MANILA, Philippines — The ASEAN Tech Summit 2026 officially opened today in Manila, bringing together heads of government, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies, and global fintech leaders to chart the future of Southeast Asia’s digital economy.
The two-day summit centers on the theme “Building ASEAN’s Digital Economy: Secure. Sustainable. Inclusive. Borderless.” Discussions will focus on artificial intelligence, digital assets, cybersecurity, open finance, cross-border payments, and financial inclusion.
In his welcome address, FinTech Alliance PH Founding Chairman and RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva urged ASEAN to seize a defining moment in digital finance.
“The blueprint for the next decade of global finance is being written today. ASEAN has the opportunity not just to participate in that future, but to help shape it,” Villanueva said.
He emphasized that agentic AI, tokenized finance, and cybersecurity are converging to redefine financial services, calling for stronger regional cooperation to ensure innovation remains secure, trusted, and inclusive.
Representing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda delivered the President’s keynote message, reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to accelerating digital transformation and strengthening regional cooperation to build a more connected, innovative, and inclusive ASEAN digital economy.
The summit also featured an international lineup of speakers representing some of the world’s leading technology and financial institutions.
FinTech Alliance PH Founding Chairman and RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva together with Binance Founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao in a fireside chat.
Binance Founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao headlined the summit’s Future Forward Keynote and Fireside Chat with Villanueva, exploring how regulated stablecoins could become a cornerstone of ASEAN’s next-generation financial infrastructure. The discussion examined the role of stablecoins in enabling faster, lower-cost, and more inclusive cross-border payments, remittances, settlements, liquidity, and digital commerce, while addressing the opportunities and challenges of scaling digital assets across the region.
FinTech Alliance PH Founding Chairman Lito Villanueva and GFTN Group CEO Sopnendu Mohanty discuss AI readiness, digital finance, and workforce development during the ASEAN Tech Summit 2026.
Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) Group CEO Sopnendu Mohanty discussed the importance of building AI-ready talent and capabilities across Southeast Asia, highlighting new initiatives to strengthen the Philippines’ digital workforce and innovation ecosystem.
The summit also marked the launch of the 2026 Philippine FinTech Report, providing the latest assessment of the country’s digital finance ecosystem and highlighting key opportunities for innovation, financial inclusion, and regional collaboration.
Hosted by FinTech Alliance PH, the ASEAN Tech Summit 2026 convenes policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, fintech companies, and technology innovators from across ASEAN and beyond to strengthen partnerships and advance a shared vision for the region’s digital future.
About FinTech Alliance PH
FinTech Alliance PH, established in 2017, is the country’s premier and largest organization of fintech companies and digital financial service providers. With over 170 corporate members, it represents more than 95% of digital transaction volume and serves over 110 million digital accounts of Filipinos. It is also the first in Asia to institutionalize an industry-led Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics and continues to lead initiatives on cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and consumer education.
