Malaysia has taken a strategic step toward strengthening its digital finance landscape with the official launch of the Digital Asset Innovation Hub, inaugurated by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Sasana Symposium 2025. Spearheaded by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the initiative is designed to catalyse financial innovation within a regulated framework.
The launch forms part of a broader agenda during the two-day symposium, held on 17 and 18 June at Sasana Kijang, which gathers key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society to examine policy reforms aimed at building a more resilient and inclusive national economy.
Positioned as a sandbox for emerging digital finance technologies, the hub offers a safe and structured environment for innovators to test new solutions, particularly in areas such as programmable money and a potential ringgit-backed stablecoin. While further technical specifics have yet to be disclosed, Prime Minister Anwar’s announcement signals a growing commitment to exploring advanced financial technologies under Malaysia’s regulatory oversight.
In parallel, the Climate Finance Innovation Lab was also introduced during the event. Led by the Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3), the lab seeks to align financial innovation with climate resilience goals, marking another milestone in the country’s integrated approach to structural reform.
Under the theme “Structural Reforms: Building a Resilient Malaysia,” the Sasana Symposium 2025 comprises 23 sessions, featuring panel discussions, fireside chats, and workshops that address a spectrum of pressing national issues. Topics include inflation management, cost of living, healthcare financing, social protection mechanisms, digital assets, and climate-related financial strategies.
Adding a social finance dimension to the symposium, Bazar iTEKAD showcases 14 microentrepreneurs out of more than 10,000 beneficiaries of the iTEKAD programme. This initiative combines blended financing with structured capacity-building support, enabling small business owners to enhance operational scalability and sustainability.
In line with Malaysia’s upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, the event also features the immersive ASEAN Tunnel exhibition. Designed to engage visitors through visual and auditory storytelling, the exhibit highlights BNM’s regional leadership in promoting instant payment connectivity, strengthening local currency settlement frameworks, and supporting ASEAN’s climate ambitions.
BNM Governor Dato’ Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour underscored the collaborative nature of structural reforms in his opening remarks.
“Structural reforms are not something one institution or individual can tackle alone. It requires a whole-of-nation approach,” he said. “Reforms and policies are not mere ideas on paper. They can make a real difference in the everyday lives of Malaysians. Through panel sessions, fireside chats and workshops, we share not only what we do, but why we do it. From topics like financial literacy and digital assets, to climate finance and even healthcare reforms, these are the building blocks of a stronger, more resilient Malaysia.”
BNM is expected to provide further clarification on the Digital Asset Innovation Hub in due course.
-Fintech News
