In the Loop

Mastercard is set to launch an AI Center of Excellence in Singapore later this year — combining our innovation hub, advanced cybersecurity capabilities and AI expertise to create Mastercard’s largest innovation space in the region. Our CFO Sachin Mehra explains why this region is emerging as a key engine for innovation in the age of AI, and at the India AI Impact Summit, we demonstrated Mastercard's first live, authenticated agentic commerce purchase in India.

Mastercard completes APAC's first fully authenticated agentic commerce transactions, starting in Australia. Inclusion Matters is expanding to Australia with a new digital hub, giving businesses practical tools to create more accessible, welcoming environments. Finally, insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute show holiday growth in China is being driven by higher transaction volumes, as travel and homecoming activity picks up.

APAC Chief Economist David Mann shares key insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute’s 2026 Economic Outlook, including what’s driving growth across Asia Pacific. Also, hear how we're enabling international transfers to Weixin Pay wallets in China in partnership with TenPay Global, and unlocking more meaningful travel and lifestyle moments for our cardholders with The Mastercard Collection.

Passwords and card numbers? Things of the past! In this episode, hear from Mastercard and industry leaders on how tokenization and biometric passkeys are redefining checkout for speed and security as online fraud surges. Plus, Mastercard is stepping up with a world-first Threat Intelligence solution and big moves in digital assets.

With Southeast Asia’s digital transformation accelerating, now’s the time to turn ideas into impact. This edition dives into the inaugural ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit, plus an exclusive preview of our upcoming participation at Singapore FinTech Festival.

While the pace of change in payments isn’t slowing down, the stakes keep rising. From smarter strategies to stronger defenses, this edition spotlights how the industry is staying sharp and steady amid shifting sands.

Breaking news: In the series premiere of In the Loop, Mastercard announces a regional leadership transition.