acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion. However, Tesla shareholders have been wary of the boss being distracted with Twitter.
This sentiment pushed shares of Tesla lower by more than 50% over the past six months. Tesla’s fate could create opportunities for other EV markets in the US and China. Musk’s tweets may also continue to cause ripples in the cryptocurrencies.
We’ve had a stormy start to 2023 and it could be another turbulent year for the financial markets. Contentworks Agency is the leading content marketing agency for the finance space. Talk to us about content for your bank, forex broker or fintech.
Charlotte Day, Creative Director at Contentworks
This article was written by Charlotte Day – Creative Director, Contentworks Agency
Charlotte is a content marketing strategist heading up social media and storytelling at Contentworks Agency. A content marketing thought leader, she has 1000+ articles published, guest writes for leading social media hubs and frequently speaks at events.
Economic events, news updates and earnings seasons all impact the financial markets. But what about individuals? Here’s our take on 10 people who could move the markets in 2023.
10 - Mark Zuckerberg
The CEO of Meta Platforms is now a household name. Renaming Facebook to Meta Platforms and investing heavily into virtual reality (VR) headsets were giant leaps into the immersive virtual. Investors were however, not too impressed with changes at the company and the stock lost around 70% in 2022.
This brought him down to $140 billion of net worth after losing $100 billion hours after the announcement. Zuck’s excitement around the Metaverse’s prospects could continue to drive sentiment around NFTs and cryptos. Commentary around the economy and Meta Platforms’ layoffs (13% of its workforce) may also impact markets in 2023.
9 - Janet Yellen
Yellen created history in 2021 by becoming the first person to simultaneously head the White House Council of Economic Advisors, Federal Reserve, and US Treasury Department. Yellen is the current Secretary of the Treasury. The admirer of “cool rocks” has a net worth of $20 million.
Yellen has always been an economic dove. In 2022, she rejected the notion of high inflation being a consequence of the pandemic-related incentives and said it would not last long.
She has also been vocal about the US not heading into a recession. Yellen’s moves to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict could continue to lift market sentiment.
8 - Changpeng Zhao
The founder and CEO of Binance has a vision to make the exchange a bridge between crypto and fiat currency. Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, with a daily trade volume of about $9.5 trillion, which is close to 67% of the digital money market and has become competition free after the FTX debacle.
The Chinese-born math whiz had initially offered to buy FTX, the second most popular crypto-exchange. However, he narrowly escaped the turbulence as FTX came crashing down. Zhao has been listed among the top 150 richest people in the world by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and has a net worth of $13 billion.
7 - Marry Barra
The first woman to run one of the three biggest automakers in the US, Marry Barra has plans for General Motors to sell only zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Barra drove GM to eliminate gender gap in payrolls and GM has invested billions in electric vehicles, self-driving cars, and the ride-share service Maven under her guidance.
Barra’s net worth is estimated at $94 million. Her ambition is to overtake Tesla by selling 1 million electric vehicles by 2025 and double General Motor’s annual revenues to $280 billion by the end of the decade.
6 - Christine Lagarde
Lagarde is the first woman to become finance and economy minister of France, head of the International Monetary Fund and President of the ECB. She has had a tough tenure, assuming office in November 2019, with many European countries dealt a hard blow by covid lockdowns and economic impact.
The Eurozone experienced record-breaking double-digit inflation that was worsened by the energy crisis resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war. As soon as Lagarde decided to curb inflation with interest rate hikes, the euro collapsed by 20% and fell below the US dollar for the first time in 20 years.
She has been struggling to avert a bond market crisis and sovereign debt defaults, despite raising interest rates and easing asset purchases. Lagarde has indicated that inflation in the Eurozone has “not peaked out” yet, hinting at further monetary tightening.
5 - Jerome Powell
The Fed chief has the power to move markets every time he announces the country’s monetary policy and makes comments around inflation. His net worth is estimated at $50 million. Powell’s hawkish stance on inflation by consecutive and massive interest rate hikes throughout 2022 fuelled recessionary fear.
Although, his monetary tightening is expected to continue in 2023, the pace of hikes may be less aggressive. Powell in his last press conference in 2022, said he was looking at a price-gauge across the service sectors, as the labour markets hold the key to understanding inflation.
4 - Joe Biden
Biden had served as the US Vice President under Barak Obama and defeated Donald Trump in the US Democratic Presidential elections in late 2020. Last year was rough for the markets, with the S&P 500 declining 20%.
Biden is only second to Herbert Hoover, whose Presidential reign saw the worst year for the financial markets. Biden announced the largest-ever Strategic Petroleum Reserve release to tackle surging oil and gas prices. This led to a massive decline in oil prices in 2022. Biden also sanctioned the ramping up of domestic oil production, with the aim of leading global oil supply.
The Democratic Party is now facing an unprecedented challenge of historically high inflation, which could continue to impact the US dollar and equity markets.
3 - Xi Jinping
The President of People’s Republic of China, dubbed as the “Emperor of Everything”, was initially declared as “princeling” when he first got elected as Chinese Communist Party leader and then President.
The leader of the world’s most populated country scrapped the term limits by amending the Chinese constitution empowering him to hold the chair for life. He is known for his slogan “Chinese Dream,” which in his words is the “Road to Rejuvenation” of the country.
Perhaps not the Chinese Dream, but Xi Jinping’s dream seems to have come true, with a net worth of $1.2 billion. The US-China trade war, China’s controversial zero-covid policy and crackdowns on the private sector have cost the Chinese market billions of dollars. Although Jinping supported Russia on the Ukraine conflict, he has abided by Western sanctions.
2 - Vladimir Putin
The President of the world’s 11th largest economy, Putin has been the premier of Russia since 1999 and has almost always been elected by a large majority (76% in 2018). In 2020, Putin signed an executive order for amending the Russian Constitution to allow him to run for another two six-year terms.
In February 2022, Putin announced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war led to sanctions against Russia and oil supply shortages, stroking the worst recessionary fears. The sanctions caused Russian stocks to crash, sending the MOEX index lower by 44% in 2022, the worst year since 2008.
This shook the global markets, fuelling inflation and causing a major energy crisis across Europe. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and a pullback on energy supplies caused the euro to reach parity with the US dollar. It has also caused food supply shortages in the region.
The Bank of Russia could join other central banks in raising interest rates in 2023, if it continues to face labour shortages and import restrictions. Russia’s central bank has kept its key interest rate at 7.5% so far. An end of the war with Ukraine could lift all financial markets around the globe in 2023.
1 - Elon Musk
The CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and now Twitter always manages to stay in the news! Musk heads all product design, engineering and global manufacturing of Tesla’s EVs and solar energy products.
In January 2021, Musk changed his Twitter bio to #bitcoin, sending the cryptocurrency 20% higher in just a few hours. Towards the middle of the year, he suggested he had fallen out of love with it and tweeted about Tesla’s plans to no longer accept Bitcoin payments. The crypto immediately fell from more than $54,800 to around $45,700, hitting its lowest since March 1, 2021. Musk had a similar effect on Dogecoin.
When he tweeted about this crypto in 2021, the price of Dogecoin skyrocketed more than 300% in four hours. The CEO of Tesla grabbed the headlines with his acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion. However, Tesla shareholders have been wary of the boss being distracted with Twitter.
This sentiment pushed shares of Tesla lower by more than 50% over the past six months. Tesla’s fate could create opportunities for other EV markets in the US and China. Musk’s tweets may also continue to cause ripples in the cryptocurrencies.
We’ve had a stormy start to 2023 and it could be another turbulent year for the financial markets. Contentworks Agency is the leading content marketing agency for the finance space. Talk to us about content for your bank, forex broker or fintech.
Charlotte Day, Creative Director at Contentworks
This article was written by Charlotte Day – Creative Director, Contentworks Agency
Charlotte is a content marketing strategist heading up social media and storytelling at Contentworks Agency. A content marketing thought leader, she has 1000+ articles published, guest writes for leading social media hubs and frequently speaks at events.
The return of the travel concierge, this time powered by artificial intelligence
Featured Videos
FM Daily Brief - 5 June 2026
FM Daily Brief - 5 June 2026
FM Daily Brief - 5 June 2026
FM Daily Brief - 5 June 2026
Today’s Friday, the 5th of June 2026, and these are our main stories: The5ers-backed CFD brokerage’s Seychelles licence, Poland–Ukraine forex fraud raids, and China’s offshore broker exit deadline.
Today’s Friday, the 5th of June 2026, and these are our main stories: The5ers-backed CFD brokerage’s Seychelles licence, Poland–Ukraine forex fraud raids, and China’s offshore broker exit deadline.
Today’s Friday, the 5th of June 2026, and these are our main stories: The5ers-backed CFD brokerage’s Seychelles licence, Poland–Ukraine forex fraud raids, and China’s offshore broker exit deadline.
Today’s Friday, the 5th of June 2026, and these are our main stories: The5ers-backed CFD brokerage’s Seychelles licence, Poland–Ukraine forex fraud raids, and China’s offshore broker exit deadline.
Industry Talks | Vinay Trivedi | CEO, SGX CurrencyNode | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vinay Trivedi | CEO, SGX CurrencyNode | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vinay Trivedi | CEO, SGX CurrencyNode | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vinay Trivedi | CEO, SGX CurrencyNode | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vinay Trivedi | CEO, SGX CurrencyNode | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vinay Trivedi | CEO, SGX CurrencyNode | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Here is our conversation with Vinay Trivedi, CEO of SGX CurrencyNode, on Singapore's growing role in global FX markets, exchange innovation, and the future of institutional liquidity.
We begin with Singapore's rise as one of the world's leading foreign exchange centers and discuss the role SGX plays in an ecosystem traditionally dominated by OTC trading. Vinay explains how SGX has expanded its footprint across exchange-traded and OTC markets, building a comprehensive suite of solutions spanning execution, distribution, risk management, market data, and liquidity provision.
The conversation then turns to innovation and digital assets. Vinay shares how SGX has embraced blockchain initiatives, collaborated on tokenization projects, and launched institutional crypto derivatives to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital asset markets. We explore how exchanges can adapt to emerging technologies while maintaining the infrastructure, governance, and trust expected by institutional participants.
We also discuss the relationship between SGX and the retail trading ecosystem. Vinay outlines the exchange's efforts to support broker growth through education, technology, and liquidity solutions, while highlighting the importance of retail participation in building vibrant and sustainable capital markets.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges facing market participants in an increasingly volatile environment. From geopolitical uncertainty and commodity price swings to shifting macroeconomic trends, Vinay explains why the industry's focus must remain on providing resilient infrastructure, deep liquidity, and efficient risk management tools for every segment of the market.
Here is our conversation with Vinay Trivedi, CEO of SGX CurrencyNode, on Singapore's growing role in global FX markets, exchange innovation, and the future of institutional liquidity.
We begin with Singapore's rise as one of the world's leading foreign exchange centers and discuss the role SGX plays in an ecosystem traditionally dominated by OTC trading. Vinay explains how SGX has expanded its footprint across exchange-traded and OTC markets, building a comprehensive suite of solutions spanning execution, distribution, risk management, market data, and liquidity provision.
The conversation then turns to innovation and digital assets. Vinay shares how SGX has embraced blockchain initiatives, collaborated on tokenization projects, and launched institutional crypto derivatives to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital asset markets. We explore how exchanges can adapt to emerging technologies while maintaining the infrastructure, governance, and trust expected by institutional participants.
We also discuss the relationship between SGX and the retail trading ecosystem. Vinay outlines the exchange's efforts to support broker growth through education, technology, and liquidity solutions, while highlighting the importance of retail participation in building vibrant and sustainable capital markets.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges facing market participants in an increasingly volatile environment. From geopolitical uncertainty and commodity price swings to shifting macroeconomic trends, Vinay explains why the industry's focus must remain on providing resilient infrastructure, deep liquidity, and efficient risk management tools for every segment of the market.
Here is our conversation with Vinay Trivedi, CEO of SGX CurrencyNode, on Singapore's growing role in global FX markets, exchange innovation, and the future of institutional liquidity.
We begin with Singapore's rise as one of the world's leading foreign exchange centers and discuss the role SGX plays in an ecosystem traditionally dominated by OTC trading. Vinay explains how SGX has expanded its footprint across exchange-traded and OTC markets, building a comprehensive suite of solutions spanning execution, distribution, risk management, market data, and liquidity provision.
The conversation then turns to innovation and digital assets. Vinay shares how SGX has embraced blockchain initiatives, collaborated on tokenization projects, and launched institutional crypto derivatives to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital asset markets. We explore how exchanges can adapt to emerging technologies while maintaining the infrastructure, governance, and trust expected by institutional participants.
We also discuss the relationship between SGX and the retail trading ecosystem. Vinay outlines the exchange's efforts to support broker growth through education, technology, and liquidity solutions, while highlighting the importance of retail participation in building vibrant and sustainable capital markets.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges facing market participants in an increasingly volatile environment. From geopolitical uncertainty and commodity price swings to shifting macroeconomic trends, Vinay explains why the industry's focus must remain on providing resilient infrastructure, deep liquidity, and efficient risk management tools for every segment of the market.
Here is our conversation with Vinay Trivedi, CEO of SGX CurrencyNode, on Singapore's growing role in global FX markets, exchange innovation, and the future of institutional liquidity.
We begin with Singapore's rise as one of the world's leading foreign exchange centers and discuss the role SGX plays in an ecosystem traditionally dominated by OTC trading. Vinay explains how SGX has expanded its footprint across exchange-traded and OTC markets, building a comprehensive suite of solutions spanning execution, distribution, risk management, market data, and liquidity provision.
The conversation then turns to innovation and digital assets. Vinay shares how SGX has embraced blockchain initiatives, collaborated on tokenization projects, and launched institutional crypto derivatives to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital asset markets. We explore how exchanges can adapt to emerging technologies while maintaining the infrastructure, governance, and trust expected by institutional participants.
We also discuss the relationship between SGX and the retail trading ecosystem. Vinay outlines the exchange's efforts to support broker growth through education, technology, and liquidity solutions, while highlighting the importance of retail participation in building vibrant and sustainable capital markets.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges facing market participants in an increasingly volatile environment. From geopolitical uncertainty and commodity price swings to shifting macroeconomic trends, Vinay explains why the industry's focus must remain on providing resilient infrastructure, deep liquidity, and efficient risk management tools for every segment of the market.
Here is our conversation with Vinay Trivedi, CEO of SGX CurrencyNode, on Singapore's growing role in global FX markets, exchange innovation, and the future of institutional liquidity.
We begin with Singapore's rise as one of the world's leading foreign exchange centers and discuss the role SGX plays in an ecosystem traditionally dominated by OTC trading. Vinay explains how SGX has expanded its footprint across exchange-traded and OTC markets, building a comprehensive suite of solutions spanning execution, distribution, risk management, market data, and liquidity provision.
The conversation then turns to innovation and digital assets. Vinay shares how SGX has embraced blockchain initiatives, collaborated on tokenization projects, and launched institutional crypto derivatives to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital asset markets. We explore how exchanges can adapt to emerging technologies while maintaining the infrastructure, governance, and trust expected by institutional participants.
We also discuss the relationship between SGX and the retail trading ecosystem. Vinay outlines the exchange's efforts to support broker growth through education, technology, and liquidity solutions, while highlighting the importance of retail participation in building vibrant and sustainable capital markets.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges facing market participants in an increasingly volatile environment. From geopolitical uncertainty and commodity price swings to shifting macroeconomic trends, Vinay explains why the industry's focus must remain on providing resilient infrastructure, deep liquidity, and efficient risk management tools for every segment of the market.
Here is our conversation with Vinay Trivedi, CEO of SGX CurrencyNode, on Singapore's growing role in global FX markets, exchange innovation, and the future of institutional liquidity.
We begin with Singapore's rise as one of the world's leading foreign exchange centers and discuss the role SGX plays in an ecosystem traditionally dominated by OTC trading. Vinay explains how SGX has expanded its footprint across exchange-traded and OTC markets, building a comprehensive suite of solutions spanning execution, distribution, risk management, market data, and liquidity provision.
The conversation then turns to innovation and digital assets. Vinay shares how SGX has embraced blockchain initiatives, collaborated on tokenization projects, and launched institutional crypto derivatives to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital asset markets. We explore how exchanges can adapt to emerging technologies while maintaining the infrastructure, governance, and trust expected by institutional participants.
We also discuss the relationship between SGX and the retail trading ecosystem. Vinay outlines the exchange's efforts to support broker growth through education, technology, and liquidity solutions, while highlighting the importance of retail participation in building vibrant and sustainable capital markets.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges facing market participants in an increasingly volatile environment. From geopolitical uncertainty and commodity price swings to shifting macroeconomic trends, Vinay explains why the industry's focus must remain on providing resilient infrastructure, deep liquidity, and efficient risk management tools for every segment of the market.
Industry Talks | Philip Huang | CRO, Orient Futures Singapore | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Philip Huang | CRO, Orient Futures Singapore | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Philip Huang | CRO, Orient Futures Singapore | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Philip Huang | CRO, Orient Futures Singapore | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Philip Huang | CRO, Orient Futures Singapore | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Philip Huang | CRO, Orient Futures Singapore | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Here is our conversation with Philip Huang, Chief Risk Officer at Orient Futures Singapore, on navigating market volatility, modern risk management, and Singapore's growing role as a global liquidity hub.
We begin by reflecting on the heightened volatility seen across commodities and energy markets in recent months. Philip shares how risk frameworks were stress-tested during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, why correlations breaking down is one of the toughest challenges for risk teams, and what stood out most to him was the composure and preparedness displayed by market participants throughout the turbulence.
The discussion then turns to the evolving nature of risk management. Drawing on insights from a private industry roundtable, Philip explains why successful risk functions increasingly require a combination of quantitative expertise, technological understanding, and strong governance. We explore the growing role of AI, automation, and human oversight, and why effective risk management is becoming a multidisciplinary discipline rather than a collection of isolated specializations.
We also examine Singapore's position in the global liquidity landscape. Philip discusses how the city-state has developed a distinct identity compared to other major financial centers, driven by institutional participation, regulatory stability, and a market structure that continues to attract sophisticated participants from across the region.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges risk teams are preparing for. Philip shares how simulation exercises, stress-testing programs, and forward-looking risk indicators are becoming increasingly important as firms adapt to an environment where volatility remains the norm and resilience is a competitive advantage.
Here is our conversation with Philip Huang, Chief Risk Officer at Orient Futures Singapore, on navigating market volatility, modern risk management, and Singapore's growing role as a global liquidity hub.
We begin by reflecting on the heightened volatility seen across commodities and energy markets in recent months. Philip shares how risk frameworks were stress-tested during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, why correlations breaking down is one of the toughest challenges for risk teams, and what stood out most to him was the composure and preparedness displayed by market participants throughout the turbulence.
The discussion then turns to the evolving nature of risk management. Drawing on insights from a private industry roundtable, Philip explains why successful risk functions increasingly require a combination of quantitative expertise, technological understanding, and strong governance. We explore the growing role of AI, automation, and human oversight, and why effective risk management is becoming a multidisciplinary discipline rather than a collection of isolated specializations.
We also examine Singapore's position in the global liquidity landscape. Philip discusses how the city-state has developed a distinct identity compared to other major financial centers, driven by institutional participation, regulatory stability, and a market structure that continues to attract sophisticated participants from across the region.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges risk teams are preparing for. Philip shares how simulation exercises, stress-testing programs, and forward-looking risk indicators are becoming increasingly important as firms adapt to an environment where volatility remains the norm and resilience is a competitive advantage.
Here is our conversation with Philip Huang, Chief Risk Officer at Orient Futures Singapore, on navigating market volatility, modern risk management, and Singapore's growing role as a global liquidity hub.
We begin by reflecting on the heightened volatility seen across commodities and energy markets in recent months. Philip shares how risk frameworks were stress-tested during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, why correlations breaking down is one of the toughest challenges for risk teams, and what stood out most to him was the composure and preparedness displayed by market participants throughout the turbulence.
The discussion then turns to the evolving nature of risk management. Drawing on insights from a private industry roundtable, Philip explains why successful risk functions increasingly require a combination of quantitative expertise, technological understanding, and strong governance. We explore the growing role of AI, automation, and human oversight, and why effective risk management is becoming a multidisciplinary discipline rather than a collection of isolated specializations.
We also examine Singapore's position in the global liquidity landscape. Philip discusses how the city-state has developed a distinct identity compared to other major financial centers, driven by institutional participation, regulatory stability, and a market structure that continues to attract sophisticated participants from across the region.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges risk teams are preparing for. Philip shares how simulation exercises, stress-testing programs, and forward-looking risk indicators are becoming increasingly important as firms adapt to an environment where volatility remains the norm and resilience is a competitive advantage.
Here is our conversation with Philip Huang, Chief Risk Officer at Orient Futures Singapore, on navigating market volatility, modern risk management, and Singapore's growing role as a global liquidity hub.
We begin by reflecting on the heightened volatility seen across commodities and energy markets in recent months. Philip shares how risk frameworks were stress-tested during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, why correlations breaking down is one of the toughest challenges for risk teams, and what stood out most to him was the composure and preparedness displayed by market participants throughout the turbulence.
The discussion then turns to the evolving nature of risk management. Drawing on insights from a private industry roundtable, Philip explains why successful risk functions increasingly require a combination of quantitative expertise, technological understanding, and strong governance. We explore the growing role of AI, automation, and human oversight, and why effective risk management is becoming a multidisciplinary discipline rather than a collection of isolated specializations.
We also examine Singapore's position in the global liquidity landscape. Philip discusses how the city-state has developed a distinct identity compared to other major financial centers, driven by institutional participation, regulatory stability, and a market structure that continues to attract sophisticated participants from across the region.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges risk teams are preparing for. Philip shares how simulation exercises, stress-testing programs, and forward-looking risk indicators are becoming increasingly important as firms adapt to an environment where volatility remains the norm and resilience is a competitive advantage.
Here is our conversation with Philip Huang, Chief Risk Officer at Orient Futures Singapore, on navigating market volatility, modern risk management, and Singapore's growing role as a global liquidity hub.
We begin by reflecting on the heightened volatility seen across commodities and energy markets in recent months. Philip shares how risk frameworks were stress-tested during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, why correlations breaking down is one of the toughest challenges for risk teams, and what stood out most to him was the composure and preparedness displayed by market participants throughout the turbulence.
The discussion then turns to the evolving nature of risk management. Drawing on insights from a private industry roundtable, Philip explains why successful risk functions increasingly require a combination of quantitative expertise, technological understanding, and strong governance. We explore the growing role of AI, automation, and human oversight, and why effective risk management is becoming a multidisciplinary discipline rather than a collection of isolated specializations.
We also examine Singapore's position in the global liquidity landscape. Philip discusses how the city-state has developed a distinct identity compared to other major financial centers, driven by institutional participation, regulatory stability, and a market structure that continues to attract sophisticated participants from across the region.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges risk teams are preparing for. Philip shares how simulation exercises, stress-testing programs, and forward-looking risk indicators are becoming increasingly important as firms adapt to an environment where volatility remains the norm and resilience is a competitive advantage.
Here is our conversation with Philip Huang, Chief Risk Officer at Orient Futures Singapore, on navigating market volatility, modern risk management, and Singapore's growing role as a global liquidity hub.
We begin by reflecting on the heightened volatility seen across commodities and energy markets in recent months. Philip shares how risk frameworks were stress-tested during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, why correlations breaking down is one of the toughest challenges for risk teams, and what stood out most to him was the composure and preparedness displayed by market participants throughout the turbulence.
The discussion then turns to the evolving nature of risk management. Drawing on insights from a private industry roundtable, Philip explains why successful risk functions increasingly require a combination of quantitative expertise, technological understanding, and strong governance. We explore the growing role of AI, automation, and human oversight, and why effective risk management is becoming a multidisciplinary discipline rather than a collection of isolated specializations.
We also examine Singapore's position in the global liquidity landscape. Philip discusses how the city-state has developed a distinct identity compared to other major financial centers, driven by institutional participation, regulatory stability, and a market structure that continues to attract sophisticated participants from across the region.
Finally, we look ahead to the second half of the year and the challenges risk teams are preparing for. Philip shares how simulation exercises, stress-testing programs, and forward-looking risk indicators are becoming increasingly important as firms adapt to an environment where volatility remains the norm and resilience is a competitive advantage.
Industry Talks | Vidushan Premathiratne | Founder, 8 Circle & TechLabs | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vidushan Premathiratne | Founder, 8 Circle & TechLabs | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vidushan Premathiratne | Founder, 8 Circle & TechLabs | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vidushan Premathiratne | Founder, 8 Circle & TechLabs | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vidushan Premathiratne | Founder, 8 Circle & TechLabs | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Industry Talks | Vidushan Premathiratne | Founder, 8 Circle & TechLabs | FM Singapore Summit 2026
Here is our conversation with Vidushan Premathiratne, Founder of 8 Circle and TechLabs, on startup growth, business development, AI opportunities, and the evolving digital asset ecosystem.
We begin with Vidushan's work across both ventures, from participating in the Bank of England's digital securities and digital pound initiatives through TechLabs to helping businesses accelerate growth through curated introductions, investor connections, and strategic networking with Eight Circle.
The discussion then turns to one of the most persistent challenges facing startups: go-to-market execution. Vidushan explains why customer acquisition remains harder than product development in the AI era, how founders can better identify decision-makers within target organizations, and why face-to-face interactions continue to outperform digital channels when it comes to building trust and closing deals.
We also explore the opportunities emerging from AI and agentic workflows. Vidushan shares his perspective on where startups can still create meaningful value, from workflow automation and digital transformation to AI-powered research, customer acquisition, and localized solutions tailored to specific markets across Asia.
Finally, we discuss stablecoins and digital asset adoption in the region. Vidushan outlines why cross-border payments and remittances remain one of the strongest use cases for stablecoin infrastructure, how regulatory and compliance challenges are being addressed, and why Singapore continues to position itself as a leading hub for innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.
Here is our conversation with Vidushan Premathiratne, Founder of 8 Circle and TechLabs, on startup growth, business development, AI opportunities, and the evolving digital asset ecosystem.
We begin with Vidushan's work across both ventures, from participating in the Bank of England's digital securities and digital pound initiatives through TechLabs to helping businesses accelerate growth through curated introductions, investor connections, and strategic networking with Eight Circle.
The discussion then turns to one of the most persistent challenges facing startups: go-to-market execution. Vidushan explains why customer acquisition remains harder than product development in the AI era, how founders can better identify decision-makers within target organizations, and why face-to-face interactions continue to outperform digital channels when it comes to building trust and closing deals.
We also explore the opportunities emerging from AI and agentic workflows. Vidushan shares his perspective on where startups can still create meaningful value, from workflow automation and digital transformation to AI-powered research, customer acquisition, and localized solutions tailored to specific markets across Asia.
Finally, we discuss stablecoins and digital asset adoption in the region. Vidushan outlines why cross-border payments and remittances remain one of the strongest use cases for stablecoin infrastructure, how regulatory and compliance challenges are being addressed, and why Singapore continues to position itself as a leading hub for innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.
Here is our conversation with Vidushan Premathiratne, Founder of 8 Circle and TechLabs, on startup growth, business development, AI opportunities, and the evolving digital asset ecosystem.
We begin with Vidushan's work across both ventures, from participating in the Bank of England's digital securities and digital pound initiatives through TechLabs to helping businesses accelerate growth through curated introductions, investor connections, and strategic networking with Eight Circle.
The discussion then turns to one of the most persistent challenges facing startups: go-to-market execution. Vidushan explains why customer acquisition remains harder than product development in the AI era, how founders can better identify decision-makers within target organizations, and why face-to-face interactions continue to outperform digital channels when it comes to building trust and closing deals.
We also explore the opportunities emerging from AI and agentic workflows. Vidushan shares his perspective on where startups can still create meaningful value, from workflow automation and digital transformation to AI-powered research, customer acquisition, and localized solutions tailored to specific markets across Asia.
Finally, we discuss stablecoins and digital asset adoption in the region. Vidushan outlines why cross-border payments and remittances remain one of the strongest use cases for stablecoin infrastructure, how regulatory and compliance challenges are being addressed, and why Singapore continues to position itself as a leading hub for innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.
Here is our conversation with Vidushan Premathiratne, Founder of 8 Circle and TechLabs, on startup growth, business development, AI opportunities, and the evolving digital asset ecosystem.
We begin with Vidushan's work across both ventures, from participating in the Bank of England's digital securities and digital pound initiatives through TechLabs to helping businesses accelerate growth through curated introductions, investor connections, and strategic networking with Eight Circle.
The discussion then turns to one of the most persistent challenges facing startups: go-to-market execution. Vidushan explains why customer acquisition remains harder than product development in the AI era, how founders can better identify decision-makers within target organizations, and why face-to-face interactions continue to outperform digital channels when it comes to building trust and closing deals.
We also explore the opportunities emerging from AI and agentic workflows. Vidushan shares his perspective on where startups can still create meaningful value, from workflow automation and digital transformation to AI-powered research, customer acquisition, and localized solutions tailored to specific markets across Asia.
Finally, we discuss stablecoins and digital asset adoption in the region. Vidushan outlines why cross-border payments and remittances remain one of the strongest use cases for stablecoin infrastructure, how regulatory and compliance challenges are being addressed, and why Singapore continues to position itself as a leading hub for innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.
Here is our conversation with Vidushan Premathiratne, Founder of 8 Circle and TechLabs, on startup growth, business development, AI opportunities, and the evolving digital asset ecosystem.
We begin with Vidushan's work across both ventures, from participating in the Bank of England's digital securities and digital pound initiatives through TechLabs to helping businesses accelerate growth through curated introductions, investor connections, and strategic networking with Eight Circle.
The discussion then turns to one of the most persistent challenges facing startups: go-to-market execution. Vidushan explains why customer acquisition remains harder than product development in the AI era, how founders can better identify decision-makers within target organizations, and why face-to-face interactions continue to outperform digital channels when it comes to building trust and closing deals.
We also explore the opportunities emerging from AI and agentic workflows. Vidushan shares his perspective on where startups can still create meaningful value, from workflow automation and digital transformation to AI-powered research, customer acquisition, and localized solutions tailored to specific markets across Asia.
Finally, we discuss stablecoins and digital asset adoption in the region. Vidushan outlines why cross-border payments and remittances remain one of the strongest use cases for stablecoin infrastructure, how regulatory and compliance challenges are being addressed, and why Singapore continues to position itself as a leading hub for innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.
Here is our conversation with Vidushan Premathiratne, Founder of 8 Circle and TechLabs, on startup growth, business development, AI opportunities, and the evolving digital asset ecosystem.
We begin with Vidushan's work across both ventures, from participating in the Bank of England's digital securities and digital pound initiatives through TechLabs to helping businesses accelerate growth through curated introductions, investor connections, and strategic networking with Eight Circle.
The discussion then turns to one of the most persistent challenges facing startups: go-to-market execution. Vidushan explains why customer acquisition remains harder than product development in the AI era, how founders can better identify decision-makers within target organizations, and why face-to-face interactions continue to outperform digital channels when it comes to building trust and closing deals.
We also explore the opportunities emerging from AI and agentic workflows. Vidushan shares his perspective on where startups can still create meaningful value, from workflow automation and digital transformation to AI-powered research, customer acquisition, and localized solutions tailored to specific markets across Asia.
Finally, we discuss stablecoins and digital asset adoption in the region. Vidushan outlines why cross-border payments and remittances remain one of the strongest use cases for stablecoin infrastructure, how regulatory and compliance challenges are being addressed, and why Singapore continues to position itself as a leading hub for innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.
Industry Talks | Luke Boland | Head of Fintech Coverage, Standard Chartered | FM Singapore Summit 26
Industry Talks | Luke Boland | Head of Fintech Coverage, Standard Chartered | FM Singapore Summit 26
Industry Talks | Luke Boland | Head of Fintech Coverage, Standard Chartered | FM Singapore Summit 26
Industry Talks | Luke Boland | Head of Fintech Coverage, Standard Chartered | FM Singapore Summit 26
Industry Talks | Luke Boland | Head of Fintech Coverage, Standard Chartered | FM Singapore Summit 26
Industry Talks | Luke Boland | Head of Fintech Coverage, Standard Chartered | FM Singapore Summit 26
Here is our conversation with Luke Boland, Global Head of Fintech Coverage at Standard Chartered, on the evolving relationship between traditional banking and digital assets.
We begin by discussing how banks' attitudes toward crypto and digital assets have changed over the past few years. Luke explains Standard Chartered's journey from banking the ecosystem to actively building infrastructure across key markets, and how the bank sees itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto-native world.
The conversation then explores the challenges and opportunities facing banks as digital asset adoption accelerates. Luke shares why stablecoins have emerged as one of the most compelling use cases, how client demand continues to shape the bank's strategy, and what lessons the wider banking sector can learn from the rapid evolution of blockchain-based financial services.
We also dive into real-world applications beyond the hype cycle, including digital asset custody, collateral management, and partnerships between global financial institutions and crypto exchanges. Luke discusses how Standard Chartered is helping institutional clients access digital asset markets while maintaining the security, governance, and trust expected from a global bank.
Finally, we look ahead to the next phase of financial innovation, with a focus on stablecoins, on-chain financial infrastructure, and the future of payments. Luke shares insights into Standard Chartered's recent Hong Kong stablecoin initiative and explains why the bank believes that a growing share of financial services will ultimately move on-chain.
Here is our conversation with Luke Boland, Global Head of Fintech Coverage at Standard Chartered, on the evolving relationship between traditional banking and digital assets.
We begin by discussing how banks' attitudes toward crypto and digital assets have changed over the past few years. Luke explains Standard Chartered's journey from banking the ecosystem to actively building infrastructure across key markets, and how the bank sees itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto-native world.
The conversation then explores the challenges and opportunities facing banks as digital asset adoption accelerates. Luke shares why stablecoins have emerged as one of the most compelling use cases, how client demand continues to shape the bank's strategy, and what lessons the wider banking sector can learn from the rapid evolution of blockchain-based financial services.
We also dive into real-world applications beyond the hype cycle, including digital asset custody, collateral management, and partnerships between global financial institutions and crypto exchanges. Luke discusses how Standard Chartered is helping institutional clients access digital asset markets while maintaining the security, governance, and trust expected from a global bank.
Finally, we look ahead to the next phase of financial innovation, with a focus on stablecoins, on-chain financial infrastructure, and the future of payments. Luke shares insights into Standard Chartered's recent Hong Kong stablecoin initiative and explains why the bank believes that a growing share of financial services will ultimately move on-chain.
Here is our conversation with Luke Boland, Global Head of Fintech Coverage at Standard Chartered, on the evolving relationship between traditional banking and digital assets.
We begin by discussing how banks' attitudes toward crypto and digital assets have changed over the past few years. Luke explains Standard Chartered's journey from banking the ecosystem to actively building infrastructure across key markets, and how the bank sees itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto-native world.
The conversation then explores the challenges and opportunities facing banks as digital asset adoption accelerates. Luke shares why stablecoins have emerged as one of the most compelling use cases, how client demand continues to shape the bank's strategy, and what lessons the wider banking sector can learn from the rapid evolution of blockchain-based financial services.
We also dive into real-world applications beyond the hype cycle, including digital asset custody, collateral management, and partnerships between global financial institutions and crypto exchanges. Luke discusses how Standard Chartered is helping institutional clients access digital asset markets while maintaining the security, governance, and trust expected from a global bank.
Finally, we look ahead to the next phase of financial innovation, with a focus on stablecoins, on-chain financial infrastructure, and the future of payments. Luke shares insights into Standard Chartered's recent Hong Kong stablecoin initiative and explains why the bank believes that a growing share of financial services will ultimately move on-chain.
Here is our conversation with Luke Boland, Global Head of Fintech Coverage at Standard Chartered, on the evolving relationship between traditional banking and digital assets.
We begin by discussing how banks' attitudes toward crypto and digital assets have changed over the past few years. Luke explains Standard Chartered's journey from banking the ecosystem to actively building infrastructure across key markets, and how the bank sees itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto-native world.
The conversation then explores the challenges and opportunities facing banks as digital asset adoption accelerates. Luke shares why stablecoins have emerged as one of the most compelling use cases, how client demand continues to shape the bank's strategy, and what lessons the wider banking sector can learn from the rapid evolution of blockchain-based financial services.
We also dive into real-world applications beyond the hype cycle, including digital asset custody, collateral management, and partnerships between global financial institutions and crypto exchanges. Luke discusses how Standard Chartered is helping institutional clients access digital asset markets while maintaining the security, governance, and trust expected from a global bank.
Finally, we look ahead to the next phase of financial innovation, with a focus on stablecoins, on-chain financial infrastructure, and the future of payments. Luke shares insights into Standard Chartered's recent Hong Kong stablecoin initiative and explains why the bank believes that a growing share of financial services will ultimately move on-chain.
Here is our conversation with Luke Boland, Global Head of Fintech Coverage at Standard Chartered, on the evolving relationship between traditional banking and digital assets.
We begin by discussing how banks' attitudes toward crypto and digital assets have changed over the past few years. Luke explains Standard Chartered's journey from banking the ecosystem to actively building infrastructure across key markets, and how the bank sees itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto-native world.
The conversation then explores the challenges and opportunities facing banks as digital asset adoption accelerates. Luke shares why stablecoins have emerged as one of the most compelling use cases, how client demand continues to shape the bank's strategy, and what lessons the wider banking sector can learn from the rapid evolution of blockchain-based financial services.
We also dive into real-world applications beyond the hype cycle, including digital asset custody, collateral management, and partnerships between global financial institutions and crypto exchanges. Luke discusses how Standard Chartered is helping institutional clients access digital asset markets while maintaining the security, governance, and trust expected from a global bank.
Finally, we look ahead to the next phase of financial innovation, with a focus on stablecoins, on-chain financial infrastructure, and the future of payments. Luke shares insights into Standard Chartered's recent Hong Kong stablecoin initiative and explains why the bank believes that a growing share of financial services will ultimately move on-chain.
Here is our conversation with Luke Boland, Global Head of Fintech Coverage at Standard Chartered, on the evolving relationship between traditional banking and digital assets.
We begin by discussing how banks' attitudes toward crypto and digital assets have changed over the past few years. Luke explains Standard Chartered's journey from banking the ecosystem to actively building infrastructure across key markets, and how the bank sees itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto-native world.
The conversation then explores the challenges and opportunities facing banks as digital asset adoption accelerates. Luke shares why stablecoins have emerged as one of the most compelling use cases, how client demand continues to shape the bank's strategy, and what lessons the wider banking sector can learn from the rapid evolution of blockchain-based financial services.
We also dive into real-world applications beyond the hype cycle, including digital asset custody, collateral management, and partnerships between global financial institutions and crypto exchanges. Luke discusses how Standard Chartered is helping institutional clients access digital asset markets while maintaining the security, governance, and trust expected from a global bank.
Finally, we look ahead to the next phase of financial innovation, with a focus on stablecoins, on-chain financial infrastructure, and the future of payments. Luke shares insights into Standard Chartered's recent Hong Kong stablecoin initiative and explains why the bank believes that a growing share of financial services will ultimately move on-chain.
