Robust shared digital infrastructure, predictable regulatory frameworks, and fair market competition are the essential pillars needed to sustain the next phase of digital finance across Southeast Asia, according to Maya Bank leadership.
Speaking at the ASEAN Tech Summit Manila 2026, Maya Bank President and CEO Angelo Madrid emphasized that as digital payments and account ownership expand across the region, maintaining consumer trust and affordability will depend heavily on strengthening the foundational architecture supporting digital finance.
Madrid joined regional fintech leaders during the Futurecast panel, “Building Sustainable and Inclusive Financial Services Ecosystems in ASEAN,” alongside Tala Director for External Affairs Atty. Arianne Ferrer and G-Xchange Chief Operating Officer Barbie Dapul.
Strengthening the common foundation
IMAGE CREDIT: LovePik
Madrid noted that governments and shared infrastructure providers play a pivotal role in accelerating inclusion by investing in ecosystem-wide capabilities.
These key infrastructure priorities span several critical areas: establishing interoperable digital identity systems to streamline customer onboarding and curb fraud through reusable, privacy-preserving credentials; expanding payment and settlement networks to lower transaction friction and system-wide operational costs across borders; deploying real-time fraud intelligence to safeguard cross-border transactions as cybersecurity threats grow more sophisticated; and adopting Open Finance standards to expand consumer choice through clear rules around data consent, portability, and security.
“Strong shared infrastructure creates a foundation on which providers can compete more effectively on price, service, reach, and innovation,” Madrid said.
He added that by relying on robust public and shared rails, individual financial institutions can reduce baseline operational overhead and reallocate resources toward developing higher-value products and services for consumers.
Ultimately, building a sustainable digital finance ecosystem across ASEAN relies on four core pillars: strong shared infrastructure, proportionate and predictable outcome-focused regulation, balanced economics that align affordability with necessary investments in uptime and cybersecurity, and a focus on measurable impact that moves the industry from basic account access toward long-term financial health.
Balancing affordability with reliability and security
Maya Bank CEO Angelo Madrid (center), Tala Director Atty. Arianne Ferrer (left), and G-Xchange COO Barbie Dapul speak at the ASEAN Tech Summit Manila 2026.
While fair pricing is critical for financial inclusion, Madrid cautioned that affordability must be balanced with operational resilience, ongoing cybersecurity investments, and regulatory compliance.
“Consumers should have access to affordable and transparent services, but affordability does not mean every provider must arrive at the same price,” Madrid explained. “Different institutions operate under different licenses, business models, and cost structures. What matters is that consumers receive fair value, strong protection, reliable service, and continued innovation.”
Robust competition (enabled by efficient shared rails) should naturally drive down costs and enhance value without compromising platform security or customer support capabilities.
Clear rules and room to compete
To ensure continued capital investment in Southeast Asia’s digital economy, Madrid called for regulatory frameworks that are outcome-oriented, proportionate to institutional risk, and predictable over time.
Because market players range from full-service digital banks to specialized payment processors and non-bank financial institutions, regulatory policies should accommodate structural differences while enforcing uniform consumer protection standards.
“Clear and predictable regulation supports consumer trust while giving institutions the confidence to continue investing and innovating,” Madrid noted. “A progressive regulatory environment sets strong standards and clear outcomes, then gives institutions room to innovate and compete within those guardrails.”
For ASEAN, the long-term goal is ensuring that trust, digital identity, data, and consumer protection protocols can move seamlessly across borders alongside financial transactions.
Beyond access: Translating accounts into financial health
As the region builds these stronger foundations, Maya executives stressed that the ultimate objective must extend beyond simply getting accounts into people’s hands.
Formal account ownership in the Philippines, for instance, has grown significantly over the past decade — doubling from 22% in 2015 to roughly 50% by 2025. However, Maya leadership pointed out that opening an account or downloading a digital wallet is only the entry point, not the final measure of financial inclusion.
“Access is necessary, but an opened account or downloaded app is not yet a financial outcome,” Madrid said. “Real progress is when people can transact reliably, save regularly, borrow responsibly, and become more resilient to financial shocks.”
Adding to this perspective in a separate summit session, Maya Head of Corporate Affairs Toff Rada noted that financial institutions must focus on whether digital accounts genuinely improve daily lives — helping consumers build emergency savings, access fair credit, and leverage daily transaction data to unlock broader financial opportunities.
About Maya
Maya is the #1 Fintech Ecosystem in the Philippines, powered by Maya Bank, the #1 Digital Bank, and Maya Business, the #1 Omni-Channel Payment Processor. Maya Bank is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), with deposits insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) up to ₱1 million per depositor. To learn more, visit maya.ph and mayabank.ph.
