FinTech Futures

In this episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, host and FinTech Futures Managing Editor Paul Hindle is joined by Simone Löfgen, Global Head of Payment Platforms at Commerzbank, to explore the key trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the payments industry in 2026.

The conversation covers the current state of play with payments in Europe, the impact of evolving regulations, and the opportunities and challenges in cross-border transactions, including the role of stablecoins and the future of CBDCs like the digital euro.

Paul and Simone also discuss how AI is transforming payments, from enhancing systems to combating fraud, and how Commerzbank is leveraging this technology, as well as how banks can balance customer expectations for fast, secure, and transparent payments with the growing complexity of payment infrastructures.

We also hear Simone’s thoughts on what’s next for the industry and what the growing conversation around payments sovereignty might mean for the future of the European payments ecosystem.

And finally, we find out what fintech buzzword Simone wants to throw into our Fintech Jail!

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ABOUT FINTECH FUTURES

FinTech Futures is the #1 provider of global fintech news and intelligence. With a mission to empower the financial technology community, we bring you the latest updates and thought leadership from across the industry. From startups to established players, we cover the entire fintech ecosystem.

Stay Connected with FinTech Futures: Visit our website: www.fintechfutures.com
Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fintechfutures/
Sign up to our newsletter: www.fintechfutures.com/newsletter
Subscribe to our channel: www.youtube.com/@FinTechFutures

In this episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, host and FinTech Futures managing editor Paul Hindle is joined by René Michau, Global Head of Digital Assets at Standard Chartered Bank, to explore the growing impact of stablecoins in financial services and their potential to reshape key areas of banking and payments.

The conversation covers the current state of play with stablecoin adoption in banking, their rising popularity among corporates and institutions, and the benefits they can offer—particularly in cross-border payments.

Beyond payments, René also gives his views on the other key use cases gaining traction and how Standard Chartered is integrating stablecoins into its digital asset strategy.

Paul and René also discuss the current regulatory landscape around stablecoins, the key considerations banks should focus on when developing an effective stablecoin strategy, and of course what’s next for stablecoin innovation, including how they’re likely to evolve in the coming years, their impact on traditional banking models, and the innovations and partnerships that will shape their trajectory.

And finally, we find out what fintech buzzword René wants to throw into our Fintech Jail!

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ABOUT FINTECH FUTURES

FinTech Futures is the #1 provider of global fintech news and intelligence. With a mission to empower the financial technology community, we bring you the latest updates and thought leadership from across the industry. From startups to established players, we cover the entire fintech ecosystem.

Stay Connected with FinTech Futures: Visit our website: www.fintechfutures.com
Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fintechfutures/
Sign up to our newsletter: www.fintechfutures.com/newsletter
Subscribe to our channel: www.youtube.com/@FinTechFutures

In the latest episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, Gabriella Kindert, CEO of Snappi, joins to explore the Greek digital banking landscape and share how the challenger developed its tech stack.

Gabriella sits down with FinTech Futures reporter Cameron Emanuel-Burns to compare the Greek neobanking ecosystem with its European counterparts and discuss the key challenges Snappi and other digital banks face in achieving widespread adoption.

The episode also delves into Gabriella's professional journey, the origins of Snappi, and the company's immediate priorities as well as its long-term growth strategy.

And finally, we discover which fintech buzzword Gabriella wants to throw into or rescue from our Fintech Jail!

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ABOUT FINTECH FUTURES

FinTech Futures is the #1 provider of global fintech news and intelligence. With a mission to empower the financial technology community, we bring you the latest updates and thought leadership from across the industry. From startups to established players, we cover the entire fintech ecosystem.

Stay Connected with FinTech Futures: Visit our website: https://www.fintechfutures.com
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechfutures/
Sign up to our newsletter: https://www.fintechfutures.com/newsletter
Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FinTechFutures

In this episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, host and FinTech Futures editor Paul Hindle is joined by Dr Subodh Kulkarni, CEO of Rigetti Computing, and Dr Simon Plant, Deputy Director for Innovation at the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), to explore the fascinating world of quantum computing and its transformative potential for financial services.

The trio discuss the current state of play for quantum solutions in finance and how financial services firms are embracing the technology, with a specific look at some of the work Rigetti is doing with its partners in the sector, as well as advice for banks and fintechs looking to innovate with the technology and prepare for the quantum revolution, including best practices for integrating quantum computing into your existing systems.

The conversation also covers the UK’s innovation strategy for quantum technologies, the technology’s intersection with generative AI, and the potential future impact of quantum computing on finance - including the looming challenge of Q-Day.

And finally, we find out what fintech buzzwords Subodh and Simon want to throw into our Fintech Jail!

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ABOUT FINTECH FUTURES

FinTech Futures is a leading global platform for fintech news, analysis, and insights. With a mission to empower the financial technology community, we bring you the latest updates and thought leadership from across the industry. From startups to established players, we cover the entire fintech ecosystem.

Stay Connected with FinTech Futures: Visit our website: www.fintechfutures.com
Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fintechfutures/
Sign up to our newsletter: www.fintechfutures.com/newsletter
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@FinTechFutures

In this episode of the What the FinTech? podcast, host and FinTech Futures editor Paul Hindle is joined by Irina Chuchkina, Chief Growth Officer for Wallet in Telegram, to explore how digital wallets and super-apps are transforming the way people interact with money, commerce, and technology in their everyday lives.

The conversation covers how Wallet in Telegram is revolutionising financial interactions by enabling digital wallet functionality and peer-to-peer transactions directly within the Telegram messaging app.

Paul and Irina discuss how this innovation is driving financial inclusion in emerging markets, the key use cases of financial services within the Telegram economy, how Telegram’s open platform model compares to more vertically integrated super-app ecosystems, and the broader trends shaping the adoption of digital wallets worldwide.

And finally, we find out what fintech buzzword Irina wants to throw into our Fintech Jail!

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ABOUT FINTECH FUTURES

FinTech Futures is a leading global platform for fintech news, analysis, and insights. With a mission to empower the financial technology community, we bring you the latest updates and thought leadership from across the industry. From startups to established players, we cover the entire fintech ecosystem.

Stay Connected with FinTech Futures: Visit our website: https://www.fintechfutures.com
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechfutures/
Sign up to our newsletter: https://www.fintechfutures.com/newsletter
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FinTechFutures