This year’s Money20/20 USA felt like a reset.
The message we heard, from all corners, was that fintech is back, but smarter, tougher, and more grounded.
The theme, Create the Future, called on fintech leaders to build durable value in a world being re-wired by AI and infrastructure. Greg Matusky, founder and CEO of Gregory and host of The Disruption Is Now, invited guests to explore how AI is being used to create that world on a podcast episode recorded live on the MoneyPot stage during the conference.
On the show floor, Glassbox demonstrated how AI-driven analytics can transform digital experiences, giving Bloomberg a firsthand look at its technology. Companies like BillGO, which is redefining how payments flow between consumers and billers, and Altimetrik, which helps enterprises unlock the full potential of data, cloud, and AI, showed how modernization is already underway.
Innovation extended to legacy players and startups alike. The Clearing House spotlighted how established networks are embracing real-time payments while ensuring interoperability and trust. Stratyfy sparked conversations about the future of responsible AI in financial decision making. Startups like Almond and Fundbox showed how fintech is merging innovation with inclusion: Almond through hyper-personalized digital engagement, and Fundbox by using predictive credit models to expand small business access to capital.
That intersection of innovation and collaboration also took center stage during Axios’ “Shaping the Future of Global Payment Systems” event, which brought together financial institutions like Mastercard and J.P. Morgan, investors, and fintech leaders to discuss how real-time technology and cross-industry partnerships are transforming the global movement of money.
As always, Money20/20 is a blur of media interviews, demos, meetings, sessions, receptions, and conversations with partners and friends across the fintech ecosystem. But here are a few key takeaways about the next era of finance that stood out:
- Fintech Spring
The comeback is real and more disciplined. After years of contraction, fintech funding and partnerships are picking up again. Growth is being built on revenue, regulation, and real adoption. The companies that stayed lean through the downturn are now leading the rebuild. - Ascendancy of AI Visibility
AI search has become a true marketing channel. Fintech brands are realizing that appearing in ChatGPT or Gemini matters as much as appearing on Google. The next stage of visibility will depend on how well companies can be discovered by both people and machines. - Age of Infrastructure
The foundation of finance is getting its moment. Payments rails, tokenization, and compliance frameworks are where the most important innovation is happening. Tools like FedNow and ISO 20022 are turning what used to be back-end plumbing into strategic assets. Scale and reliability are emerging as the new competitive edge. - Global Payments Race
Money is moving faster and crossing more borders. Real-time cross-border transactions are becoming reality, and competition to enable them is intensifying. Stablecoins, embedded finance, and open banking are accelerating that shift while regulators scramble to keep pace. - Securing Trust
Trust has become the core product. With the rise of synthetic data and AI-generated content, credibility carries more weight than speed. Fintech firms are realizing that explainability, identity protection, and compliance are essential to long-term success. - Embedded Intelligence
AI is now part of the financial operating system. Machine learning tools are powering underwriting, fraud detection, and compliance in ways that make them feel almost invisible. The next challenge is governance: scaling these systems responsibly across every business function. - Digital Assets Go Mainstream
Crypto has matured into finance. Tokenized assets and stablecoins are moving from speculation to application. Instant settlement and digital treasury management are now part of mainstream discussions. With banks and regulators involved, digital assets are entering the era of integration.
Money20/20 2025 made one thing clear: Fintech is now the foundation.
At Gregory, we see that change happening every day. Our team is out there on the ground at events like Money20/20, Fintech NerdCon, Finovate, and Consensus, talking with founders, sitting in sessions, and soaking up what’s next. We host those same innovators on The Disruption Is Now podcast and help them tell their stories to the world. Being part of that energy gives us a front-row seat to how fintech is evolving and how smart storytelling, visibility, and AI are shaping its future.