Fintech funding in Asean falls 36% as investors shift focus from growth-chasing start-ups

Fintech funding in Asean fell 36 per cent to around US$835 million (S$1 billion) in the first nine months of 2025 from the same period a year earlier, while the number of deals plunged 60 per cent year on year to 53.

- Sheila Chiang

However, the region saw the average deal size jump 42 per cent to US$21.4 million in the nine months.

This signals that fintech investors are putting their money in companies that have demonstrated a clear pathway to profitability, said UOB, PwC Singapore and the Singapore Fintech Association in a joint report on Nov 13.

“As investors de-risk amid an uncertain macro environment, their focus continues to shift from early-stage fintech firms chasing rapid growth to those demonstrating profitability, scalability and sustainability,” they said.

In the statement, Ms Holly Fang, president of the Singapore Fintech Association, said that the shift in focus points to the maturation of the fintech ecosystem.