Federal Reserve to Host Conference on Payments Innovation

The Federal Reserve Board is set to host a conference on payments innovation on October 21, 2025, at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. This event aims to convene a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss advancements and improvements in the payments system.

Governor Christopher J. Waller emphasized the significance of innovation in the financial sector, stating, "Innovation has been a constant in payments to meet the changing needs of consumers and businesses." He expressed anticipation for the conference, noting, "I look forward to examining the opportunities and challenges of new technologies, bringing together ideas on how to improve the safety and efficiency of payments, and hearing from those helping to shape the future of payments."

The conference will feature panel discussions on several key topics:

• Convergence of Traditional and Decentralized Finance: Exploring how traditional financial systems are integrating with decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms.

• Emerging Stablecoin Use Cases and Business Models: Examining the applications and economic models of stablecoins in the current financial landscape.

• Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Payments: Discussing the role of AI in enhancing payment systems, including fraud detection and transaction efficiency.

• Tokenization of Financial Products and Services: Analyzing the impact of converting rights to an asset into a digital token on a blockchain.

Governor Waller, who will deliver the keynote address, has been a member of the Federal Reserve Board since December 2020. Prior to his appointment, he served as Executive Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. His academic and policy research has centered on monetary theory, political economy, and macroeconomic theory.

This conference follows a series of initiatives by the Federal Reserve to modernize the U.S. payments system. In April 2025, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York hosted the "2025 New York Fed Innovation Conference," focusing on adapting to technological changes, resilience in the age of artificial intelligence, and the tokenization of traditional financial assets.

The upcoming conference underscores the Federal Reserve's commitment to fostering dialogue on emerging payment technologies and their implications for the financial ecosystem. It represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of the U.S. payments system, highlighting the central bank's proactive approach to embracing and guiding technological innovation in finance.

The event will be livestreamed for public access on the Federal Reserve's website and YouTube channel.