Author: Rebecca Marina (Counsel) and Roxana Șerban (Associate) The European Union likes to see itself as a global leader in financial innovation. It has built sophisticated rules for open banking, instant transfers and digital assets, aiming to make payments within Europe seamless and secure. However, behind this ambition lies a problem that policymakers have struggled to solve. The EU’s legal framework for payments is fragmented. It has not developed as a single, coherent bo

By Pierre E. Berger, Esperanza Morales, Joris Latui LL.M., DLA Piper 1.Introduction Stablecoins are crypto-assets designed to maintain a stable value relative to a reference asset, usually a fiat currency such as the US dollar or the euro. Their market has expanded rapidly, with global capitalization surpassing USD 300 billion by September 2025.[1] It remains, however, dominated by dollar-denominated coins. This rapid expansion has made stablecoins a focal point in debates ab

In early October, The Amsterdam Fintech Event 2025 (#AFE25) brought together professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and fintech enthusiasts from around the world for three dynamic days of engagement. Unlike traditional conferences, AFE25 focused on creating an informal and interactive atmosphere, encouraging participants to engage in meaningful conversations and explore innovative ideas shaping the future of financial technology.  Jointly organized by the Holland Fintech A

FinanceX Research by Sean Murphy Something remarkable is happening in finance. After years of eye-rolling and denial, the crypto and traditional banking worlds are finally learning to speak the same language. When I first started working in fintech ten years ago, these groups could not have been further apart. I remember a conference in Dublin in 2017 called MoneyConf. It was like two different planets sharing a venue. One side was packed with crypto evangelists, many of whom

Press release - Tallinn, Estonia. Paybis , UN:BLOCK , and the Estonian Web3 Chamber announce  Proof of Chill , an exclusive networking event bringing together leaders from the Baltic blockchain, fintech, and digital innovation landscape. Taking place on December 2 at the Bombay Club in Tallinn, the event aims to strengthen cross-industry collaboration at a time when regulatory developments are reshaping the region’s digital economy. “The Baltic region has the potential to sh

Europe’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) took full effect on 17 January 2025, reshaping how banks, insurers, payment firms, asset managers, and their ICT providers organize compliance, IT, and operational resilience. DORA unifies requirements for ICT risk management, incident reporting, resilience testing, and third-party oversight into a single regulatory framework across the EU financial sector (ESMA, 2025). What DORA Changed and Why It Matters DORA established a

By Tracy Lai, Partner, Lystar Group Fintech’s reshaping of credit extends well beyond institutional and commercial applications. The rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platforms—led by innovators such as Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay—marks a decisive shift from traditional banks to agile alternative providers. These platforms harness real-time data, embedded digital experiences, and advanced underwriting models to deliver scalable, consumer-focused lending solutions. As a form

Sam Kohli, Founder & CEO, PAYNT Biometric security, utilising unique personal characteristics like fingerprints or facial recognition, has become an increasingly common part of daily life, from unlocking phones to authorising payments. Its appeal lies in its speed, efficiency, and relative security compared to other methods. However, the rapid adoption of biometrics is outstripping consumer trust.   A recent study by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) revealed that des