In this episode of The Bank Tellers, host Sheryl Chen sits down with David Raju, President and CEO of Peoples Group, to explore Canada's pivotal moment in payments modernization. As the infrastructure powering 1,500 fintechs and processing $135 billion CAD annually, Peoples Group operates as the quiet force behind Canada's payment ecosystem—and they're about to transform it.

David shares his unique journey from CEO to startup founder and back to leading a 40-year-old trust company, bringing an agile mindset to institutional banking. He discusses how Canada's approach to real-time payments is "different, not behind," leveraging lessons learned from the UK, India, Brazil, and Europe to build fraud prevention into the foundation from day one.

Key topics covered:

• Canada's 2027 Real-Time Rails Launch: What it means for consumers, small businesses, and the fintech ecosystem
• The Bank-Fintech Partnership Model: Why peaceful coexistence beats rivalry, and how infrastructure enables innovation
• Payment Modernization Challenges: From 24/7 liquidity management to AI-powered fraud detection
• The FiServ Partnership: How People's Group is leveraging proven technology to focus on strategy and execution
• The Cost of Being a Fast Follower: Why participating in standards development matters more than discounted technology
• The Future of Payments: Agentic payments, tokenized deposits, and what money movement will look like in 17 years

David offers a compelling vision of a future where payments happen seamlessly across borders, AI manages financial decisions on consumers' behalf, and the infrastructure supporting it all operates invisibly but flawlessly.

Peoples Group: https://www.peoplesgroup.com/

Follow David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidraju-yyz/

Follow Money20/20:
YouTube: @Money2020Tv
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/money2020/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/money20_20
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Money2020
X: https://www.twitter.com/Money2020
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@money20_20

Recorded live from the Money20/20 Asia show floor, host Danny Levy sits down with Eddie Hui, Co-President and Chief Operating Officer of MetaComp, a Singapore-licensed financial institution pioneering the use of stablecoins for institutional cross-border payments.

Key Discussion Points:

The Cross-Border Payment Challenge Eddie breaks down the fundamental issues plaguing international money transfers today, from the 50-year-old SWIFT infrastructure to underserved jurisdictions and operational inefficiencies that can delay transactions for days.

Blockchain as the Solution Discover how MetaComp's flagship product, StableX, leverages blockchain technology to settle $10 million transactions in minutes instead of days, eliminating the need for prefunding and reducing counterparty risk.

Separating Blockchain from Crypto Eddie makes a crucial distinction between blockchain technology and cryptocurrency as an asset class, explaining how stablecoins serve as tokenized versions of fiat currency rather than speculative investments.

The Regulatory Landscape Gain insights into how Singapore's progressive regulatory framework since 2019 has enabled innovation, and what the recent U.S. GENIUS Act means for global adoption of stablecoin-based payments.

AI's Role in Financial Services Explore how MetaComp integrates AI for real-time transaction monitoring, automated KYC processes, and agentic payments while maintaining human accountability and governance.

Trust vs. Speed Eddie discusses the critical balance between transaction speed and regulatory compliance, explaining MetaComp's "Web 2.5" approach that combines on-chain transparency with traditional AML/CFT controls.

About Eddie Hui
With 23 years in banking and a background as an IT engineer, Eddie brings a unique perspective on how technology can transform financial infrastructure. His journey from discovering blockchain in 2019 to building MetaComp showcases the practical application of emerging technologies in solving real-world payment challenges.

Key Takeaways

• Cross-border payments using blockchain can settle in minutes versus 3-4 days with traditional rails
• Regulatory frameworks in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the U.S. are maturing to support stablecoin adoption
• Real-time compliance and transaction monitoring are essential for institutional adoption
• AI is revolutionizing KYC processes and transaction monitoring without replacing human oversight
• Simplicity, not complexity, is the key to sophisticated payment solutions

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the future of payments, blockchain technology, financial regulation, and the intersection of AI with financial services.

MetaComp: https://www.mce.sg/

Follow Eddie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-hui-bon-hoa-16b580/

Follow Money20/20:
YouTube: @Money2020Tv
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/money2020/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/money20_20
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Money2020
X: https://www.twitter.com/Money2020
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@money20_20

This episode delves into the transformative role of stablecoins in global business payments. We examine the challenges of traditional cross-border transactions—slow settlement, high costs, and limited transparency—and highlight how solutions like OSL BizPay and USDGO are enabling secure, compliant, and near-instant settlement for enterprises.

Through real-world examples, including international trade, global payroll, and fintech integrations, we showcase how programmable stablecoin networks are bridging the gap between emerging digital finance and practical business applications, setting the stage for the next generation of enterprise payment infrastructure.

Follow Leon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-chua-1b0927a4/

Follow Money20/20:
YouTube: @Money2020Tv
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/money2020/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/money20_20
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Money2020
X: https://www.twitter.com/Money2020
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@money20_20