Securing Payments in a Changing Digital Landscape | G+D | FF News at Money20/20 USA

Securing payments in a changing digital landscape. In our interview with Gabrielle Bugat, CEO of G+D ePayments, at Money20/20 USA 2024 we find out how payments in the US are changing.

As adoption of real-time payments and digital asset custody increases, the focus is on how to combat fraud and stay compliant. Bugat points to how they address these challenges and looks ahead to some of the trends she sees being at the forefront in 2025.

In this interview:

• The rapid growth of contactless and mobile based payments in the US.
• How to ensure efficiency in real-time payment systems.
• How G+D helps protect digital assets against loss.
• Expanding Contactless and Digital Payments in the US

To set the scene, Bugat highlights the growing adoption of contactless payments in the US, stating that 6 out of 10 newly issued cards are contactless. Further information from G+D suggests that cards accounted for 77% of all non-cash payments in 2021. However, she emphasized that contactless technology goes beyond cards. G+D supports a wide range of form factors, including wearables and mobile devices, enabling seamless, secure transactions across different platforms. With over 80% of US consumers already using digital payment methods, G+D focuses on delivering security through solutions like tokenization, two-factor authentication, and biometrics to safeguard these transactions.

The Meaning of ‘Digital First’ for G+D

For G+D, “digital first” is about empowering consumers with immediate purchasing capabilities while maintaining a hybrid approach of digital and physical payment options. Bugat explained that G+D enables real-time payment access for users while also supporting traditional physical card issuance for versatility. This reflects the modern consumer demand for instantaneous access combined with the reliability of physical options. Bugat described this balance as central to G+D’s mission of meeting evolving payment expectations.

Securing the Real-Time Payments Revolution

They, like many, are clearly excited by the prospect of real-time payments but while they promise efficiency, Bugat pointed out that they also introduce security challenges, particularly related to fraud. G+D leverages its global expertise to provide solutions that ensure secure transactions without adding unnecessary friction. Identity verification plays a pivotal role in these efforts, allowing G+D to enhance trust and security in an increasingly fast-paced payment environment.

Cryptocurrencies and Regulation

Another area they have to consider is the rise in adoption of blockchain and cryptocurrency. As more and more people get on board with this, G+D are addressing the need for secure storage of digital assets. For this they have Convego TruSafe, a cold storage solution that protects users’ funds against potential losses. We also looked at this in previous Virtual Arena webinars with G+D, where the prospect of securing digital assets was discussed. This offering underscores G+D’s commitment to blending security and innovation in the evolving digital currency landscape.

With this comes increasingly complex regulatory requirements in the US payment ecosystem. To proactively approach this, G+D collaborates closely with regulators and standardization bodies like EMVCo to ensure compliance while maintaining a seamless user experience. Drawing from its global expertise, G+D delivers solutions like two-factor authentication, which align with emerging regulatory frameworks such as PSD2, ensuring both consumer protection and innovation.

Predictions for U.S. Payments in 2025

Bugat also looks ahead and suggests several key trends that will dominate the US payments space in 2025. She predicted continued growth in digital payments adoption, the increasing relevance of artificial intelligence, a stronger emphasis on sustainability, and enhanced efforts to combat fraud. Bugat noted the transformative role AI will play, both as a tool for fraudsters and as a critical defense mechanism for secure tech companies like G+D. She also highlighted Money20/20 as an invaluable event for staying connected with industry peers and shaping future strategies.

Catch more of our great interviews from Money20/20 right here.