EXCLUSIVE: “TradFi Versus DeFi: From Disruption to Definition” – Jessica Blue, Money20/20 in ‘The Paytech Magazine’

Las Vegas thrives on spectacle, so what better city to host Money20/20 USA, a show renowned for its extravagant imagination and memorable moments, which this year marks a major industry shift

Money20/20 was established in 2011, when the very concept of fintech was new; today, it’s a crucible where the future of finance is forged in real time. The 2025 show returns to the US under the banner ‘Create the Future’, and this time, it will be offering a live insight into how fintech’s evolution is being shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and alternative finance (AltFi), real-time rails and payments orchestration.

The Venetian expo complex is once again becoming a ground zero for payments, banking and embedded finance strategy as thousands of C-suite leaders, founders and regulators convene to hear from leading keynotes, visit themed summits and the supercharged show floor, and translate bold ideas into commercial deals. This powerful forum has built a reputation as the go-to for gaining the industry inside track, as well as being a recognised ‘save the date’ for major industry announcements. Its guest list is packed with fintech movers and shakers.

Over the years, the razmatazz for which M20/20 has become famous has brought to life the latest industry trends in sometimes bizarre, but always innovative and unforgettable ways. Last year’s USA event saw attendees demonstrating the bridge between human connection and digital innovation by scanning their badges before connecting with their counterparts physically through high fives, hugs, or handshakes – interactions which were translated into binary code, and turned into a live digital artwork display.

Participants earned gold coins redeemable for limited edition booty. While 2025 will no doubt be equally entertaining, organisers say the agenda is configured to push beyond dreamweaving and place greater focus on deal-making – maximising Money20/20’s unique ability to drive the kinds of tangible commercial outcomes that have fuelled industry growth.

Its serious underlying purpose will see generative and autonomous AI frame risk, compliance and customer experience debates. Others will explore how open finance and embedded payments are nudging business models toward platforms – with sessions and sponsor showcases heavily themed around those dynamics. Beyond this ideas-sharing, the now-established Money Awards will once again showcase the best of sector innovation, helping to surface finalists whose work represents the most inspirational use cases. For journalists and dealmakers alike, the show is as much about trendspotting as it is about unveiling innovations with the potential to scale.

The show’s Executive Vice President Jessica Blue describes how Money20/20 USA 2025 will lean into its role as not just as a spotlight, but as a platform for execution

“What we’re now seeing in financial services is the convergence of DeFi and TradFi, and AI becoming part of what everyone is doing rather just hype around a concept – it’s now reality, and this is one example of why, when it comes to our content this year, it’s about creating conversations on the stages which are actually about defining what the future of money is,” says Blue. “We’re very focussed on having practical insights that people can take away and implement.

“This really is an interesting inflection point in the industry and we feel very strongly that the content we’ve put together reflects that and helps shape it, with the industry leaders we’re featuring on our stages all looking at practical ideas for rolling up sleeves and using AI technology to improve compliance, credit risk, and operational efficiency.”

With more than 350 speakers and 80 AI-themed sessions, technology’s role across almost every vertical – from payments to embedded finance and banking operations – will be considered.

Making the connection

In an era where cryptocurrencies and blockchain are emerging as potential silverbullets for democratising access to finance and enabling real-time global payments, one of the biggest format changes this time is the introduction of The Intersection, a dedicated space for exploring how DeFi finance and traditional banking can not only coexist but collaborate.

“We’ve never before created a stage around a single topic, but this convergence is too important to ignore,” says Blue.

Instead of treating DeFi as a sideline or speculative discussion, this stage will ensure it is integrated into the core conversation. With its own lounge, meetups, and networking, Money20/20 will be actively signalling how the divide between TradFi and DeFi is narrowing. 2025’s keynote lineup reflects the event’s ability to draw together voices mapping the full arc of financial transformation. Speakers like Michael Saylor, US entrepreneur and former CEO of MicroStrategy, Google Maps creator and computer programmer Bret Taylor, Lynn Martin, President of the New York Stock Exchange, AI entrepreneur and Anthropic founder Daniela Amodei, Chris Britt, founder of mobile banking app Chime, and Celia Edwards Karam, President of Retail Bank at Capital One, cover synthetic finance to embedded payments and AI-governed retail banking.

“We are at a point where fintech’s capability to effect change is structural, not incremental”

While this year’s format once again looks to take the conversation forward, there has been one constant in Money20/20’s path so far; its focus on the vital role of startups as both barometers and catalysts. Past shows have launched firms that later
secured major capital and influence. Its role as a platform for fledgling businesses to transform into household names, in everything from regulatory solutions to embedded payments infrastructure, by enabling connections, has become a core part of its story.

“Startups are the heartbeat of the ecosystem – 12 from last year have already gone on to raise major funding,” says Blue.

Tips for those to watch at this year’s event include Virtue AI, Tesser (stablecoin rails for banks), and Parcher AI (compliance automation). And, Money20/20 is never just about its official panels; the conversations that take place in between are often where the real magic happens. Some of the most talked-about moments from past shows weren’t planned speeches but spontaneous debates – like the Sunday Night Live moments, where rivalling views from TradFi and fintechs clashed in ways that exposed real tensions and opportunities.

It is also a catalyst for game-changing networking. Parties, meetups, side-events, and street takeovers have always been part of the show, but the 2025 programme promotes this more intentionally by moving industry nights earlier, integrating networking into the show via lounges, and creating off-show-floor entertainment including a Venetian restaurant row street party.

“These cultural touchstones are critical — they’re where trust gets built, deals get mooted, ideas get shared,” adds Blue.

Money20/20’s global footprint is steadily building as it aims to take its transformative influence into new geographies with their rapidly emerging financial markets. It recently added a successful Riyadh event to its existing European and USA and Asia annual shows. And Blue explains why the Money20/20 concept matters now more than ever

“We are at a point where fintech’s capability to effect change is structural, not incremental. Technologies like AI, stablecoins, DeFi, embedded finance and global payment rails aren’t future possibilities; they’re live business imperatives.

“The crossover between established institutions and insurgent models is no longer everything from decentralised assets and just theoretical; it’s being operationalised.

Past shows showed policy as background noise; now regulation is centre stage. Whether in Asia, Europe or the US, Money20/20 is where policy meets practice.

“The success of previous Money20/20 events shows that attendees value not just what is said, but how, where and with whom.

“Las Vegas 2025 seems set to be a landmark, not simply for its scale, but for the clarity of its purpose. Create the Future isn’t just the event theme. It’s a statement of where the industry is, where it’s heading, and what it needs to become.”

EYE OPENERS

Hot tips for what to look out for in Las Vegas

The Intersection stage How does DeFi/TradFi collaboration get articulated? Will there be live deal announcements, or at least concrete roadmaps?

The Emergent Stage Built in the round, it literally gives attendees a 360-degree view of pressing industry themes n A newly designed Startup Hub Featuring around 20 startups as well as VC funders, the Hub will see Virtue AI, Tesser and Parcher AI among others, not just demo-ing, but being evaluated, funded, or acquired

AI sessions with use cases Especially ones focussed on risk, compliance, credit modelling and efficiency. Which firms have moved beyond prototypes, and how are incumbents responding?

Policy and regulation debates Especially around the opportunity – and challenge – of stablecoins, open finance and AI governance

Networking transformation Look out for new event formats – Industry Night, street parties and curated meetups

Given the extensive possibilities on offer, Blue advises delegates make full use of the event app (GPS, mapping of booths, bookmarking) to help them plan, divide, conquer and adjust on the go.

This article was published in The Paytech Magazine Issue #17, Page 11-12