Welcome FINTECHTALKERS!

The greatest show in financial services—Money20/20—raises the curtain in Las Vegas in less than a week. For over a decade—and still today—it’s the byword for the industry’s future.

In this episode, I sat down with Zach Anderson Pettet, VP of Fintech Strategy at Money20/20. Zach curates the storylines, steers the content, and keeps a finger on the pulse of what’s real vs. hype

Zach shares how Money20/20 evolved from a small payments conference into the global fintech platform, with events from Las Vegas to Amsterdam to Riyadh, where industry-defining conversations happen every year. He previews the trends this year — from the comeback of Stablecoins and tokenized assets to AI agents reshaping commerce, Zach explains why this year’s show is more than just a reunion—it’s where the future of finance takes shape.

We discuss:

* How Money20/20 acts as both a mirror and a molder of fintech’s evolution.

* The resurgence of Stablecoins amid regulatory clarity and the Genius Act.

* Why AI + blockchain could lead to self-driving money.

* How the lines between TradFi and DeFi are disappearing.

* The launch of the new Intersection Stage, where both worlds meet.

* Sneak previews of keynote appearances from Max Levchin (Affirm), Jennifer Bailey (Apple Pay), Congressman Mike Flood (Genius and Clarity Act and coming on the FINTECHTALK show next week), and Michael Saylor (MicroStrategy).

As Zach puts it, fintech has grown up—it’s not just disruption anymore. “We’re not fintech; we are financial services now.”

It’s still not late to be part of the show.

https://www.money2020.com/

🎧 Listen now to the full episode

⏱️ Timestamp Table

0:00 – 2:00 – Welcome Zach!Zach Anderson Pettet on how Money20/20 became fintech’s global platform.

2:01 – 6:00 – The Fintech Family ReunionHow networking and serendipity at Money20/20 drive real deals and ideas.

6:01 – 10:00 – From Payments to PlatformsHow Money20/20 evolved into a mirror—and driver—of fintech transformation.

10:01 – 14:00 – Global Fintech PulseRiyadh, Bangkok, Amsterdam, and Vegas—why global collaboration matters now more than ever.

14:01 – 20:00 – Startup Momentum & EvolutionWhat it means to be a startup in the age of $100M Series A rounds and AI-built companies.

20:01 – 27:00 – Embedded Finance & The Creator EconomyHow fintech is becoming hyper-segmented—solving problems for creators, freelancers, and gig workers.

27:01 – 33:00 – The Stablecoin ResurgenceHow banks, regulators, and startups are aligning around tokenization and blockchain rails.

33:01 – 39:00 – Policy, Regulation & The Genius ActCongressman Flood, deregulation, and a new tone in Washington toward digital assets.

39:01 – 46:00 – TradFi Meets DeFiHow “coopetition” is replacing competition, and why the Intersection Stage represents the future of finance.

46:01 – 53:00 – AI Takes the Main StageFrom Anthropic’s Mike Krieger to OpenAI’s leadership, exploring how UX and design are reshaping AI in finance.

53:01 – 1:02:00 – Autonomous Finance & Agentic BankingThe vision of “self-driving money” and the trust frameworks forming around AI agents.

1:02:01 – 1:07:00 – Big Names, Big MomentsJennifer Bailey (Apple Pay), Max Levchin (Affirm), and Michael Saylor (MicroStrategy) headline this year’s show.

1:07:01 – End – Final Thoughts & InvitationWhy every fintech founder, operator, and investor should be in Vegas this October.

FINTECHTALK: A Top 10% Global Podcast Shaping the Future of Fintech, AI, and Crypto and was recently ranked in the Best 100 Future Tech Podcasts by Million Podcasts.

Ranked by ListenNotes

Looking to amplify your brand’s reach? Partner with our podcast and connect with an engaged and loyal audience. Contact us today to explore sponsorship opportunities and elevate your brand! [email protected]

Enjoy and always be in the know,

Paddy RamanathanFounder of iValley and Host of the FINTECHTALK™ Show (on Substack, Apple Podcast, YouTube, and Spotify)

Interested in sponsorship opportunities and be associated with sculpting the future? Please reach out to [email protected].

Thanks to ChatGPT for suggestions.

(Violin piece in podcast, courtesy of my daughter Ilina)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit substack.fintechtalk.ivalley.co/subscribe