DCS Card Centre Pte. Ltd is embracing innovation as digital transformation reshapes the global payments industry. With the rise of superapps, fintechs, and blockchain, the payments ecosystem is undergoing one of its most significant shifts in decades. Dayna Leng, Chief Marketing Officer at DCS Card Centre, explained in an interview with Asian Banking & Finance that the changes are not limited to banks or legacy players anymore.
“The broader payment ecosystem is undergoing a rapid shift in standards, and that is very much propelled by the rise of digital banks and fintechs,” Leng said.
Rise of Superapps and Wallet-Based Services
Leng pointed out how various platforms—not just financial institutions—are launching proprietary payment tools. Superapps like ShopBack Pay, Shopee Pay, and GrabPay have become part of the mainstream, offering services including buy now, pay later (BNPL) options even outside traditional finance spaces.
“All of this is moving towards creating this new level of standard for financial institutions,” Leng noted, highlighting how consumers’ expectations have shifted toward convenience and integration.
DCS Moves Beyond Credit Cards
Formerly known as Diners Club Singapore, DCS has transitioned from being a credit and charge card issuer to offering broader payment solutions. A major leap in this journey was DCS’s entrance into the Web3 space.
Last year, DCS launched a card that allows users to instantly convert stablecoins into Singapore dollars, enabling digital asset holders to spend their crypto directly. While the users pay with digital assets, merchants still receive payments in traditional fiat currency, making the transaction seamless for both parties.
“For Web3 community [members] who really want to have cash on hand from the stablecoins that they owned, they can do that through a physical card,” said Leng. “They can withdraw from the ATM.”
Blurring Lines Between Traditional Finance and Web3
Leng highlighted how the evolution of payment methods—from debit to credit, mobile to digital, and now centralised to decentralised systems—has created a fluid environment. “We have gone from operating within the traditional finance ecosystem to dual real payments across both [traditional finance] and Web3 economies,” she said.
A key innovation on the horizon is programmable tokens, or smart contracts that automatically execute payments when certain conditions are met. Major institutions like JPMorgan Chase and DBS Bank are exploring this space, signalling its potential to become the new standard.
The Need for Responsible Innovation
Despite the rapid progress, Leng cautioned that innovation must come with responsibility. She emphasized the importance of regulation as the digital payments space continues to evolve. “Everything needs to be regulated first,” she said.
Staying Relevant in a Borderless Economy
With users demanding real-time and borderless payments, DCS’s pivot to Web3 is a strategic move to remain relevant. Leng believes that digital and decentralised tools will continue to reshape the way money moves, making financial services more connected, faster, and cost-efficient.
“The interoperability between economies will continue to grow,” she concluded.
