MetaComp Calls for Faster, Fairer Settlement as New Study Reveals USD 6 Trillion SME Payment Opportunity Gap in Cross-Border Finance

SINGAPORE, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MetaComp Pte Ltd (MetaComp), a leading licensed cross-border FX and digital assets infrastructure provider headquartered in Singapore and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), today released its latest whitepaper, Cross-Border Payments for SMEs: Voices in ASEAN and the Rise of Stablecoins. The paper reveals systemic inefficiencies preventing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from accessing efficient cross-border payment solutions.

Commissioned as part of MetaComp's mission to simplify and streamline global fund flows, the research underscores how misaligned payment infrastructure disadvantages SMEs despite their central role in regional trade. The study also points to the growing role of stablecoins in global markets, noting that their flows already carry systemic financial implications and could be harnessed as practical settlement infrastructure for SMEs.

The report identifies five structural and systemic inefficiencies that are costing SMEs and reshaping global markets:

• A US$6.2 trillion opportunity gap: The study identifies a disconnect between daily global FX trading volumes of more than US$7.5 trillion and blockchain-based cross-border payments and settlements that accounts for less than 5% annually. This imbalance represents a US$6.2 trillion opportunity gap, underscoring how far SMEs remain excluded from faster and more efficient settlement infrastructure.
• Delays that erase value: Each day of settlement delay costs SMEs 0.6% to 2.1% of transaction value. SMEs profiled in the study reported lost contracts and revenue drops of up to 50% when funds failed to arrive on time.
• SMEs pay up to 30 per cent more: Smaller firms routinely pay 15 to 30 per cent in fees on cross-border transactions, while large corporates negotiate preferential pricing. These disproportionate costs cut directly into SME margins and limit their ability to expand into new markets.
• Stablecoins now move bond markets: Stablecoin flows are no longer marginal. They are already influencing US Treasury yields by 2 to 8 basis points, underscoring that new payment rails carry systemic implications for financial markets worldwide.

The study finds that timing costs often outweigh fees, with delayed settlements compounding into lost opportunities, performance degradation, and working capital stress. Scale barriers and fragmented Travel Rule regulations, from €0 in the EU to SGD 1,500 in Singapore and USD 3,000 in the US, further exclude SMEs from efficient participation.

Beyond these inefficiencies, the whitepaper frames the evolution of cross-border payments in three distinct stages:

1. Stage One – Traditional (SWIFT): A USD-centric model with settlement delays of 2–7 days.
2. Stage Two – Web 2.5 (Today): The transition phase that begins with the emergence of stablecoins. This is where MetaComp operates today — building hybrid infrastructure that blends regulatory compliance with blockchain-enabled programmability to deliver faster, fairer settlement.
3. Stage Three – Sovereign Stablecoins (Future): A future ecosystem of national stablecoins exchanging directly powered by blockchain, which allows point-to-point direct exchange in a multi-polar world while maintaining regulatory oversight.

StableX is MetaComp's flagship platform for Stage Two, enabling Web 2.5 settlement now while laying the foundation for Stage Three.

Author Perspectives

Dr. Bo Bai, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Alpha Ladder Group and Chairman of MetaComp shared, "The journey of cross-border payments is evolving in phases. Stage one was SWIFT era; stage two is today's Web 2.5, where compliance meets programmability; and stage three will be sovereign stablecoins exchanging value directly. At MetaComp, we are already building toward this vision, with StableX as a critical step on that journey."

Dr. Ben Charoenwong, Associate Professor of Finance, INSEAD said, "SMEs face challenges that go beyond transaction fees. Settlement delays erode working capital, regulatory fragmentation creates uncertainty, and volume-based barriers exclude growing businesses from efficient infrastructure. These structural issues must be addressed if SMEs are to participate fully in global trade."

Tin Pei Ling, Co-President of MetaComp, said, "SMEs remain at the heart of ASEAN's economies, yet too often they face barriers that slow growth and limit opportunity. What they need is confidence that payments will be fast, compliant, and reliable across borders. At MetaComp, our focus is on closing this gap with solutions such as StableX that combine innovation and regulation to deliver faster, fairer settlement."

Eddie Hui, Co-President and COO of MetaComp, added, "Every day of delay erodes SME value. This is not about marginal cost savings, it is about survival and growth. Our study shows that adoption depends on business model realities, which is why the next generation of infrastructure must deliver instant settlement that SMEs can actually use in practice."

StableX, developed and operated by MetaComp, bridges the gap between digital and traditional finance. Designed as an institutional-grade cross-border FX and liquidity routing platform, StableX delivers same-day (T+0) settlement across 30 currencies and six major stablecoins. By combining blockchain speed with a strong focus on compliance, it provides SMEs with faster, more reliable, and more transparent cross-border settlement.

The full study Cross-Border Payments for SMEs: Voices in ASEAN can be downloaded here: https://www.mce.sg/metacomp-whitepaper-cross-border-payments-for-smes-voices-in-asean-and-the-rise-of-stablecoins/

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About MetaComp

MetaComp is a leading licensed cross-border FX and digital assets infrastructure provider headquartered in Singapore and licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under the Payment Services Act 2019. Operating on a P2B2C (platform-to-business/partners-to-clients) model, MetaComp empowers institutions, payment service providers, fintechs, and global enterprises to navigate the evolving cross-border payments and the digital asset economy with confidence.

With a strong emphasis on compliance, security, and institutional-grade infrastructure, MetaComp delivers an end-to-end suite of digital finance solutions — including OTC and exchange trading, fiat payment rails, regulated digital asset custody, and prime brokerage services. MetaComp is a subsidiary of Alpha Ladder Finance Pte. Ltd., a MAS-licensed Capital Markets Services (CMS) licensee and Recognised Market Operator (RMO).

Through its proprietary Client Asset Management Platform (CAMP), MetaComp provides a secure, integrated environment that bridges traditional finance with digital assets.

MetaComp's latest innovation, StableX, is a next-generation cross-border FX and liquidity routing infrastructure designed to simplify and accelerate global fund flows. Powered by stablecoins and USD, StableX intelligently optimises multi-currency conversions and settlements, enabling faster, more cost-effective, and highly competitive cross-border transactions. As the FX layer within CAMP, StableX combines the programmability of digital assets with the reliability of regulated infrastructure, delivering a scalable, compliant and seamless ecosystem for the future of global finance.

To learn more about MetaComp and its regulated infrastructure and solutions, visit www.mce.sg

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

MetaComp Calls for Faster, Fairer Settlement as New Study Reveals USD 6 Trillion SME Payment Opportunity Gap in Cross-Border Finance

Patients from Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore gathered at Edwards Lifesciences' annual APAC Patient Experience event to share their stories and help advance more patient-centered care.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As structural heart disease continues to impact a growing number of people across Asia Pacific amid a rapidly ageing population, Edwards Lifesciences (Edwards) brought together patients for its annual Asia-Pacific Patient Experience event. The programme created a platform for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and employees to share perspectives, foster meaningful connections and deepen understanding of the patient journey.

More than 80 million people worldwide live with some type of heart valve disease, according to the American Heart Association^[1]. With Asia Pacific ageing faster than any other region in the world^[2], a substantial rise in degenerative valvular heart disease across the region is expected in the coming years. Recent research highlights valvular heart disease as a growing health burden across Asia Pacific, driven by demographic changes and increasing life expectancy^[3]. These trends underscore the importance of understanding patient experiences and ensuring patient perspectives help inform future care.

The Patient Experience event is a cornerstone of Edwards' patient-focused culture and reflects the company's belief that patient voices should help shape the future of care. By listening directly to patients' experiences, from diagnosis and treatment through recovery, Edwards gains valuable insights into the realities of living with structural heart disease. These perspectives help strengthen patient engagement and advocacy efforts, inspire innovation rooted in real-world needs, and reinforce the company's commitment to improving outcomes and quality of life for patients.

While each patient's journey was unique, common themes emerged across the event: unexpected diagnoses, uncertainty and fear following life-changing news, reliance on family and caregivers for support, and the opportunity to regain quality of life through timely treatment. Together, their stories highlighted the importance of greater awareness, earlier intervention, innovation and patient-centered care.

For Jai Arora, 47, from India, it began with fear.

"I was in the best shape of my life," Arora said. "Finding out I had a serious heart condition was a shock, I never saw coming. The idea that something could be wrong with my heart, when I felt invincible, was terrifying."

For Haehun Choi, 68, from South Korea, the diagnosis came completely without warning.

"I had no symptoms at all, I felt completely fine," Choi said. "It was only because of a routine check-up, and because my daughter booked me to see a specialist, that we found out how serious it was. If I hadn't gone for the check-up, I don't know when we would have caught it."

For Qi Le Ee, 17, from Singapore — the diagnosis came completely out of the blue, beginning with nothing more than a persistent fever.

"It started with just a fever, we thought it was dengue," said Ee. "I was quite shocked when we found out how serious it actually was. Nothing about it seemed like a heart problem, until suddenly it was."

For Dien Harmani, from Indonesia, it meant leaning on his family.

"This journey was never something I faced alone," Harmani said. "I trusted my son to help me make the right decisions, and I trusted the team who cared for me. Having them by my side made all the difference."

For Geoff Lewis, 75, from Australia, it meant returning to spending more time with his family.

"Every day I just seem to feel a little better," Lewis said. "It's been like a second wind. The first effect after the operation was phenomenal. I'm able to do so much more, and I'm not slowing down the way I used to and able to spend more time with my family."

Turning Patient Insights into Action

Beyond their personal journeys, the stories shared during the event offered valuable insights into the realities of living with structural heart disease. From recognizing symptoms and navigating diagnosis to making treatment decisions and recovering with the support of family and caregivers, these experiences highlighted opportunities to better support patients throughout the care journey.

"At Edwards, innovation begins with understanding the people we serve," said Amit Raheja, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Edwards Lifesciences. "The Patient Experience gives us the opportunity to learn directly from patients and caregivers about the realities of living with structural heart disease. Their experiences remind us that behind every innovation is a person, a family and a journey, and they help guide us as we work to improve outcomes for patients around the world."

Beyond patient sharing sessions, the programme included a tour of Edwards' Singapore facility and demonstrations showcasing the craftsmanship involved in developing structural heart technologies, offering patients a closer look at the people, expertise and care behind every innovation.

By bringing together patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and employees, Edwards hopes to foster greater awareness of structural heart disease while ensuring patient voices continue to inform the future of care across Asia Pacific.

[1] Palaniappan LP, Allen NB, Almarzooq ZI, et al. 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2026;153(9):e275-e906. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001412

[2] United Nations Population Fund, Asia and the Pacific Regional Office. "#ForEveryAge." UNFPA Asia and the Pacific, asiapacific.unfpa.org/en/foreveryage

[3] So, K. C., Yap, J., Song, G. Y., Poon, K., Sung, S. H., Chandavimol, M., Hayashida, K., & Lam, Y. Y. (2025). Epidemiology of valvular heart disease in Asia Pacific region. JACC: Asia, 5(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacasi.2025.03.011

^[1] Palaniappan LP, Allen NB, Almarzooq ZI, et al. 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2026;153(9):e275-e906. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001412

^[2] United Nations Population Fund, Asia and the Pacific Regional Office. "#ForEveryAge." UNFPA Asia and the Pacific, asiapacific.unfpa.org/en/foreveryage

^[3] So, K. C., Yap, J., Song, G. Y., Poon, K., Sung, S. H., Chandavimol, M., Hayashida, K., & Lam, Y. Y. (2025). Epidemiology of valvular heart disease in Asia Pacific region. JACC: Asia, 5(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacasi.2025.03.011

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the leading global structural heart innovation company, driven by a passion to improve patient lives. Through breakthrough technologies, world-class evidence and partnerships with clinicians and healthcare stakeholders, our employees are inspired by our patient-focused culture to deliver life-changing innovations to those who need them most. Discover more at www.edwards.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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Putting Patients at the Heart of Innovation: Voices Across Asia Pacific Help Shape the Future of Structural Heart Care