In this episode, we engage with Tony McLaughlin, a well known expert on the subject, who previously served 20 years as Citi's payments brain. Together we explore the transformative potential of stablecoins in the financial landscape, the evolution of payment technologies, the regulatory landscape surrounding stablecoins, and the future role of banks in this new ecosystem. The discussion highlights the importance of user experience and adoption challenges, as well as the sovereignty issues posed by global competition in the stablecoin market.

This episode delves into the concept of Request-to-Pay (RTP), exploring its historical roots, current challenges, and future prospects. The discussion highlights the potential of RTP to streamline payment processes but also addresses the obstacles it faces in gaining traction among banks and consumers. Key insights include the importance of harmonizing RTP with existing payment systems, the role of banks versus non-bank players, and the need for a clear economic model to support its adoption. The focus is on the EU version, SEPA Request-to-Pay (SRTP), which has been implemented as an EPC scheme.

This episode features a transition in the leadership at the European Payments Council (EPC), with Javier Santamaria reflecting on his 13 years tenure as its chairman and Gijs Boudewijn stepping into the role. In return, Javier is succeeding Gijs in this podcast representing mainly the bankers' perspectives. The conversation explores the evolution of payments in Europe over the past two decades, the challenges posed by new technologies and regulations, and the importance of maintaining a strong voice in the face of political pressures. The participants discuss the future of payments, including the role of ISO 20022, digital currencies, and the need for collaboration and evidence-based regulation.

In this episode, we host Jens Holeczek, the leader of the German giroAPI project to discuss this initiative and its differentiation from SPAA. The conversation explores the broader scope of giroAPI, its current status, and the commercial model that underpins it. We also compare the governance structures of giroAPI and SPAA, emphasizing the need for collaboration. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of these initiatives and the importance of their harmonization and convergence.

For this episode, we invited Jeremy Light, a well-known payments expert, especially also for this topic. We discuss the evolving landscape of digital wallets for cards and account-to-account payments, and the implications for the Digital Euro. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities presented by open banking, the future of cash, and the need for interoperability in cross-border payments. Additionally, we delve into the potential of micro payments in the subscription economy and the importance of creating cost-effective solutions for low-value transactions.

In this episode we discuss the need for a new approach to industrial policy in the payments sector. We explore Europe's potential to leapfrog and lead in payment technologies, rather than playing catch-up all the time. For this to happen we see the need for the authorities to regulate less and orchestrate more by acting as a convener to foster innovation and growth in the European payments landscape.

In this episode, we engage with Chris Skinner, one of the most famous payment experts in Europe, to explore the evolving landscape of digital trust and identity in the financial sector. We discuss the challenges of onboarding and KYC processes, the potential of the upcoming EU ID wallet, and the fragmentation of digital identity solutions across Europe. The conversation delves into the complexities of trust in banking versus government, the implications of deep fakes, and the future of digital identity in an increasingly digital world.

In this episode, we welcome Claus George to discuss the topic of Commercial Bank Money Tokens (CBMT), which is quite a revolutionary concept of using bank money with distributed ledger technology (DLT). We explore the implications for banks, corporates, and the future of financial transactions, comparing tokenized deposits with stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The discussion highlights the challenges of standardization, the role of banks in a tokenized world, and the potential especially for B2B supply chain payments on corporate blockchains.

In this episode, the hosts discuss the use of Payment Initiation Services (PIS) at the Point of Sale (POS), based on the European Retail Payments Framework (ERPF), a market initiative of the European Third Party Providers Association (ETPPA). They explore the European payment strategy, the role of open banking, and the challenges faced in implementing PIS in physical retail environments. The conversation highlights the importance of creating a framework for PIS providers, the need for collaboration among various stakeholders, and the significance of enhancing the consumer and merchant experience in payment processes.

In this episode of the Payments Trilogue, the hosts interview Martina Weimert, the CEO of the European Payments Initiative (EPI), which has just been launching WERO their new payments wallet. They are discussing the challenges and opportunities in the European payments landscape and they explore the fragmentation of payment solutions, the integration of the digital euro, the role of fintechs, and the importance of winning consumer trust across diverse markets. The conversation also touches on the political dynamics in Germany and the future of payment solutions in Europe, emphasizing the need for collaboration and innovation to compete with global players.