S03 Ep10: Overview of EDC's 18th Advanced Payments & Fintech Report

Each year, our Advanced Payments and Fintech Report provides a comprehensive view of the latest trends defining the payments landscape. Now in its 18th edition, the report examines 14 themes across four domains, highlighting how innovation, evolving business models, and shifting consumer expectations are driving rapid industry change. In 2025, AI, digital identity, embedded finance, and emerging infrastructure are shaping how money moves, how businesses operate, and how consumers interact with financial services. In this episode of the EDC Podcast, host Davide sits down with Tue To, head of Edgar, Dunn & Company’s Fintech practice, to explore the 18th edition of the Advanced Payments and Fintech Report. They dive into the trends reshaping payments and fintech, from AI-driven orchestration and agentic AI to subscription BNPL, connected car payments, and embedded finance. Tue explains how these innovations are making payments faster, smarter, and more seamless, and why consumer trust and convenience are now essential for business success. They also unpack the big numbers behind these trends, including $6 trillion in retail stablecoin transactions and the $5.7 trillion SME financing gap, and what these mean for businesses and consumers. Tue shares how AI, biometrics, and digital IDs are transforming onboarding and fraud prevention, why collaboration between fintechs and banks is key, and how payments are evolving from a back-office utility into a strategic growth engine. Tune in for a forward-looking conversation on the future of payments and the trends shaping 2026. In this episode:  How AI is turning payment systems into smart, self-optimizing tools Why agentic AI, BNPL, and connected car payments are no longer just experiments How biometrics and digital IDs are making onboarding faster and safer Why fintechs and banks need to collaborate or risk falling behind The growing role of stablecoins and digital currencies in everyday payments Trust and convenience are now make-or-break for businesses​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tue-to-541a214  Website: http://www.edgardunn.com/  Report: https://www.edgardunn.com/reports/advanced-payments-and-fintech-report 

In this episode, Samee Zafar from Edgar, Dunn & Company speaks with Amir Wain, CEO of i2c, about the transformative role of AI in financial services and payments. They discuss the definition of agentic AI versus generative AI, its benefits for businesses, and the importance of focusing on business objectives over technology. Amir shares insights on founding i2c to address complexity in financial platforms through a single customer-centric solution. The conversation also explores practical applications such as AI-powered customer service, the significance of tokenization for agentic commerce, and the potential of digital assistants. Show Notes: In this episode, Samee Zafar of Edgar, Dunn & Company talks with Amir Wain, CEO and founder of i2c, about how AI is reshaping financial services and what businesses should actually do about it. From customer service automation to agentic commerce, Amir explains why AI is both an existential threat and a massive opportunity—and how to focus on the latter by starting with business objectives, not technology.   They also explore how agentic AI goes beyond chatbots to take real actions, why legacy infrastructure often holds back AI implementation, and how digital assistants will change the way we shop and manage daily tasks. Amir shares how AI enables smaller players to compete with giants through 24/7 service and personalized experiences, and why tokenization is the right foundation for agentic commerce.   Join us as we explore the evolution from generative to agentic AI, practical applications in payments and commerce, and why the dust will settle on digital assistants just like it did with mobile operating systems—with AI becoming core infrastructure rather than standalone products.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ In this episode:    Why AI is both an existential threat and a great equalizer for businesses How to approach AI by focusing on business objectives: differentiation and efficiency The evolution from generative AI to agentic AI and the four key components How AI-powered customer service enables first-call resolution and 24/7 scalability The potential of digital assistants to consolidate commerce and boost productivity Why legacy infrastructure holds back AI implementation in financial services The role of tokenization in enabling secure agentic commerce How AI democratizes data analytics and enables true personalization at scale​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirwain  Website: https://www.i2cinc.com

In this episode, Davide Villa speaks with John Lunn, CEO of Gr4vy, about the transformative role of payment orchestration in the payments industry. They discuss the definition of payment orchestration, its benefits for merchants, and the importance of flexibility in payment systems. John shares insights on founding Gravy to address industry frustrations, the significance of tokenization, and the critiques surrounding payment orchestration. The conversation also explores future trends such as stable coins and agentic commerce, emphasizing the evolving role of payments in business. Show Notes: In this episode, Davide Villa of Edgar, Dunn & Company talks with John Lunn, CEO and founder of Gr4vy, about how payment orchestration is redefining the way merchants manage payments. From redundancy and scalability to tokenization and network tokens, John explains why orchestration is no longer just an optimization tool but a critical part of merchants’ infrastructure.   They also explore how global payment rails—from Brazil’s Pix to India’s UPI—are reshaping commerce, and why orchestration enables merchants to adapt quickly, test new methods, and negotiate better terms with PSPs. John shares how orchestration eliminates single points of failure, boosts flexibility, and even turns payments into a competitive advantage.   Join us as we explore how orchestration, new payment models, and emerging technologies like stablecoins and agentic commerce are transforming financial services worldwide. In this episode:    Why payment orchestration is becoming essential for merchants How orchestration boosts redundancy, scalability, and flexibility The role of tokenization and network tokens in reducing fraud and improving customer experience How merchants can negotiate better PSP terms with orchestration The cost savings of routing debit payments to the right networks Why payments can be a competitive advantage, not just a utility The rise of new payment rails like Pix, UPI, and FedNow How orchestration enables merchants to test and switch payment methods quickly The potential of stablecoins in remittances and high-value transactions Opportunities and risks of agentic commerce powered by AI agents Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnclunn  Website: https://gr4vy.com 

In this episode, Mark Beresford and Amine Saidi of Edgar, Dunn & Company talk with Erich Litch, General Manager of Payments Software, and Phil Bruno, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at ACI Worldwide, about how banks can modernize legacy platforms without risking a full-scale overhaul. From convergence across payment rails to the growing role of orchestration, they explain why modernization is no longer optional for financial institutions.   They also explore how real-time payments are reshaping global markets—from Brazil’s Pix to India’s UPI—while open banking creates new opportunities for value-added services. Erich and Phil share how AI and emerging agentic AI are being used to fight fraud, streamline transactions, and automate back-office tasks, helping banks compete with fintechs on speed and customer experience.   Join us as we explore how modernization, AI, and new payment models are redefining financial services worldwide. In this episode:  Modernizing legacy banking platforms without full-scale replacement Convergence across payment rails as a driver of efficiency and flexibility Real-time payments adoption in Brazil, India, and the US Open banking as an enabler of value-added services and innovation AI in payments intelligence: fraud detection, transaction optimization, customer experience Emerging role of agentic AI in automating back-office tasks Stablecoins and cross-border crypto transfers as future payment options Payments innovation’s potential for financial inclusion—and its cost challenges Why traditional banks remain the backbone of global financial systems Resources: LinkedIn (Erich Litch): https://www.linkedin.com/in/erich-litch-500548  LinkedIn (Philip Bruno): https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-bruno  Website: https://www.aciworldwide.com 

Jaya Vaidhyanathan, CEO of BCT Digital, and EDC Director Mark Beresford discuss the evolution of AI in financial services In this episode, Mark Beresford, Director at Edgar, Dunn & Company, talks with Jaya Vaidhyanathan, CEO of BCT Digital, about how big data and AI are revolutionizing risk and compliance. From fraud prevention and real-time monitoring to climate risk modeling for insurers, Jaya explains how AI delivers insights beyond human capability and why it works best as a collaboration between machines and human judgment.   They also explore why we’re at an AI “inflection point,” what it means for the future of work, and how early adoption can keep you competitive. Jaya shares lessons from her own career—spanning investment banking, global consulting, and entrepreneurship—including navigating gender bias and building resilience in male-dominated industries.   Join us for a forward-looking conversation on AI’s role in reshaping financial services—and why the time to act is now.   In this episode:  Gender representation and challenges for women in tech, finance, and entrepreneurship How big data fuels AI-driven risk and compliance solutions Real-time fraud detection using AI and pattern matching Applying AI to climate risk modeling for insurance Why AI’s “inflection point” is comparable to the advent of the internet AI as a collaboration between machine insights and human judgment The impact of AI on the future of work and job roles Importance of early adoption to stay competitive in financial services   Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaya-vaidhyanathan-26039510 Website: https://www.bctdigital.ai 

In this episode, Greg Toussaint, Director at Edgar, Dunn & Company, chats with Jacques-Olivier Schatz, CEO of Xpollens. Jacques-Olivier unpacks what embedded payments really mean and how they’re showing up in everyday experiences—from travel reimbursements and instant payouts to crypto wallets and marketplaces. He shares how Xpollens helps companies bring payments directly into their user flows without compromising on security or compliance.   They talk about how regulation, often seen as a blocker, can actually drive innovation when built in from day one. Jacques-Olivier also shares why banks and fintechs need to work together, and what the rise of AI agents could mean for the future of payments.   Join us for a conversation on what’s changing in the payments space—and why embedded finance is more than just a buzzword. In this episode:  Defining embedded payments from a “Banking-as-a-Service” perspective Real-world use cases: travel, insurance, crypto, marketplaces, and gambling How modular payment solutions create seamless, real-time user experiences Regulation as an enabler—especially with the rise of e-invoicing in Europe Building compliance, security, and automation into payment APIs from day one Bridging the gap between fintech agility and bank robustness The future role of AI agents in commerce and payments Challenges ahead: security, consent, and responsibility in AI-driven transactions Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacques-olivier-schatz-b3062720  Website: https://www.xpollens.com

In this episode, Mark Beresford sits down with Mike Carlo, CEO of XanderPay, and Rohan Shaju, Consultant at EDC, to delve into the hidden potential of hotel payment systems and the strategic changes reshaping the industry. Mike shares his insights on the transition from traditional property-level payments to innovative centralized systems. He reflects on the complexities of hotel ownership models and the advancements needed for seamless guest experiences. Rohan provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities identified through his extensive research, including the role of centralization, AI, and payment orchestration in optimizing hotel revenue and customer satisfaction. Together, they explore the transformative power of centralized payment systems and the potential impact on the future of hospitality. Join us as we explore the future of hotel payments, the technological innovations on the horizon, and the strategies hotels can implement today to stay ahead in a competitive industry.

In this episode, Volker Schloenvoigt meets with Kamran Hedjri, Group CEO of PXP, to explore the evolution of payment processing and the strategic transformations shaping the industry. Kamran shares his journey from software development to leading a global payments company, reflecting on the challenges of navigating ever-changing regulations, including the evolving PSD framework, and the growing complexity of cross-border payments. He discusses how PXP has embraced AI, real-time business intelligence, and intelligent payment routing to deliver a seamless and unified commerce experience. Join us as we dive into the future of payments, the impact of regulatory shifts, and the innovations driving the next era of financial services.

In this episode, Mark Beresford, Head of the Retail and Hospitality Practice and Director in the London Office at Edgar Dunn & Company, speaks with Adam Katz, Founder & CEO of Kooltra, about the challenges and opportunities in foreign exchange (FX) and cross-border payments. They explore how Kooltra provides infrastructure solutions for financial institutions, enabling them to streamline multi-currency operations, compliance, treasury, and transaction monitoring. Adam discusses why many banks and fintechs struggle to scale FX and cross-border payments, the impact of pricing competition, and how Kooltra helps firms modernize their infrastructure without costly in-house development. Tune in for a deep dive into the future of FX infrastructure, the increasing complexity of treasury management, and strategies to optimize cross-border payments.

In this episode, Mark Beresford, Head of the Retail and Hospitality Practice, and Director in the London Office at Edgar Dunn & Company, speaks with Nitin Pulyani, Head of Product Development at Cashfree Payments, about India’s rapidly evolving digital payments ecosystem. They discuss how Cashfree has positioned itself as a key enabler of seamless, API-driven payment solutions for businesses, addressing the country’s unique challenges and opportunities in online transactions, real-time payments, and regulatory shifts.The conversation explores India’s booming fintech landscape, the impact of UPI on innovation, and how Cashfree is driving financial inclusion while scaling its operations in a dynamic market. Tune in for a deep dive into the future of payments in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies.