Breaking Banks Europe

As Breaking Banks Europe approaches its 6th anniversary, we’re celebrating with a special throwback! Host Matteo Rizzi welcomes back Serena Torielli, CEO and founder of WealthHype, who first joined us in Episode 3 - at the very start of our journey: https://provoke.fm/episode-3-insurtech/ In this new conversation, Matteo and Serena dive into Revolut’s explosive growth in Italy, the future of private banking, and how AI, Bitcoin, and gold are reshaping investing. They also explore regulation, stablecoins, and global market shifts, with Serena sharing her optimistic view on innovation in AI, energy, and biotech as drivers of the next financial revolution. Connect with our guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serenatorielli/

In this episode of Breaking Banks Europe, hosts Matteo Rizzi and Don Ginsel welcome guest Bianca Lopes for a global discussion on fintech innovation, neobanks, and regulation. They begin with Revolut’s rapid growth and $13 billion expansion, comparing its evolving model to Brazil’s Nubank, which thrives with cost efficiency and minimal physical infrastructure. The conversation shifts to stablecoins, cross-border payments, and announcements from SWIFT at Sibos about new digital asset layers and near-instant international transactions. Lopes highlights the “Finance of Tomorrow” conference in Rio de Janeiro, which fosters collaboration among 17 countries’ regulators and promotes financial inclusion and responsible innovation across Latin America. They discuss Brazil’s leadership in instant payments, regulatory cooperation inspired by India’s UPI system, and global progress in open banking. The episode closes with reflections on the evolving role of central banks, financial well-being, and the human impact of inclusive fintech.

August was hosted by Matteo Rizzi and the conversation features Ian Horne, Head of Content at Saxo Bank, and Sarah Kocianski, fintech consultant and former CEO of Fintech Wales, discussing major developments in the sector. They begin with AI-powered browsers, weighing opportunities for personalization against serious risks to privacy, data usage, and transparency. Klarna’s evolution from buy-now-pay-later to a full shopping ecosystem, its regulatory positioning, and plans for an IPO are explored, alongside broader BNPL growth. The panel highlights stablecoins, with Tether’s investment in Juventus and African startups signaling their role in remittances, cross-border payments, and the need for banks to provide liquidity. They also address implications for global currencies and financial infrastructure. Discussion then shifts to “agentic” AI in insurance, examining benefits of automation versus risks of mis-selling and lack of human empathy. Finally, they reflect on Africa’s rapid fintech growth, reduced U.S. funding, and Europe’s opportunity to increase investment. ‌ Connect with our guests: Sarah Kocianski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkocianski Ian Horne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-horne-86335399/ ‌ JOIN THE GLOBAL SME FINANCE FORUM - SEP 15-17, Johannesburg, South Africa: https://registration.globalsmefinanceforum.com/sme/begin?c_5950203%5B0%5D=33877891&c_5950819=33888776®_type_id=856543&ref=GSMEFF25-IND-PTNR-BBE02&code=GSMEFF25-IND-PTNR-BBE02 ‌

In this episode, host Elizabeth Kleinveld is joined by Leon Ifayemi (CFIT) and Kristy Duncan (Women in Payments) to unpack the latest in global fintech. The discussion covers Europe’s shifting financial landscape, with Wise and Starling Bank eyeing US listings—raising questions about Europe’s competitiveness. The EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority takes aim at crypto risks, while the US pushes ahead with stablecoin regulation. Guests explore the UK’s Smart Data Initiative, EU Digital ID Wallet rollout, and the Mansion House Leeds Reforms, all shaping future innovation. The episode also spotlights funding rebounds, strategic mergers, and female leadership in fintech, including Revolut’s appointment of Beatrice Cossa-Dumurgier and Blythe Masters’ return to JPMorgan. From regulation to cross-border payments, this conversation dives deep into how policy, technology, and leadership are driving the next phase of financial services.

This special episode of Breaking Banks Europe at Money20/20 features insights from fintech and crypto leaders shaping the future of finance. Jeff Parker, CEO of Paymentology, outlines the company’s global, cloud-based card processing platform that supports fintechs and digital banks in over 50 countries. Emphasizing agile infrastructure, tokenization, and financial inclusion, Parker highlights innovations like instant virtual cards and kiosk-based banking access. Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Ethereum and Cardano, reflects on crypto’s journey from fringe to mainstream. He discusses decentralized finance (DeFi), stablecoins, and the need for automated compliance and global regulation, emphasizing the transformative potential of blockchain. Stani Kulechov, CEO of Aave Labs, discusses the evolution of DeFi through the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). He advocates for more accessible, programmable finance and collaboration between traditional and decentralized institutions, positioning DeFi as the next engine for scalable, transparent, and inclusive financial ecosystems. Connect with our guests: Jeff Parker – CEO, Paymentology Charles Hoskinson – Founder, Input Output (IOHK) Stani Kulechov – CEO, Aave Labs

Host Don Ginsel speaks with Jos van Kerkhof, Country Manager at Visa Netherlands, about key developments in fintech across Europe. They discuss Visa’s strong growth in the Dutch market, innovations in fraud prevention, and the rollout of Visa Debit to align with local payment habits. The conversation also covers broader industry trends, including the growing role of AI in commerce, such as Google’s new shopping agent and Visa’s own intelligent commerce initiative. Jos shares insights on the maturing crypto space, including Visa’s stablecoin initiatives and Coinbase’s commendable response to a recent data breach. They examine the rise of stablecoins, the impact of EU regulation like MiCA, and the potential for blockchain-based infrastructure to transform payments. The episode also highlights the importance of digital wallets, Europe’s push for greater payment sovereignty, and Visa’s vast global money movement network. Both guests look ahead to Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam, where the industry will gather to shape fintech’s future.

In the April 2025 episode of Breaking Banks Europe, host Elizabeth Kleinveld is joined by guests Amine Berraoui (Founder & CEO of E10 Capital) and Guy Stiebel (a.k.a. the “Fintech Plumber”) for a deep dive into the latest fintech developments. The discussion opens with European banks' cautious expansion into the U.S. market, citing high regulatory barriers and cultural challenges. They examine crypto regulation divergences—Europe's restrictive MiCA framework, the U.S.’s bank-favoring Genius Act, and Singapore’s balanced partnership model. The trio also reflects on the crypto space's integration into traditional finance, challenging its original decentralized ideals. Shifting to AI, they highlight massive VC interest, with $120B raised globally in Q1. AI’s biggest fintech impact? Risk modeling, customer automation, and product delivery speed. Stiebel suggests AI could divide fintech into consumer-facing and enterprise software sectors, while Berraoui emphasizes the need for infrastructure investment in emerging markets. The episode closes with calls for more patient capital and smarter funding models. ‌

In this episode, host Don Ginsel discusses the latest trends in fintech with Nik Milanović, the Founder & Fintech Enthusiast-in-Chief of "This Week in Fintech." They explore the shifting landscape of fintech, particularly the role of traditional banks and the rising interest in stablecoins. Milanović explains how banks are cautiously adopting crypto-related strategies but remain uncertain due to market volatility and global economic concerns. They discuss the challenges faced by banks with fintech competition, especially from companies like Wise and Revolut, and the necessity for banks to integrate fintech products under their brand rather than launching separate apps. The conversation also touches on the state of fintech M&A, the rise of fraud in financial services, and the impact of AI. Milanović emphasizes the need for patience in evaluating AI’s role in fintech, given its hype cycle. Finally, they preview the upcoming Stablecon.com conference in New York! ‌ Follow Nik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikm/Founder & Fintech Enthusiast-in-Chief, This Week in Fintech

In this episode of News From The Fintech Front, host Matteo Rizzi is joined by Alexander Gaillard, CEO of InvestGlass, to discuss the biggest fintech stories of January 2025. The month saw a major funding round in Europe, with French fintech Swan raising €42M to expand embedded banking across the continent, highlighting strong investor confidence in the sector. In payments, Elon Musk’s X announced a partnership with Visa Direct to power X Money, introducing real-time P2P payments for U.S. users. Meanwhile, the AI space saw a significant development as OpenAI launched o3-Mini, a powerful reasoning model aimed at countering rising competition from DeepSeek. Additionally, the financial infrastructure space witnessed a key partnership as Euroclear signed a seven-year deal with Microsoft to modernize operations through cloud computing and AI. With Alexander Gaillard’s expert insights, this episode explores how these developments are shaping the fintech landscape in 2025. Follow Alexandre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandre-gaillard-fintechinvestglass.com

In this episode of The Bankers' Bookshelf series for Breaking Banks Europe, hosted by Paolo Sironi, Nicola Bilotta, a Senior Research Associate at the Florence School of Banking and Finance, delves into the evolving landscape of international reserve currencies and monetary systems. Bilotta discusses the forces driving the transformation—economic dislocation, geopolitical shifts, and advancing technology—while addressing the global dissatisfaction with the US dollar. He explains how countries like China and the European Union are exploring digital currency initiatives, each with distinct motivations: China aiming for monetary control, while Europe seeks strategic autonomy and a pan-European payment system. Bilotta also explores why the US has been slow to adopt a digital dollar, citing political skepticism and fears of losing influence. The conversation highlights future scenarios, including fragmentation, digital dominance, and global shifts. This insightful discussion is based on Bilotta’s book The Geoeconomics of Money in the Digital Age, and marks the transition of The Bankers' Bookshelf series into its own show since 2025. Get the book: https://www.routledge.com/The-Geoeconomics-of-Money-in-the-Digital-Age/Bilotta/p/book/9781032812168?srsltid=AfmBOoo8O35JN-o-TBvUnGfDzfkpYPrfiivuGtVQi89w_TH6sgnGHJkA FOLLOW THE NEW SHOW: https://provoke.fm/show/the-bankers-bookshelf/

In this episode, Anthony Day, Managing Partner at Midnight, sits down with Matteo Rizzi to explore the major shifts in 2024 and early 2025 in the world of digital asset finance, tokenization, and AI technologies. Matteo announces that Breaking Banks Europe will transition from a weekly to a monthly show, while introducing new monthly series Breaking Banks Africa and a spin-off of #BBE, Paolo Sironi’s success The Bankers’ Bookshelf. The conversation dives into key topics like decentralized finance, the evolving landscape of AI, and the challenges surrounding data privacy and asset tokenization. Join us as we unpack the future of finance and explore the opportunities shaping the financial sector in this insightful discussion. ‌ Follow Anthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyjjday/ ‌

In this Breaking Banks Europe live podcast episode, Matteo Rizzi interviews Parul Seth Khanna and Sam Ghiotti during the Singapore Fintech Festival. Parul, co-founder of pinbox solutions, discusses the evolving fintech landscape in Asia, particularly in India. She shares insights on how the region is embracing technology and innovation to transform financial services, and the challenges companies face in such a dynamic market. Sam Ghiotti, co-founder of Abito, talks about his experience in building a fintech company in Japan, navigating the country’s unique cultural and regulatory environment. He explains the complexities of Japan’s financial behavior, where risk aversion and low financial literacy dominate, and how Abito is addressing these issues with fresh financial solutions. The episode explores global fintech trends, with both Parul and Sam offering valuable perspectives on market dynamics, innovation, and overcoming obstacles in diverse regions.

At the Singapore Fintech Festival, Breaking Banks Europe, hosted by Matteo Rizzi and supported by CXO Conversations, featured conversations with Premier Oiwoh (NIBSS CEO) and Jo Ann Barefoot (CEO of the Alliance for Innovative Regulation). Premier highlighted Africa's innovation leadership, emphasizing USSD payments and financial inclusion. Jo Ann discussed regulatory challenges in emerging markets, noting the impact of technology and generational shifts in central banks, including insights from Rwanda, Ghana, and Namibia. The podcast explored cross-border payments, digital asset regulation, and the evolving role of technology in finance. Jo Ann also shared her podcast, Barefoot Innovation.

In an insightful conversation at the Singapore FinTech Festival with CXO Conversations, Valeria Ndapunikwa Mbango and Tune Hafo Brock from the Bank of Namibia and host Matteo Rizzi discussed the nation’s progressive approach to driving fintech innovation. They highlighted initiatives like the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Accelerator Lab in partnership with NUST, aimed at building tech talent locally. The Bank is also spearheading projects such as instant payment solutions for financial inclusion, a regulatory technology platform for real-time data use, and exploration of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) for cross-border efficiency. Acknowledging Namibia’s small population as a challenge, they emphasized the need for collaboration among startups, banks, and international investors. With a focus on interoperability, tourism-linked fintech opportunities, and fostering entrepreneurship, the Bank aims to position Namibia as a unique player in Africa’s digital ecosystem. Their mindset reflects a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and partnerships, paving the way for the nation’s financial transformation.

The podcast explores Morocco’s evolving fintech and innovation landscape, highlighting its potential as a hub for technological and economic growth. Despite challenges like a large unbanked population and bureaucratic hurdles, fintech startups are bridging gaps with innovative, user-friendly solutions, supported by collaborations with traditional banks and regulators. Morocco’s adoption of cryptocurrencies, upcoming regulations, and focus on emerging technologies, such as AI and green energy, reflect its commitment to modernization. Initiatives like UM6P university emphasize nurturing local talent, crucial for driving innovation. Morocco's stability, low costs, and strategic location also attract digital nomads and investors, particularly in real estate and hospitality, which are poised for growth. ‌ Connect with Yassine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yassine-loqmane

In this month’s installment of News From The Fintech Front, Silvia Attanasio, Mico Curatolo, and host Don Ginsel dive into the future of European finance, focusing on the digital euro and the impact of new regulations such as MiCAR. Silvia Attanasio shares her perspective on the digital euro, highlighting its potential for innovation but stressing the need for clarity in regulation. Mico Curatolo discusses the opportunities and challenges MiCAR brings, such as standardizing the crypto market and enhancing consumer protection, while acknowledging the complex compliance journey ahead. Silvia calls MiCAR a "Frankenstein" of regulations, blending payment and financial instruments law, and emphasizes the need for more clarity. Mico talks about the opportunities for collaboration across the industry, while Don Ginsel facilitates the conversation, noting the importance of creating a unified European financial infrastructure. They all agree on the necessity of working with regulators to drive innovation while maintaining security and compliance. ‌ Follow our guests: Mico Curatolo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mico-curatolo-57a18497/ Silvia Attanasio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviaattanasio/

At this year’s Web Summit Lisbon, Matteo Rizzi took the mic to host two riveting live interviews on Breaking Banks Europe, bringing fresh insights from two of the brightest minds in fintech. First, he sat down with Ali Niknam, the visionary CEO and founder of bunq, a digital banking disruptor on a mission to offer transparency and a customer-first approach to financial services. Ali shared how bunq is challenging the traditional banking model and navigating the complexities of regulation while empowering users to take control of their finances. Next, Matteo caught up with Jaidev Janardana, the dynamic CEO of Zopa, one of the trailblazers in the peer-to-peer lending space. Jaidev shared the journey from P2P lending to full banking services, revealing how AI, data, and a customer-centric approach are shaping the future of finance. He also emphasized the importance of small steps toward financial literacy to help people thrive. The interviews showcased how fintech leaders are changing the game and making an impact worldwide! Connect and learn more: Ali Niknam - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-niknam-50253913/ bunq.com Jaidev Janardana - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaidev-janardana-a4071b3 zopa.com

In this episode of Breaking Banks Europe, host Don Ginsel is joined by Geert Van Kerckhoven, CEO and Co-Founder of Oper, to discuss the transformation of mortgage lending through digitalization. They explore the evolving housing market, the challenges of making homeownership more accessible, and the role of technology in revolutionizing mortgage processes. Geert shares insights into the importance of digital property valuation, real-time underwriting, and AI-powered solutions for loan advisors. They also touch on regulatory hurdles, the impact of energy efficiency requirements, and innovations in financing, such as fractional ownership and reverse mortgages. Geert envisions a future where home financing evolves to meet the needs of an aging population and a more complex real estate market. For more about Geert and Oper:Geert Van Kerckhoven: LinkedInOper: Website

In Episode 252 of News From the Fintech Front, host Roberto Capodieci is joined by fintech expert Devie Mohan, co-founder and CEO of Burnmark, known for her influential research and advocacy for bank-startup collaboration. Together, they explore the UK’s dominance in European fintech, capturing 65% of deals despite reduced funding, with highlights from Monzo’s $5.9 billion valuation. Topics include Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) focused on decentralization and privacy, alongside AI data privacy concerns due to unconsented data usage. They also discuss AI’s transformative impact on banking roles and Hong Kong’s recent virtual asset platform expansions, marking its ambition as a digital finance hub. This episode offers an insightful look into the innovations, challenges, and regulatory shifts shaping fintech today. Connect with Devie Mohan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deviemohan

In this episode, host Elizabeth Kleinveld speaks with John Lombela, founder and CEO of Axalio, about how fintech innovations are transforming the mining industry in Africa. John explains how Axalio empowers small-scale miners by providing access to modern equipment, financial education, and direct global markets, helping them increase safety, improve income stability, and reduce environmental harm. Through blockchain and geospatial technology, Axalio ensures transparency and legal compliance, while reinvesting in local communities to build schools and hospitals. The conversation also touches on expanding these solutions to Latin America and Southeast Asia. ‌ John Lombela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlombela/ Axalio.com Serial entrepreneur and technology leader with over 17 years of experience in managing complex projects across diverse industries. As the Founder and CEO of Axalio.com Technologies, he focuses on innovative financial solutions in emerging markets, emphasizing transparency and ethical sourcing in mining operations. John holds a bachelor’s degree from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa and has founded multiple successful startups.