Financial regulators, central bank officials, and industry executives convened at the Policy 20 forum during Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam to address the cross-border implications of diverging financial policies.
The invitation-only event brought together more than 40 leaders from public authorities, payment networks, and technology companies at the RAI Amsterdam.
Discussions focused on how greater international cooperation can support resilience and trust across an increasingly interconnected financial system.
Participants evaluated critical themes including cross-border payments, digital identity, stablecoins, and AI.
A core consensus emerged that technology is no longer the primary barrier to progress, as faster and more efficient solutions already exist.
Instead, the immediate challenge lies in ensuring that fintech innovation can scale through interoperable frameworks, supportive regulation, and practical implementation across different jurisdictions.
Bridging the gap between policy and practice
The event opened with a fireside chat featuring Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, Special Envoy for Techleap, who discussed European Commission policy developments and current support for technology startups.
Michael Harris, Vice Chairman and Global Head of Capital Markets at the New York Stock Exchange, then spoke with Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, who discussed the thinking behind the company’s AI strategy and its recent workforce reduction.
Industry participants noted that while complete global harmonisation may be unrealistic, better coordination between regulators and the private sector is required to reduce regulatory fragmentation.
“Policy20 was designed to bridge the gap between policy and implementation,”
said Oliver Smith, Head of Content, Money20/20 Europe.
He added that understanding both the regulatory perspective and the realities of implementation helps ensure conversations about the future of financial services remain grounded in operational realities.
Cross-border alignment for digital finance
During the policy roundtable, regulators from more than ten central banks convened to discuss digital finance infrastructure and the secure management of global money movement.
“Despite different mandates and markets, there was broad agreement that issues such as stablecoins, digital identity and AI cannot be addressed in isolation,”
said Ruth Wandhöfer, CEO, Leximar Advisory.
She noted that in an increasingly global financial system, practical alignment between jurisdictions will become just as critical as technological innovation.
The discussions reinforced the need for regulatory coordination and practical alignment to allow cross-border payment and digital asset infrastructure to scale effectively.
Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Money20/20 Europe
