The Periodic Table of Partnerships

The New Chemistry of GrowthMoney 20/20 this year was less about competition and more about connections/partnerships; everyone’s finding their element. Walking the expo floor at Money 20/20 in Las Vegas thisweek, it struck me that the word “alone” is fading from the payments vocabulary. Wallets are partnering with AI firms, banks are collaborating with crypto firms, fintechs are teaming up with banks and brands, and even credit unions are forming partnerships with one another.Fulcrum Question: If you’re in cards, retail banking, or payments, the question to be asking is, “Who will partner fastest and smartest?”Conclusion: The Chemistry LessonIf Money20/20 taught us anything this year, it’s thatgrowth is no longer a solo pursuit; it’s a shared reaction. The future of commerce won’t be written by isolated innovators but by the bonds they form.Every partnership, whether PayPal bonding with OpenAI, Amex linking with Coinbase, or Comperemedia fusing with Equifax, adds a new element to the ecosystem.The most potent compounds are those in which each elementamplifies the other.That’s the chemistry of 2025.That’s the new formula for growth.Find your element. Form your bond. Start your reaction.