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Recorded live at Money2020 EU!

Payments in the air are often overlooked and undervalued, but they are a significant part of the travel experience for many. What might the future of airline payments look like as airlines move towards a marketplace model driven by customer-centricity and simplicity?

At Money2020 EU, The Paypers Managing Director, Melisande Mual, spoke with two experts in the airline payments arena: Paul Van Alfen, Managing Director of Up in the Air and Andy Davies, Global Head of Payments for Endava to answer these questions.

They explore the challenges and costs associated with payments in the airline industry, the dependency on cards as a payment method, the need for secure and comfortable payment options, and the role of technology in enabling global payments.

We also delve into the impact that COVID-19 had on refunds and the importance of balancing cost and consumer preferences in adopting new payment methods.

Signs are emerging that the US economy is beginning to feel the pain from the high interest rate regime. Procyclical data has been underperforming for more than two years now. The beacon of hope and the driver of the US exceptionalism thesis, the consumer and labor market, have surprised to the downside as well in recent weeks. The macro and yields based support the Greenback has enjoyed for the most part of this year is therefore starting to wane.

However, political turmoil in Europe, the possibility of a second Trump presidency, and FX weakness in Asia have added to the dollar's appeal this month. For the currency to start giving up some of its 2024 gains, we would have to see a continuation of the global disinflation trend and for politics to move out of the spotlight.  

Emerging markets like Africa are strategically important geographies brimming with immense talent. In this week's episode, fintech guru Matteo Rizzi and Money2020's Micky Tesfaye discuss the importance of supporting entrepreneurs in emerging markets, particularly in Africa. Matteo shares his experience with TimePledge, an initiative that provides free coaching and support to African entrepreneurs.

We discuss the challenges and opportunities of the African market, including the need for financial inclusion and upskilling of talent. Matteo shares the inspiring success stories of entrepreneurs in Africa and the potential for blockchain and CBDCs in remittances and cross-border payments to drive innovation in that region and beyond.

Recorded live at Money2020 EU on 6/5/2024!

We cover the use of stablecoins for remittances in emerging markets, the tokenization of real-world assets for loans, the challenges financial institutions face in implementing Web3 Technolgies, and the potential for public blockchains to connect closed systems.

Additionally, we cover the importance of education and consumer trust in the adoption of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the role of interoperability and governance in the future of Web3, envisioning the roadmap to a future where blockchain technology is seamlessly integrated into financial services and everyday users unaware of its presence in the background of our financial lives. Don't miss it!

The aftershock of President Emmanuel Macron calling for a snap election continues to work its way through markets. FX options are pricing in higher volatility and a stronger bias against the common currency as the French yield premium rose by the most on record last week.

In the United States, the narrative of the disinflation story continues to gain credibility among investors again as the consumer, producer and import price indicators for the month of May surprised to the downside. 

These two events led to the largest government bond sell-off so far this year and have overshadowed the renewed hawkishness of both the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank. All of this gives us a volatile backdrop going into the Bank of England decision and French and UK general elections in June and July.  

Recorded live at Money2020 EU on 6/4/24!

Tokenization is the digital representation of an asset and can be used for various purposes, including tokenizing cash, real-world assets, and central bank digital currencies. There have been several barriers to widespread adoption, such as the lack of standards, governance, and regulation, but 2024 has seen significant progress.

We cover the advantages of tokenization for corporate treasurers, including enhanced efficiency, security, and transparency; the importance of regulatory clarity and the role of legal frameworks in the adoption of tokenization technologies; the future potential of tokenization; and the need for financial institutions to prepare and partner with fintechs to take advantage of the latest innovations in this space.

Recorded live on 6/4/2024 at Money2020 EU!

Join Convera's Market Insights team for special candid discussion on the policy and geopolitical events shaping the global markets, including the European elections, ECB rate decision, US-China tensions, and the impact of political uncertainty on monetary policy. We cover the implications of the impending US and UK elections in 2024, non-farm payrolls report, and potential equity market sell-off. Plus, what risks to look out for in the coming weeks.

Recorded live on 6/4/24 at Money2020 EU!

Alisa DiCaprio is the Chief Economist for R3, one of the biggest technology and service providers in the blockchain space, focused on enterprise blockchain software. R3 traces its origins to a consortium of banks, and the company's focus on secure and confidential blockchain-based transactions has made them an ideal partner for many financial services organizations.

We discuss the future of digital money, including CBDCs, stable coins, and the role of AI in programmable money. We also explore the challenges and opportunities of CBDC adoption, the geopolitical implications, and the evolving role of regulators who play a crucial role in understanding and balancing consumer protection, economic stability, and innovation in the digital asset space.

In this week's episode, we explore the growth of open banking in Latin America, featuring insights from Germana Cruz, CEO and Head of Financial Institutions for Standard Chartered Bank Latin America, and Fady Abdel-Nour, Venture Capitalist and LatAM fintech investor with Antler Elevate.

Get your copy of Fintech2025+ https://convera.com/lp/fintech-2025-report/

Convera's new report, Fintech2025+ Trends, technology and transformation in global commercial payments is a detailed analysis of the transformative role of fintech in global commerce, focusing on the cross-border payments landscape as a critical element of international trade and finance.

We also explore key trends such as blockchain integration, real-time payments, and open banking initiatives, alongside the regulatory dynamics shaping the fintech ecosystem this decade and beyond.

Join head of Market Insights, Steve Dooley, and Head of Content & Industry Engagement, Alex Lawrence, as they break down the best bites of the upcoming report.