Money moves differently now - a fact made abundantly clear at this year's PAY360 in London.
Against the backdrop of shifting business expectations when it comes to payments, there was no better time for the industry to gather to discuss the opportunities reshaping how money moves around the world.
After the conference, our Chairman and Interim CEO Marcus Treacher shared five key themes emerged that demonstrate how the payments sector is not merely responding to change but actively driving it.
- The deepening maturity of the payments sector
This year’s discussions signalled a clear shift in how the payments industry defines progress.
The emphasis is no longer on incremental innovation or speed, but on embedding payments more deeply within the broader financial and legal architecture. Themes such as commercial application, governance, and the evolution of money featured prominently and rather than pursuing novelty for its own sake, firms are now focused on building resilient, scalable systems. The sector’s maturation is evident in the nature of its questions: not just what’s possible, but what’s sustainable, compliant, and commercially viable.
- The shifting role of fintechs
A defining theme of PAY360 this year seemed to be the evolving role of fintechs within the financial ecosystem.
Long gone are the days where fintechs are seen as mere disruptors. They have become part of the payment industry’s DNA, challenging not just traditional players but also each other.
What seemed to set successful fintechs apart was their laser-focus on specific industry issues. While banks have historically tried to be all things to all people, specialist firms are setting new standards in payments solutions that traditional institutions find difficult to match. This specialisation seems to be creating a competitive advantage in an increasingly segmented market, allowing fintechs to develop deeper expertise and more responsive solutions for specific customer pain points.
Businesses now have access to best-of-breed solutions rather than compromising with a product that is trying to be one-size-fits-all, potentially reducing costs and improving efficiency throughout supply chains.
The industry's constant reinvention, with newcomers transforming service models and integrating financial services into wider commercial experiences, signals a long-term trend toward products that will reshape how businesses and consumers interact with money.
- Regulatory and compliance challenges
Like almost everything else, the fintech revolution does not exist in a vacuum.
Discussions at Pay360 repeatedly highlighted how regulatory complexity has intensified alongside innovation, creating hurdles for payment providers – especially those expanding across borders.
The fragmented nature of global regulation stood out as a particular pain point for many attendees. With standards diverging across countries, businesses are finding themselves caught in operational bottlenecks that not only hamper international expansion but also drive up costs. This regulatory patchwork is leaving firms with no choice but to make substantial investments in compliance functions, with many turning to technology to streamline processes while maintaining regulatory transparency.
Financial crime and cybersecurity concerns further complicate the landscape. Regulators worldwide are raising the bar on fraud prevention, data security and consumer protection measures. What became clear throughout the conference is that the industry's future success hinges on effective collaboration - not just between businesses but between the private sector and regulators themselves.
Many agree that the companies that thrive will be those that transform compliance from a costly burden into a strategic advantage, embedding regulatory considerations into their product development from day one rather than treating it as an afterthought.
- Growing opportunities especially in emerging economies
Another recurring theme at PAY360 centred on the transformation of cross-border payments in developing markets.
For years, emerging economies have been left on the sidelines of global commerce thanks to outdated banking and cross border payment systems that offered little access to international payment networks. What's changing now is how payment innovators are stepping into this gap with solutions that dramatically cut costs and processing times. RTGS.global’s recent strategic partnership with TransferMate exemplifies this shift, creating an environment designed to streamline cross-border B2B payments for businesses previously locked out of efficient global trade.
The implications are far-reaching. Businesses in these regions can now tap into global supply chains and reach international customers without the prohibitive fees and delays. We're seeing entire sectors in these economies becoming viable global competitors almost overnight as payment barriers fall.
- Payments innovation and the future of digital currencies
Building on global momentum, digital currencies were another major focal point at Pay360, particularly their potential to transform access, efficiency and inclusion.
Many discussions moved past theory to the infrastructure needed for integrating stablecoins and CBDCs into mainstream finance, prompting many payment providers to rethink traditional transaction models that have long excluded significant portions of the global market.
The potential for near-instant settlement and reduced costs was widely acknowledged, but interoperability remains a major hurdle, both among digital currencies and with established payment rails.
What emerged is a consensus that digital currencies are not just technological experiments but building blocks for a more inclusive, efficient global economy. Their adoption could be especially transformative for markets long excluded by legacy systems, provided implementation keeps pace with ambition.
The tone at Pay360 this year suggests a sector that is not just reacting to change. As payments infrastructure becomes more strategic, global and embedded into the wider economy, the industry’s role is evolving from a service provider to an enabler of growth. It was clear to me that the payments ecosystem is laying the groundwork for a more interconnected and resilient financial ecosystem where the movement of money is not just faster, but fundamentally smarter.
