Singapore-based fintech 129Knots and Green Link Digital Bank ( GLDB ) have launched a global embedded finance programme to address chronic liquidity shortages in the marine fuel supply chain.

This initiative introduces an origination-to-distribution ( OTD ) platform that enables working capital financing for fuel procurement, one of the most pressing and underbanked needs in the global shipping ecosystem.

129Knots, a fintech venture launched with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board and advised by McKinsey and IBM, has positioned itself as a pioneer in tokenized trade and sustainable finance infrastructure. GLDB, meanwhile, has been carving out a niche in tech-enabled micro, small and medium-sized enterprise banking.

Marine fuel represents one of the largest operating expenses in shipping, often eclipsing vessel capital costs over a ship’s lifetime. Yet, due to fragmented transactional data, informal credit practices and limited transparency, the sector has been neglected.

The fintech and digital bank aim to change that by embedding credit directly into procurement workflows, offering structured receivables financing and programmable liquidity to eligible borrowers across the sector.

GLDB, one of Singapore’s digital banks with a strong focus on small and medium-sized enterprise financing and supply chain innovation, sees the new programme as a core expression of its mission.

Beyond marine fuel, the OTD platform is engineered to scale, targeting future markets in alternative fuels, carbon credit-linked capital expenditure and even stablecoin-based settlement systems. This fits squarely into the broader trend of programmable finance and meeting environmental needs.

“At GLDB, we are committed to transforming how businesses manage their cash flow and supply chain financing,” says Melvin Teo, the company’s CEO. “Through an embedded financing partnership with 129Knots, we are breaking down traditional barriers and embedding financial solutions right where businesses operate.”

Vikash Dhanuka, 129Knots’ founder and CEO, adds: “The marine fuel industry has long relied on fragmented financing and informal credit, limiting transparency and scale […]. This partnership solves the perennial problem of credit accessibility in the marine fuel industry. It also marks the first step toward filling a multibillion-dollar gap by building a new asset class that brings structure and scalable opportunity to every participant.”