For this year’s Money20/20 USA show, the conference organizers have outlined five major themes that will shape the event, reflecting the latest challenges - and opportunities - in fintech, payments, and banking.
“This year's agenda focuses on stories told through five distinct chapters addressing the very root of what’s happening now and where the industry is going next.”
Here's a closer look at the five key themes they defined as shaping the agenda this year, with our take on what they mean for the banking/payments/fintech industries.
1. The Fintechonomic Cycle
Fintech has matured. Those that once were disruptors are now incumbents, and the unbundling of financial services has evolved into a new era of "rebundling." (As it happens, consumers didn’t want a separate app for every aspect of their financial life...)
Fintech companies are looking for ways to remain innovative while sustaining their growth. And notably, many are realizing it’s not just about consumers. B2B fintech is a burgeoning category too.
Why this matters: This marks a critical phase for fintechs to refine their business models and adapt to a fast-evolving market, as well as addressing B2B customer needs as a next step in the industry’s evolution.
Recommended sessions:
- It Starts with B2B: Building the Right Long-term Relationships
- Payments in 2030: Building a Future Forward Payment Strategy
- How Fintech-Powered Banking Will Simplify Global Finance Experiences
2. Fundamentally Positive
2025 is a year to focus on financial sustainability as well as a positive attitude towards technology finally realizing its potential. After the hyper-growth phase, fintech companies (and the venture capital community) are now re-centering on responsible, profitable business models. And, with increasing M&A activity, there's a strong outlook for the future of fintech.
As well, alternative payment methods are finally getting past the hype cycle and moving towards becoming a scalable utility.
Why this matters: The shift from "growth at all costs" to a more balanced approach emphasizes stability and sustainable profits. This trend has sparked conversations about future IPOs, crypto utility, and tokenized assets.
Recommended sessions:
- Customer-First Strategies in the Era of AI
- The Billion Dollar Question- M&A and IPOs in Fintech
- From Zero to One: Bancolombia's Digital Asset Journey
3. Moving Money
Open banking is accelerating the transformation of global money movement, while real-time payments and alternative payment methods are evolving rapidly. New systems like India's UPI and Brazil's Pix are shaking up the global financial and payments landscape.
Why this matters: The rise of new payment infrastructures highlights how globalization is driving innovation in the space. The challenge lies in making transactions faster and more seamless while also maintaining end-to-end security.
Recommended sessions:
- Digital Wallets: Banks And Credit Unions are Getting into the Game
- Moving Money To Drive Financial Equity and Inclusion
- Unlocking the Potential: Navigating the Emerging Markets Payments Boom
4. Certainty in Uncertainty
We’re living in an age of uncertainty. The financial sector in particular continues to face major uncertainties, from rising fraud threats to unexpected economic shifts including upset due to industry regulation. Smart thinking, along with AI and other advanced technologies, all play a crucial role in ensuring resilience against future unpredictable "black swan" events.
Why this matters: In a world where fraudsters are using AI to exploit weaknesses, financial institutions need strategic innovators, along with cutting-edge solutions (and even using AI for fraud detection/prevention, themselves) to stay ahead. Understanding how to leverage AI responsibly, and preparing for growth amongst all this uncertainty, while also securing and maintaining customer trust is key. (Phew!)
Recommended sessions:
5. Informed Counterintuitivity
This theme focuses on the counterintuitive ways businesses are approaching AI and data. While AI headlines dominate, real innovation stems from looking at data differently and finding creative ways to solve persistent problems.
Why this matters: Companies that can find solutions where others see dead-ends will unlock the full potential of data, including applying AI and machine learning to solve problems, all while managing the need for transparency and high customer expectations.
Recommended sessions:
- Steady Wins the Race: How AI Innovation Influences Trust & Safety
- The Path to Explosive Growth: Empowering the Credit-Invisible Market
- Navigating the New Era of Hyper-Personalization: Ensuring Identity Verification in the Age of AI
While You're There... Come Visit Wildfire
We hope your time at this year's Money20/20 USA is productive, enjoyable, and insightful. From AI integration to new models of moving money, the connections that you'll make and the insights you come home with from this year's event have the potential to shape the trajectory of the payments and financial industry in the years to come. And we'd love to talk to you about it!
Come meet the Wildfire team in person. Schedule a meeting to visit Wildfire at our Venetian Pool Cabana, Oct. 28-29, 2024 from 9am-5pm.
