The way businesses move money is undergoing a major transformation, powered by advancements in AI, real-time payments, and stablecoin technologies. AI is no longer just automating basic tasks; it is enabling intelligent systems that can think, adapt, and optimize financial operations on the fly.

In this episode of ATP, Paul Harapin, Head of Asia Pacific and Japan at Stripe, explains how Stripe’s technology, now processing $1.4 trillion annually, is driving a shift from simple automation to intelligent, adaptive financial systems.

Some of the topics that Paul covered in detail:

• AI is now deeply embedded into Stripe's ecosystem, not just to optimize existing processes like fraud detection, but to reshape entire money flows.
• While generalist AI platforms like OpenAI and Perplexity dominate headlines, AI purpose-built for specific industries is where much of the near-term value is being created.
• Asia Pacific isn't just participating — it's leading the charge into real-time payments and alternative rails.
• How Agentic AI will eliminate traditional bottlenecks between sales, payments, and customer service, especially for SMEs and startups.
• Stablecoins are poised to revolutionize remittances, treasury management, and cross-border B2B commerce, especially in emerging markets.

Building technology at scale is not about chasing the latest trends or making sweeping, one-time decisions. It’s about making a series of careful, long-term choices that prioritize control, efficiency, and resilience. Companies that rush into cloud adoption or AI implementations without understanding the trade-offs risk losing the ability to innovate on their own terms.

Technology leadership is never about a single, bold decision — it’s about a series of intentional, calculated choices that evolve over time. The Asia Tech Podcast sat down with Idan Zalzberg, the Chief Technology Officer of Agoda, to learn how complex technology infrastructures are built, maintained, and reimagined.

Some of the topics that Idan cover in detail included:

• One of the most surprising themes from Idan’s leadership style is his insistence that CTOs should continue to code. Remaining hands-on creates deep trust with engineering teams and maintains sharp intuition for decision-making.
• It’s not about being pro- or anti-cloud. It’s about being in control of your tech stack and cost structures — and re-evaluating continuously.
• To scale AI effectively, companies must build internal capabilities to continuously monitor, measure, and validate AI's impact.
• Rather than replacing engineers, AI is amplifying their productivity — making the best developers even more capable.
• Agoda’s future goal isn’t just to be a booking site — it’s to be a travel companion.

What if the very way we think about money and investments is about to change forever? As we navigate the complex worlds of traditional finance, fintech, and Web3, a provocative question emerges: Should every financial asset be tokenized? Some argue that tokenization brings transparency and accessibility to financial products, especially in emerging markets, while others caution against the blanket application of this technology. Are we on the brink of a financial revolution, or are we simply chasing a trend without fully understanding the implications?

At Onchain 2025 in Bangkok, recorded at the Sofitel So by Michael Waitze, the host of the Asia Tech Podcast, we captured more than 10 conversations that challenged some of the deepest assumptions in finance.

The debates were passionate and layered. Some experts championed tokenization as a force for transparency and accessibility, particularly in emerging markets where traditional systems often fall short. Others urged caution, warning that not every asset — or market — may benefit from being put on-chain.

As we dig deeper into this conversation, the complexities become even more apparent. Is tokenization simply another tool that can empower individuals with greater control over their investments? Or is it a transformative force that could fundamentally disrupt the fabric of traditional finance? While it offers the promise of enhanced liquidity and lower costs, not all assets may be suitable for tokenization. What should be tokenized — and what should remain untouched?

The future of finance may very well depend on how we answer these critical questions.