Istanbul Fintech Week 2026: Nobel Laureate Daron Acemoğlu and Global Leaders Chart the Future of AI and Finance

Istanbul Fintech Week 2026 (IFW) concluded in Istanbul, gathering over 1,450 attendees to discuss the convergence of AI, tokenization, and sustainable finance. For fintech leaders, the event highlighted Türkiye’s strategic positioning as a hub for decentralized AI applications and cross-border payment interoperability, signaling a shift toward more autonomous and embedded financial ecosystems in the region.

What was announced

Istanbul Fintech Week (IFW) 2026, held at the Hilton Istanbul Maslak from 5–7 October, convened the global financial technology community under the theme “Smart, Embedded and Tokenized.” The event, supported by BEX Digital Wallet, attracted more than 1,450 attendees and featured 67 speakers across a format that included five thematic summits, C-Suite roundtables, and the Pioneers of Digital Finance awards.

The programme commenced on 5 October with the Sustainable Finance Summit, which focused on ESG priorities and capital market transition strategies. Key sessions included a keynote by Furkan Karayaka of the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and a panel titled "Five Weeks to Antalya: What the Transition Needs From Finance."

On 6 October, Professor Daron Acemoğlu, a 2024 Nobel Laureate, delivered a keynote examining the sustainability of AI investment. He argued that AI should complement worker skills rather than serve as a centralized automation tool, identifying a significant opportunity for emerging economies like Türkiye in the decentralized application layer of AI. Discussions also explored the future of cash, led by BKM General Manager Ozan Deniz, and the role of embedded payments, presented by Kerem Orbay of Garanti BBVA Payment Systems.

The final day, 7 October, featured the Digital Banking and Digital Assets, Tokenization & Stablecoins Summits. Notable contributors included Anna Maj of BRIDGE API and Reece Merrick of Ripple, who discussed cross-border finance and compliance technologies.

"making payments smarter is becoming as important as making them faster and more secure."

Prof. Dr. Hatice Karahan, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT).

The companies involved

Istanbul Fintech Week serves as a primary gathering point for the Turkish and international financial technology sectors, operating through its digital platform and annual physical summits. The 2026 edition was powered by BEX Digital Wallet, a key participant in the regional digital payment space.

Garanti BBVA Payment Systems is a significant entity within the Turkish market, operating as part of the broader Garanti BBVA group. The company has a history of integrating advanced technology into consumer finance, including digital assets and biometric solutions. Its involvement in IFW 2026 underscores its position in the embedded payments and commerce sector.

The event also featured heavy representation from Turkish public and semi-public institutions. This includes the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT), the nation's monetary authority responsible for payment infrastructure resilience, and BKM (Interbank Card Center), which manages the country's switch and settlement systems. Additionally, firms like KPMG Türkiye maintain a presence in the local ecosystem, providing advisory services as the market transitions toward tokenized assets and AI-driven financial models.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed the technological evolution of the Turkish fintech market, particularly the activities of Garanti BBVA. In late 2024, the publication reported on how Garanti BBVA Collaborates With Ripple and IBM to Enhance the Performance and Security of Its Growing Digital Platform, a move aimed at strengthening its digital infrastructure.

Earlier that year, FF News covered the bank's hardware innovations, noting that Fingerprints Supports Thales Biometric Payment Card First Launch in Türkiye With Garanti BBVA. This followed the significant 2023 milestone where Garanti BBVA's subsidiary launches Garanti BBVA Digital Assets, marking a clear entry into the tokenization and digital custody space that was a central theme at this year's Istanbul Fintech Week.

What this means

The emphasis on "agentic" payments at IFW 2026 signals a shift in the fintech hierarchy, where speed is no longer the sole differentiator. As central banks from Türkiye, Slovenia, and Georgia explore instant-payment interlinking, traditional correspondent banking networks face increasing pressure to justify their costs and latency. The industry is moving toward a model where AI does not just facilitate transactions but actively manages them through autonomous authorization. However, this transition raises critical questions regarding settlement finality and the resilience of underlying infrastructures. For emerging markets, the focus on the decentralized application layer of AI suggests a strategic pivot away from competing with global tech giants on raw computing power.