One week on from The Network Forum Africa, which took place in London, we debrief on the major talking points coming out of the event. What are the investment trends, regulatory changes, and digital asset innovation across the continent?  

In episode 7 of our Xchange podcast, Barnaby Nelson (CEO), Emma Johnson (Head of Industry Advocacy and Insight) and Mark Brannigan (Head of Xchange product) talk through

• The global perception: following the publication of the 3rd edition of World to Africa, what is the evolving view of Africa as an investment destination? 
• Market changes: where are the markets focused in terms of infrastructure, market harmonsiation, and settlement cycles (including the challenges facing Nigeria’s move to T+1)
• A different angle on digital assets: regulators are being praised for the efforts to support development
• Future outlook: index inclusion, market modernisation, and investor protection

Keywords: regulation, market infrastructure, tokenization, tokenisation, T+1, settlement cycles, post-trade, DLT, digital assets, The Network Forum

Resources & links:

• The World to Africa research
• Network Forum Africa

Connect with the speakers:

• Emma Johnson - LinkedIn  
• Barnaby Nelson - LinkedIn  
• Mark Brannigan - LinkedIn

Recording directly from Hong Kong, after a few weeks of meetings and engagements across the region, we debrief on the major talking points coming out of those conversations. What’s the business case for T+1 in Asia, or are there other digital priorities? And what could 24/5 in the US mean for the region? 

In episode 6 of our Xchange podcast, Barnaby Nelson (CEO), Jean-Remi Lopez (Senior Advisor for APAC) and Mark Brannigan (Head of Xchange product) talk through

• Why T+1: strategic significance in Asian markets, does it make sense now, what’s the business case?
• Regulatory challenges and market practices affecting settlement cycles
• More pressing, digital priorities: how digital assets and tokenisation are addressing existing post-trade bottlenecks
• 24/5: what could it mean for the region if implemented in the US? 

Keywords: tokenization, tokenisation, T+1, settlement cycles, post-trade, DLT, digital assets, 24/5, digital assets, modernisation

The European Central Bank (ECB) announcement on the acceptance of tokenised securities as eligible collateral is big! What will it change? What do you need to know, and what do you need to do?   

In episode 5 of our Xchange podcast, Barnaby Nelson (CEO), Emma Johnson (Head of Industry Advocacy and Insight) and Mark Brannigan (Head of Xchange Product) talk through:

• What this all means, and why it is big news 
• 52% of firms were preparing for collateral tokenisation by 2026, will this increase?
• The current opportunity costs of collateral vs the potential efficiency/cost saving tokenisation will bring? 
• The key questions; a more integrated market, the roadmap forward, how risk management remains key, the viability and potential challenge to traditional finance model

Find out more about our research on the topic here: https://thevx.io/campaign/the-case-for-collateral-tokenisation/

Keywords: tokenization, tokenisation, collateral, ECB, European Commission, securities, DLT, market integration, risk management, financial technology, digital assets

Is 2026 the year that the industry improves asset servicing operations? Or, being right in the middle of movie award season, are we still going through Groundhog Day?  

Episode 4 of our Xchange podcast with Barnaby Nelson (CEO), Martin Lawrence (Chief Customer Officer) and Mark Brannigan (Head of Xchange Product) talks through:

• Some key happenings: 24 by 5 trading and 23 by 5 clearing, T+1 progress
• Main discussion - asset servicing: has the problem statement for asset servicing changed in the past 10 years? How does the industry move the dial, to improve and reduce cost across the industry? 
• Looking forward: US Treasury Central Clearing not getting the attention it should

Keywords: asset servicing, AI, corporate actions, financial technology, institutional finance, risk management, regulatory framework, blockchain, innovation

Money is a technology that humans invented to help us navigate an increasingly complex world. This episode explores stablecoins as another significant step in financial technology, their importance, the risks and challenges, and the institutional perspective on their adoption. 

Episode 3 of our Xchange podcast with Barnaby Nelson (CEO), Emma Johnson (Head of Industry Advocacy and Insight) and Mark Brannigan (Head of Xchange product) talks through:

• Some key happenings: AccessFintech and Blackrock, the innovation exemption
• Main discussion: the institutional view on stablecoins; risks, recognition on the balance sheet, clarity, adoption, challenges, interplay with CBDCs, growth due to need for 24/7 cash 
• Looking forward: 2026 as the year of execution (USTC, T+1, 23/5 clearing, 24/5 trading)

Keywords: money, stablecoins, CBDC, digital assets, financial technology, institutional finance, risk management, regulatory framework, blockchain, innovation

Does the administrative coordination of Pheasants Island offer a glimpse of European progress and cooperation? Maybe not, but in this episode we talk about all things Europe and provide a wide ranging overview of the main post-trade stories in the region. 

Episode 2 of our new Xchange podcast with Barnaby Nelson (CEO), Emma Johnson (Head of Industry Advocacy and Insight) and Mark Brannigan (Head of Xchange product) talks about:

• Feedback from the November ECSDA conference - looking forward, not backward
• Updates on digital innovation and readiness - how the region stands moving forward
• Regulation update: what to know, what's coming

13.1 billion dollars was the expected total spend for Halloween in 2025 in the US. How does the horror of halloween align with the potential fear of T+1 and funding? 

Episode 1 of our new Xchange podcast with Barnaby Nelson (CEO), Emma Johnson (Head of Industry Advocacy and Insight) and Mark Brannigan (Head of Xchange product) chat about:

• Some key happenings: America moving at lightspeed, ESMA's draft regulatory technical standards on settlement efficiency:
• Main discussion: understanding T+1 and the funding risks
• Looking forward: tokenised collateral

Our latest World to Africa 2025 podcast unpacks the forces driving record allocations into the continent, featuring Standard Bank, BNY, and The ValueExchange. 

🎙️ In this episode: 

 ✅ $3.7B of new flows from underweight investors 
 ✅ 40% portfolio growth projected by 2027 
 ✅ 75% AUM growth from asset managers 
 ✅ Private markets and digital infrastructure leading the way 

Our Path to 2030 podcast series with FIS® brings together experts from APAC, North America, and Europe to unpack how firms are preparing their operations for the decade ahead. 

What you’ll hear:
 
 🔶 APAC: Jean-Remi Lopez and Jon Hodges  - 61% of back offices need urgent change while innovation spend surges

🔶 North America: Barnaby Nelson and Matthew Stauffer  - $155m annual budgets colliding with legacy tech and extended hours

🔶 Europe: Martin Lawrence and Mack Gill  - Half of firms still anchored in legacy, T+1 demanding real-time automation