Navigating DeFi, Tokenisation and Cross-Border Capital via Labuan IBFC, Malaysia
About the Webinar
As capital markets evolve, the convergence of decentralised finance (DeFi), tokenisation, and digital assets is reshaping how capital is raised, structured, and deployed across borders. Meanwhile, businesses and investors continue to navigate increasing regulatory fragmentation, geopolitical uncertainty, and operational complexity in cross-border expansion.
Against this backdrop, Labuan IBFC reintroduces its webinar series, reinforcing its position as a forward-looking international financial centre in Asia, offering a well-regulated and flexible platform for digital financial services, cross-border structuring, and innovative capital market solutions across digital and Shariah-compliant avenues.
This webinar explores how Labuan IBFC can serve as a strategic jurisdiction for companies, investors, and advisers in the next wave of capital market innovation, particularly in the tokenisation of real-world assets and digital financial structures.
The session convenes industry experts, investors, and advisers to share practical insights on digital finance, tokenisation, and cross-border capital, highlighting Labuan IBFC’s expanding digital financial ecosystem and its influence on global capital flows.
Join us to explore the intersection of DeFi, tokenisation, and cross-border capital, and how Labuan IBFC enables next-generation financial structures across Asia and beyond.
Key Discussions
- The evolution of capital markets, from traditional finance to DeFi and tokenisation
- Overview of Labuan IBFC’s digital financial ecosystem and regulatory framework for digital assets and security tokens
- Tokenisation of real-world assets: emerging trends and practical applications
- Digital financial services and structuring frameworks supporting cross-border investment activities
- Comparative jurisdiction insights, including developments in the UAE and other international financial hubs
Speakers
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Dr. Farrukh Habib, Founder & CEO of Azka Advisors (UK) and Co-founder of Alif Technologies (Dubai)
Dr. Farrukh Habib, Founder & CEO of Azka Advisors (UK) and Co-founder of Alif Technologies (Dubai)
Ahmed Farouk commenced his career in Sabah, Malaysia with the international audit firms Coopers & Lybrand and Ernst & Young. This was followed by a career in the construction & engineering industry as a Management Accountant. Thereafter he served in the medical industry as the Group Financial Controller. In 2002, he ventured into the Labuan insurance industry, serving at the Labuan branches of various international insurance entities.
In 2018, Ahmed Farouk joined the Archipelago Group, serving as the Principal Officer & Director of the PCC (Protected Cell Companies) and Group CFO. He was then promoted to Principal Officer & Director of Archipelago Insurance Limited. In his various capacities within the Labuan insurance industry, he has supervised teams and departments in accounting, business development advisory, underwriting, risk management and compliance as well as corporate governance functions. -
Harpreet Singh Maan, Founding Member, Malaysia Digital Consortium and CEO & Co Founder of TEIZA
Harpreet Singh Maan, Founding Member, Malaysia Digital Consortium and CEO & Co Founder of TEIZA
Harpreet Singh Maan is a Blockchain Developer turned Entrepreneur, Trainer, Angel Investor, and Market Thought Leader. He is also the CEO & Co-founder of TEIZA, President of ACCESS Blockchain Association Malaysia, and an ISO National Committee Member on Blockchain & DLT standards. He has been instrumental in shaping Malaysia’s blockchain and digital economy policy and currently spearheading the Malaysia Digital Consortium (MYDC), a national initiative to unify the country’s digital infrastructure ecosystem. -
Hillay Janebdar, Partner and Head of Virtual Assets Practice, KARM Legal, UAE
Hillay Janebdar, Partner and Head of Virtual Assets Practice, KARM Legal, UAE
Hillay Janebdar is a Partner at KARM Legal, where she leads the firm’s Virtual Assets practice. A commercially focused Solicitor of England & Wales with over 10 years’ post-qualification experience, she has advised across multiple jurisdictions, including the UK, the UAE (including the Abu Dhabi Global Market), and the British Virgin Islands.
Hillay brings together the technical rigour of private practice with a pragmatic, solutions-driven approach shaped by senior in-house roles. Her expertise spans corporate and commercial law, fintech, femtech, crypto, and payments regulation. She has extensive experience structuring, negotiating, and managing complex commercial arrangements, including SaaS agreements, joint ventures, procurement and vendor contracts, affiliate partnerships, and M&A transactions, with a strong emphasis on aligning legal frameworks to commercial strategy and long-term growth.
With deep cross-border regulatory insight, Hillay advises businesses on licensing, compliance, AML and sanctions, data protection, and regulatory investigations. She is particularly recognised for translating complex regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for boards, executive teams, and investors, supporting confident decision-making in rapidly evolving sectors.
In her role leading the Virtual Assets practice, Hillay works closely with digital asset businesses, blockchain innovators, and financial institutions to launch and scale technology-driven platforms while maintaining constructive regulatory engagement. Her work is underpinned by a strong focus on governance, risk management, and sustainable growth within innovation-led markets.
Hillay’s broader interests include legal innovation, sustainable finance, and blockchain governance. She is committed to advancing responsible business practices and improving access to justice, particularly in emerging markets where technology and regulation intersect. -
Ja'afar Rihan, Head of Islamic Market Development, Labuan FSA
Ja'afar Rihan, Head of Islamic Market Development, Labuan FSA
Raymond Wong has over 40 years of experience in the insurance industry (both locally and in London) and has held several key management positions in various insurance, insurance broking and reinsurance companies. He started his career in Marketing with The American Malaysian Insurance in 1979 and left for London to study Law in 1983. In 1985, Raymond Wong joined Citicorp Insurance Brokers, London as an overseas officer whereby he was exposed to the Lloyds market. In 1987, he was transferred back to Malaysia to identify and set up the Citicorp insurance brokers locally.
Raymond Wong was appointed the General Manager and Principal Officer of Innovest Citicorp Insurance Broker Sdn Bhd in 1988 upon approval of its broking licence by Bank Negara Malaysia. Thereafter, Raymond Wong continued his career as Chief Executive Officer/Principal Officer in Paramount Assurance Berhad, MMI Insurance Labuan Ltd, Catlin Labuan Limited, XL Catlin Labuan, AXAXL Insurance Labuan, Asia Capital Reinsurance Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Asia Capital Retakaful Berhad before his retirement in November 2021.
Raymond Wong was Board Director of Labuan International Business and Financial Centre, Catlin Labuan Limited, Malaysia National Reinsurance Berhad and Paramount Assurance Berhad.
