Smarter, Faster, Safer: How Fintech Is Transforming Event PaymentsSmarter, Faster, Safer: How Fintech Is Transforming Event Payments
At Money20/20 Europe, fintech innovations including open-banking payment options, stablecoins for cross-border transactions, AI-powered fraud detection, hybrid payment cards, and identity verification systems are revolutionizing event payments—offering planners opportunities to reduce processing fees, streamline international payments, enhance security, and boost revenue through flexible payment options.
Fintech innovations are poised to reshape the events industry, particularly in payments infrastructure, attendee experience and monetization. At Money20/20 Europe, held June 3-5 at RAI Amsterdam in The Netherlands, more than 2,300 companies and 8,000 attendees explored the latest advancements in digital finance.
With 450 speakers, 45% of whom were women, experts emphasized the growing partnerships between fintech firms, banks, regulators, and tech giants. Key discussions focused on real-time payments, digital wallets, and cross-border payment solutions, all poised to revolutionize financial transactions.
Industry reports indicate that new product launches and collaborations will significantly impact trade show organizers, offering opportunities to streamline transactions, improve attendee engagement, and maximize revenue. Here’s what planners need to know.
Open-Banking “Pay-by-Bank” Options
A collaboration between Deutsche Bank and Mastercard enables merchants to accept account-to-account (A2A) payments with real-time confirmation, eliminating credit card fees, reducing processing costs, and improving security.
Speakers from Token.io, Santander and BNP Paribas emphasized this trend in the session “Putting the Bank Back in Open Banking Payments,” highlighting PSD3, the Third Payment Services Directive, which aims to enhance open banking, consumer protection, and cross-border payments.
Why it matters for event organizers:
Planners can integrate A2A payment options into event ticketing, on-site concessions and exhibitor purchases, reducing reliance on credit card transactions and lowering overall payment processing fees.
Shifting away from traditional card payments allows planners to redirect funds toward enhancing attendee experience and event engagement.
Stablecoins & Cross-Border Payments
BVNK and LianLian Global partnered to enable stablecoin payments in more than 100 markets, converting local currencies to USD in minutes. Stablecoins are digital currencies pegged to a stable fiat currency like the U.S. dollar or euro, ensuring consistent value and reducing volatility.
Why it matters for event organizers:
Stablecoin transactions allow event organizers to process refunds and vendor payments instantly, reducing cross-border delays and currency risks.
Eliminating currency conversion fees makes international payments faster and more cost-effective, benefiting exhibitors and vendors at global events.
AI-Powered Fraud & Onboarding
Stripe Chief Technology Officer Rahul Patil highlighted AI’s growing role in payments infrastructure, enhancing fraud detection, onboarding, and personalization. Meanwhile, Checkout.com introduced an AI-enhanced fraud-prevention dashboard, reflecting the industry’s shift toward smarter risk-management tools.
Why it matters for event organizers:
AI-driven fraud detection safeguards registration fees, ticket sales, and attendee purchases by identifying suspicious activity in real time.
Automated onboarding streamlines vendor and exhibitor verification, reducing manual errors and improving payment security.
Debit/BNPL & Hybrid Card Innovation
Klarna and Visa piloted a debit + BNPL (buy now, pay later) hybrid card in the U.S., designed to simplify spending and increase onsite conversion.
Why it matters for event organizers:
BNPL payment plans encourage attendees to register for events and make purchases they can pay off in flexible installments, driving higher participation and sales.
Hybrid debit and BNPL cards support larger on-site purchases, including premium experiences, merchandise, and food and beverage, boosting overall event revenue.
Identity-Linked Payment Verification
Trust Payments and Trulioo partnered to integrate real-time identity verification into payment flows, improving onboarding and compliance.
Why it matters for event organizers:
Embedded identity verification strengthens security for VIP lounges and restricted-access events, reducing fraud and unauthorized entry.
Real-time authentication streamlines attendee check-in, enhancing efficiency while minimizing security risks at large-scale events.
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