As Europe prepares for the full implementation of the Instant Payments Regulation (IPR), one critical tool stands out as a cornerstone of secure, real-time financial transactions: the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI). In this episode, we welcome François Masquelier, Chair of the EACT and a leading voice in European treasury, to explore how LEIs - and soon, vLEIs - can eliminate fraud, streamline payee verification, and future-proof corporate payment infrastructures.

François shares the EACT's perspective on the evolution of payments, the challenges corporate treasurers face with cross-border transactions, and why a standardized, global identifier is critical to building trust across financial ecosystems. As the EU moves toward mandatory payee verification by October 2025, this conversation offers essential insights for anyone working in finance, compliance, or treasury management.

Cross-border payments are entering a new era, shaped by real-time rails, digital assets, and the global shift to ISO 20022. At the same time, compliance standards such as FATF Recommendation 16 are raising expectations for transparency and trust across payment networks.

In this episode of Trust Talks, Shriyanka Hore, Global Head of Industry Engagement and Managing Director at Swift Corporate Office, joins Alexandre Kech to unpack how the BIC and LEI work together to balance compliance with innovation. The conversation explores why FATF 16 is so critical for transparency, how global identifiers can strengthen identity and routing integrity, and what practical steps financial institutions and digital asset platforms can take to integrate them into AML and ISO 20022 frameworks.

Looking ahead, they consider the role of interoperability, the promise of verifiable credentials such as the vLEI, and how digital identity will shape the future of payments.

In this episode of Trust Talks, Alexandre Kech, CEO of GLEIF, sits down with Sergey Nazarov, Co-Founder of Chainlink, to discuss how decentralized infrastructure and verifiable organizational identities are reshaping digital trust. The conversation examines how integrating the vLEI with Chainlink’s Automated Compliance Engine and CCIP facilitates tamper-proof cross-border transactions, streamlines compliance, and mitigates the risk of fraud.

They cover the real-world impact of bringing organizational identity onchain, the importance of blockchain interoperability, and what the GLEIF–Chainlink partnership unlocks for the digital asset industry. This is a must-listen for anyone working to modernize compliance, improve onboarding, and scale trust in financial systems.

As global commerce accelerates, the need for trusted, cross-border digital identity systems has never been more urgent. In this episode, Alexandre Kech sits down with Luca Castellani, Legal Officer at UNCITRAL, to unpack the groundbreaking potential of the Model Law on the Use and Cross-Border Recognition of Identity Management and Trust Services (MLIT).

Together, they explore how MLIT, when paired with the verifiable Legal Entity Identifier (vLEI), creates a new baseline for legal certainty, technical interoperability, and trust in digital transactions.

Tune in to discover how governments, regulators, and businesses can move beyond paper-based processes to a future where identity is verifiable, standardized, and globally recognized.

*The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.*

This episode examines the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital security, and digital identity. As AI's development continues to accelerate, so too does its potential for misuse. From identity theft to the nefarious creation of content designed to deceive or misdirect, our capacity to separate the real from the fraudulent is under serious—and growing—threat. 

We're joined by AI expert Prof. Damian Borth to discuss the vital role of the vLEI in curbing AI-driven fraud, verifying the sources and authenticity of AI-generated content, and confirming the identities of organizations and their human or AI-generated representatives.

In a world where AI-generated deepfakes and evolving cyber threats render traditional caller ID obsolete, secure, real-time authentication has never been more critical. In this episode, join Randy Warshaw, CEO of Provenant, as we delve into how cryptographically secured verifiable Legal Entity Identifiers (vLEIs) are revolutionizing telecom security. Learn how these tamper-proof, globally standardized digital attestations are combating fraud—from voice scams to SIM swapping—ensuring that every call and message can be trusted. Tune in for a deep dive into Provenant’s cutting-edge PoCs in the US and Europe and discover the future of secure, trusted communications in the telecom industry.

Step into Trust Talks – the podcast where we explore the future of trusted organizational identities and the digital transformation that underpins them. GLEIF CEO Alexandre Kech invites you to discover how embedding trust into business relationships can streamline global trade and fuel economic growth. Each episode features candid conversations with industry experts, regulators, and forward-thinking innovators. Whether navigating the complexities of modern business or simply interested in the evolving world of digital identity, Trust Talks offers the insights you need to stay ahead.