Fintech is growing up.
At Money20/20 2025, the industry’s biggest voices weren’t chasing hype. They were asking how to make innovation deliver real results.
The big takeaway? Trust is the new currency.
Across the show floor and keynote stages, leaders emphasized a new priority of building the infrastructure, policies and partnerships that enable innovation to scale sustainably.
5 Key Takeaways from Money20/20 2025
From real-world stablecoin use cases to agentic AI, there were five key signals I saw during my week at Money20/20 that fintech is entering a more mature phase:
- Stablecoins Move From “What If” To “Let’s Try”
- Instant Payments Are Now The Baseline, Not A Bonus
- Agentic Commerce Is Here But It Needs Rules To Scale
- Data Isn’t A Byproduct. It’s The Foundation
- Regulators Are Becoming Co-Creators, Not Just Gatekeepers
1. Stablecoins Move From “What If” To “Let’s Try”
With the passage of the GENIUS Act, stablecoins have moved beyond the theoretical phase. Banks are piloting use cases like cross-border transfers and title payments under clearer regulatory guidance.
Speakers from Fiserv, Chainalysis and Threshold Partners aligned on the idea that education comes before execution.
Institutions diving in without legal or compliance alignment risk early setbacks. But those investing in fluency, and starting with high-value, low-risk pilots, are showing how tokenized deposits can enhance, not replace, traditional fiat systems.
2. Instant Payments Are Now The Baseline, Not A Bonus
Next year, instant payments will be as common as ACH. Whether through FedNow, fintech apps or credit union platforms, real-time money movement is becoming table stakes.
What surprised me and many other attendees was that implementation isn’t as daunting as it seems. Early adopters have launched instant rails without expanding teams or overhauling infrastructure, and they’re seeing real results: faster cash flow, real-time settlement and better customer retention.
3. Agentic Commerce Is Here But It Needs Rules To Scale
AI-powered agents that can autonomously shop, transact and make decisions are no longer theoretical.
Panelists from eBay, Mastercard, Uber and Checkout.com confirmed that agentic commerce is real and already being tested in consumer and B2B contexts.
But functionality must be matched with accountability. That’s where Know-Your-Agent (KYA) comes in.
This emerging framework outlines how to build trust in autonomous systems: clear agent identity, scoped permissions, explainable decisions and real-time oversight.
4. Data Isn’t A Byproduct. It’s The Foundation
AI may dominate the headlines, but data architecture is the true differentiator.
Without clean, connected and governed data, even the best AI tools will underperform.
JPMorgan Chase and Snowflake leaders emphasized that it’s not just legacy data systems holding innovation back. Transitioning from siloed datasets to interoperable, enterprise-wide architectures also demands cultural shifts, clarified data entitlements and a commitment to long-term transformation.
5. Regulators Are Becoming Co-Creators, Not Just Gatekeepers
Perhaps the most refreshing development at Money20/20 was that regulators want in early. From the OCC to the Alliance for Innovative Regulation, officials encouraged innovators to treat them as partners, not adversaries.
While programs like office hours and sandboxes have existed for years, the GENIUS Act has brought fresh momentum and focus to these conversations.
The message was clear: Don’t wait for oversight. Invite it in.
The Bottom Line
The future of money is fast, intelligent and deeply personal. But none of it works without trust.
Stablecoins are operationalizing. Instant payments are the new normal. AI is becoming infrastructure.
Money20/20 2025 proved that fintech isn’t just evolving. It’s maturing. And that maturity might be its greatest asset.
Learn how Walker Sands partners with Fintech companies to turn complex stories into measurable growth.
