Source: Fortune
Summary
Amy Lee, niece of Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, has launched the Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB), a digital bank that offers both traditional and digital assets. The bank, established in Bahrain in 2024, aims to tap into the growing trade between the Gulf and Asia. Lee, who chairs the bank’s global advisory board, believes that digital assets are becoming increasingly important and that banks need to adapt to remain relevant. The SGB has partnered with traditional giants like JP Morgan and Standard Chartered, as well as decentralized financial firms like Binance and Solana.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. The Singapore Gulf Bank is betting big on digital assets, with $4 billion in deposits and $12 billion in transaction value in 2025. Amy Lee’s team chose Bahrain for its progressive and crypto-friendly policies. The bank’s ambition is to become “the one bank for all of finance.” Lee’s personal story is one of resilience and adaptability, from learning a new language in school to launching a digital bank in her 60s. “Never say die” is her motto, inherited from her grandmother.
Author: Evan Null
