Benjamin Lee is a senior staff at the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub (BISIH) in Singapore and had previously served as the Acting Centre Head. He was seconded to the BISIH through the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and worked to establish and launch the centre in 2019, and to manage its projects pipeline.
The BIS Innovation Hub is a joint initiative by the BIS and its partner central banks to identify and develop in-depth insights into critical trends in technology affecting central banking; develop public goods in the technology space geared towards improving the functioning of the global financial system; and serve as a focal point for a network of central bank experts on innovation.
Prior to this appointment, Benjamin spent most of his career in central banking at the MAS, where he worked on international finance matters, and at the Ministry of Finance in Singapore, where he worked on public finance administration matters. Benjamin has also served as Singapore's representative to the Executive Board of the World Bank Group and was based in Washington DC between 2014 - 2016.
Roundtable Room 1 (Level 2)
Decoding Digital Assets and Payments
This roundtable reflects Elevandi’s commitment to developing the infrastructure to support the adoption of new technologies.
The quest for cheaper, faster, more transparent and accessible cross-border payments has become a central focus for policymakers and financial institutions worldwide. At the forefront of this initiative is the G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-border Payments, setting ambitious targets on speed, cost, transparency and accessibility by the end of 2027, while also prioritising safety and financial inclusion globally.
In tandem with this global effort, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) introduced Project Nexus in 2021, an innovative initiative aimed at reshaping the landscape of cross-border payments. Through Nexus, the BIS has developed a multilateral and standardised approach in connecting fast payment systems globally to enable instant and seamless cross-border payments. Over the past two years, Project Nexus has conducted a successful proof-of-concept with the fast payment systems in the Eurozone, Malaysia, and Singapore. Notably, it has also facilitated collaboration among five Southeast Asian countries to link their fast payment systems.
With the completion of Phase III of Project Nexus, it promises to reveal ground-breaking advancements towards establishing a global multilateral payments platform. Under the theme of Decoding Digital Assets and Payments, this upcoming roundtable presents a rare opportunity for attendees to gain insights into the blueprint for this pioneering cross-border payments model. With the potential to revolutionise the current state of the global financial market infrastructure, Project Nexus is poised to redefine the future of cross-border transactions.
Attendees who wish to familiarise themselves with the topic may refer to the reference materials below.
- Nexus project page
- Latest (2024) Nexus report
- Enabling & scaling instant cross-border payments
- Connecting to global scalability in payments: How we can benefit and contribute to the nexus
- Nexus: enabling instant cross-border payments