CIMB Settles RM1.38 Billion in Tokenised Sukuk Under Bank Negara's Digital Asset Hub, DBS and Stripe Team Up on Agentic Commerce Across Asia, and Techsauce Opens in Bangkok With AI as the Headline Act

CIMB Settles RM1.38 Billion in Tokenised Sukuk Inside Bank Negara Malaysia's Digital Asset Innovation Hub

CIMB Islamic Bank completed a pilot settlement of RM1.38 billion in tokenised sukuk using tokenised deposits, run inside Bank Negara Malaysia's Digital Asset Innovation Hub — a first for Malaysia's capital markets. The tokenised tranche formed part of a larger RM1.68 billion issuance under CIMB Islamic's RM10 billion Senior Sukuk Wakalah Programme, with tenors ranging from 5 to 15 years; 12 institutional investors subscribed to the tokenised portion, while the remaining RM300 million was issued as conventional sukuk. CIMB is also working with the Securities Commission Malaysia on tokenised capital-market products more broadly, with this pilot designed to generate data on coupon distributions, secondary-market transfers and redemptions for tokenised instruments.

Malaysia's Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan framed the pilot as testing "whether technology can make financial markets more efficient, transparent and connected while preserving strong standards of governance." CIMB Group chief executive Novan Amirudin pointed to the "automation and faster settlement" potential to "reduce friction in financial transactions" and improve capital efficiency.

DBS and Stripe Partner to Build Agentic Commerce and Cross-Border Payments Infrastructure Across Asia

DBS and Stripe announced a strategic partnership to accelerate agentic commerce and cross-border payments across Asia, combining DBS's pan-Asian banking network and cash-management infrastructure with Stripe's programmable financial services. The two will jointly develop agentic AI capabilities so DBS customers can transact "more efficiently and securely," while Stripe merchants gain improved cross-border payment capabilities through DBS's money-movement network; DBS is also exploring use of Stripe's embedded finance tools to expand its institutional client base globally.

The announcement leaned on two market forecasts to justify the timing: AI agents are projected to orchestrate up to $5 trillion of global consumer commerce by 2030, and Asia's outbound cross-border payments are expected to reach $24 trillion by 2033 — 36% of global outbound flows and nearly double 2025's $13.5 trillion. DBS chief executive Tan Su Shan called it part of "a new phase of innovation and growth" for Asia's digital economy; Stripe chief business officer Fran Ryan said the goal was "helping more businesses in Asia transform into global champions."

Techsauce Global Summit 2026 Opens in Bangkok With Agentic AI as the Dominant Theme

Techsauce Global Summit 2026 opened at Bangkok's Queen Sirikit National Convention Center under the theme "The Race to the Next," running August 26-28 with more than 350 speakers across 10 stages, over 350 exhibitors and 40-plus workshops. Agentic AI headlined the agenda alongside technology and geopolitics, digital-economy policy, and finance innovation, with partner-led events extending across Bangkok throughout the conference week.

AI researcher Kai-Fu Lee delivered a virtual keynote, "AI Native: The Mandate to Transform Your Company," arguing organisations need to "fundamentally redesign their structures and ways of working, combining AI with human strengths" rather than bolting AI onto existing processes. Techsauce Media co-founder and chief executive Oranuch Lerdsuwankij framed the moment as an opportunity for Thailand and Southeast Asia to "position themselves as a trusted regional hub connecting technology, capital, policy and businesses" amid shifting global dynamics.

Eyes on the Day Ahead

Techsauce Global Summit 2026 runs its final day in Bangkok on August 28 — worth watching for closing announcements or deals unveiled before the conference wraps.