Nandan Nilekani, the Chairman of Infosys, is spearheading digital innovation with Finternet, a bold initiative aimed at transforming the global financial infrastructure. Launched in 2023 in collaboration with Agustín Carstens, Siddharth Shetty, and Dr. Pramod Varma, Finternet aims to create a digital ecosystem where financial services are open, interoperable, and seamlessly connected across borders. The project currently includes 10 cohorts spanning eight sectors and has established partnerships with 30 ecosystem players, with a presence in countries such as Singapore, the United States, and Switzerland. Nilekani announced at the Global Fintech Fest that the first live use cases for Finternet are anticipated in 2026, emphasizing the project’s global aspirations.
Central to Finternet is the concept of asset tokenisation, which involves converting tangible assets like land, real estate, and gold into secure digital tokens. Nilekani stressed the importance of unlocking value from these assets to support both national and global economic objectives. He posed the challenge of implementing tokenisation for various assets and noted that artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize infrastructure development in this context. The initiative originated from a research paper that explored the possibilities of establishing an interoperable, digital-first financial infrastructure aimed at addressing fragmented financial systems and improving credit access, especially in emerging markets like India.
With the rapid increase in wealth and luxury consumption in India, the demand for secure and scalable financial solutions is critical. Unlike cryptocurrency-based frameworks that often face regulatory challenges, Finternet prioritizes compliance and accountability, aiming to implement tokenisation in a structured and strategic manner while adhering to regulatory standards. Nilekani remarked that the insights gained over the years regarding scalable and reliable building, as well as regulatory collaboration, inform this approach. The framework incorporates lessons from global regulatory trends, including regulations in the US and Singapore, such as the US Genius Act for stablecoins, to ensure that compliance is integral to Finternet’s design from the outset.
This strategy allows Finternet to grow sustainably while fostering transparency and trust across different jurisdictions. Looking forward, the initiative’s expansion into major financial centers—India, Singapore, New York, San Francisco, and Switzerland—highlights its objective to establish a globally interconnected financial network. As India’s economy continues to flourish and its middle and upper classes expand, the timing for Finternet’s launch is particularly strategic. The platform aspires to create a future-ready financial infrastructure that democratizes asset ownership, enhances credit access, and promotes inclusive growth on a global scale. The anticipated 2026 launch of Finternet could signify the dawn of a new era in financial innovation, where digital assets, artificial intelligence, and regulatory frameworks converge to facilitate a more transparent and interoperable global economy.