The Payment Expert Podcast

In today's episode, Host Louis Thompsett is joined by Nick Kerigan, Managing Director and Head of Innovation at Swift, as the duo discuss the evolving landscape of global value transfer, focusing on how Swift is integrating blockchain technology and shared ledgers into its infrastructure to solve real-world payment friction.Tune in to today's episode to find out:How Swift’s new blockchain-based shared ledger enables real-time, 24/7 cross-border payments and synchronized obligations between participating banks.The critical role of interoperability in connecting fragmented digital asset "islands" with existing financial infrastructure.Why the industry is shifting toward wholesale use cases for orchestration and how this helps banks manage liquidity and risk more effectively.Swift's "multi-money, multi-chain" vision that embraces CBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits as complementary tools.The strategy behind tackling the "last mile" of retail payments to ensure upfront cost certainty and full value delivery for consumers.Host: Louis ThompsettGuests: Nick Kerigan Producer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonald

In today's episode, Host Louis Thompsett is joined by Payment Expert Editor Rachael Kennedy and Senior Business Journalist Kieran O'Connor as the trio discuss the major regulatory shifts emerging from UK FinTech Week, specifically the government's push for a unified framework for digital money and the FCA's evolving stance on AI.Tune in to today's episode to find out:How the UK plans to bring stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and e-money under a single regulatory umbrella by 2027.What the official folding of the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) into the FCA means for future industry oversight.Why the Bank of England is considering a £20,000 limit on individual stablecoin holdings to prevent deposit flight.The FCA’s "no new rules" approach to agentic AI and how industry labs are shaping future practice.Whether the UK’s "pro-innovation" strategy will successfully balance centralised strategy with decentralised rule making.Host: Louis ThompsettGuests: Rachael Kennedy & Kieran O’ConnorProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com

In today's episode, Host Louis Thompsett is joined by Payment Expert Senior Business Journalists Kieran O'Connor and Callum Williams to discuss their key takeaways from the first day of the Money20/20 Asia conference in Bangkok, focusing on the evolution of digital payments and infrastructure across the Asian market.Tune in to today’s episode to find out:The rise of tokenized deposits: Why banks are increasingly exploring tokenized deposits over stablecoins to leverage traditional infrastructure while gaining the benefits of 24/7 blockchain settlement. Thailand’s unique payment landscape: How the country has positioned itself as a financial hub through its PromptPay scheme and the widespread adoption of QR code payments among local merchants and street vendors. Barriers to financial inclusion: Why high-tech solutions like digital IDs and tokenization face skepticism in rural areas and markets like Azerbaijan due to low technological literacy and a deep-rooted trust in cash. The future of "AI Super Apps": How leaders in the Chinese market are moving beyond traditional super apps toward AI-driven agents that can handle payments and user interactions at every layer. Japan’s approach to tokenized money: Insights into how Japan is testing the synergy between stablecoins, CBDCs, and tokenized deposits through inclusive, multi-bank networks. Host: Louis ThompsettGuests: Callum Williams & Kieran O’ConnorProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com

In today's episode, Payment Expert Editor & Host Louis Thompsett and Payment Expert Senior Journalists Kieran O'Connor & Callum Williams discuss the Reserve Bank of India’s radical proposal to introduce a one-hour pause on digital payments to combat the 10x rise in fraud cases, comparing this pragmatic approach to Brazil’s PICS system and the emerging regulations in the UK and EUTune in to today's episode to find out:Why India is proposing a 1-hour lag for instant UPI transactions and how it gives users a "cancel" button for suspicious paymentsA comparison between India and Brazil’s fraud strategies, specifically the difference between a proactive buffer and a 7-day dispute mechanism.The "safety vs. speed" dilemma facing the EU as they mandate instant payments while potentially overlooking robust fraud controlsWhy social media platforms are dodging responsibility for the rise in Authorized Push Payment (APP) scams.A preview of Money 20/20 Asia in Thailand, covering the explosion of QR codes, tokenised money, and the real-world adoption of stablecoinsHost: Louis ThompsettGuests: Callum Williams & Kieran O’ConnorProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com

We explore:Why New York is legally protecting cash paymentsThe reality of unbanked and underbanked populationsWhether digital payments can truly replace cashThe risks of relying on digital infrastructureHow war, outages and crises expose payment vulnerabilitiesWhy central banks are still investing in physical moneyThis isn’t just about payments, it’s about access, resilience and the future of money itself.Host: Louis ThompsettGuests: Rachael Kennedy & Kieran O’ConnorProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com

The CLARITY Act was supposed to bring order to US stablecoin regulation. Instead it's stalled – and Coinbase just rejected the latest draft for the second time. We break down why the yield ban is so specifically damaging to Coinbase's revenue model, what it means for the Circle-Coinbase relationship ahead of their August renegotiation, and whether Armstrong's opposition is a genuine veto or a negotiating position.Plus: what happens to yield demand if it's simply banned on compliant products, whether US gridlock hands Europe and Asia a real advantage, and what USDC falls back on if passive holding incentives disappear.Host: Louis ThompsettGuests: Callum Williams & Kieran O'ConnorProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonald

Wero is making its move – but can Europe's pan-European A2A scheme succeed where every previous attempt has failed? We break down the chargeback gamble, the ECB's interoperability doubts, and what it will take to achieve the scale Europe needs.Plus: Mastercard acquires stablecoin firm BVNK for $1.8bn – we speculate what's driving the deal, what it signals about where card networks see their future, and whether calls for “collaboration over competition” hold upElon Musk's X Money launches April 2026 – but is it a payments product or a revenue pivot? We break down the Visa Direct integration, the WeChat super app myth, and whether X can earn the trust financial services demands. Plus: a CBDC ban buried in a US housing bill, what a permanent digital dollar block means for stablecoin infrastructure, and how MiCA shapes X Money's global ambitions.Host: Louis ThompsettGuests: Rachael Kennedy & Callum Williams Producer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonald

Elon Musk's X Money launches April 2026 – but is it a payments product or a revenue pivot? We break down the Visa Direct integration, the WeChat super app myth, and whether X can earn the trust financial services demands. Plus: a CBDC ban buried in a US housing bill, what a permanent digital dollar block means for stablecoin infrastructure, and how MiCA shapes X Money's global ambitions.Host: Louis ThompsettGuests: Kieran O'Connor & Callum Williams Producer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonald

Welcome to The Payment Expert Podcast – a new podcast hosted by Payment Expert’s News Editor, Louis Thompsett, who will be joined by Payment Expert’s editorial team each week to dissect the breaking news throughout the global payments industry.