Rene Michau

In the past year, arguments have been had, points made and sides chosen between Teams Banking and Crypto.

Team Crypto threw down the gauntlet in the first Oxford-style debate we held at Point Zero Forum last year, lauding the real-life implementations and impact stablecoins have had in expanding financial inclusion and heralding an age of internet-scale composable and programmable money. In the same breath, they highlighted deposit tokens' limitations in addressing the last mile and expanding financial security on a global scale.

On the other side of the table, Team Banking countered by underscoring the limited assets stablecoins are constrained by, stating instead the ability of tokenised deposits to enable efficient transactions and support a wide range of financial industry use cases safely.

Observers then gave both teams credit for their arguments; but Team Crypto gained a slight edge during a second debate at the Singapore FinTech Festival later in the year, winning the audience's popular vote. This is a not-to-be-missed Grand Finale to the Digital Currency Trilogy.

Attendees who wish to familiarise themselves with the topic may refer to the reference materials below.
- Stablecoins or Tokenised Deposits
- Digital Currency Showdown: Stablecoins Vs Tokenised Deposits

This roundtable reflects Elevandi’s commitment to considering the social implications of frontier technologies. This included the value of Generative AI to consumer financial protection, and the need to build consumer protection in to AI and Web3 at the Singapore FinTech Festival in 2023.

In an era where financial scams have become increasingly sophisticated, the true extent of their rise remains debated - are we witnessing an actual surge, or is heightened reporting amplifying their presence?

This roundtable session under our Forming Frontier Tech theme will explore the lifecycle of financial scams, focusing on how the rise of digital assets and AI has both facilitated these scams and provided new tools for combating them. Participants will delve into the impact of emerging technologies on Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and onboarding processes within financial services such as cross-border payments and financial instrument investments.

Discussion points:
I. The Journey of a Scam:
- Tracing the evolution of financial scams from traditional methods to sophisticated digital schemes.
- Identifying key stages and tactics used by fraudsters in the digital age.

II. Impact of Emerging Technologies:
- Analysing whether the incidence of financial scams has increased due to advancements in technology or if heightened awareness has led to more reporting.
- Evaluating how AI and digital assets have lowered entry barriers for fraudsters and examining case studies of recent scams.

III. Combating Scams with Technology:
- Discussing innovative applications of AI and blockchain in detecting and preventing fraud.
- Exploring how advancements in KYC and AML technologies can strengthen onboarding processes and enhance security.

The following key industry stakeholders will champion the dialogue:
- Policymakers will highlight their roadmaps for updating the regulatory frameworks to support defenses against scams.
- Financial and professional services will showcase the proactive adoption of cutting-edge technologies to safeguard against fraud.
- Investors will drive the importance of robust fraud prevention measures in the companies they invest in.

The session aims to produce a collaborative action plan detailing:
- Specific technological tools and practices to implement for improved scam detection and prevention.
- Recommendations for policymakers to foster a supportive regulatory environment.
- Strategies for financial services organisations to integrate advanced technologies into their security protocols.
- Guidance for investors on promoting and supporting fraud prevention measures within their investments.
- A commitment to ongoing dialogue and cooperation among industry stakeholders to stay ahead of emerging threats.

Attendees who wish to familiarise themselves with the topic may refer to the reference materials below.
- Generative AI: The future of consumer financial protection?

This is your opportunity to connect, share insights, and collaborate with innovators shaping the future of payments. Join us to stay ahead of the curve and drive the transformation in how the world transacts.

This networking event is open to all delegates with the exception of Discovery Pass holders.

The curation of content and speakers was wholly managed by Fireblocks and does not reflect the views of the organisers or its staff.

This industry discussion will challenge the global regulatory stance on public blockchains. We will hear from financial institutions building digital asset businesses on private and public blockchains, debating the merits and challenges of both. 
 
The session will:
- Explore what’s stopping institutions from embracing public blockchains
- Weigh the benefits of control versus scalability
- Discuss collaborative private sector solutions and the interoperability and regulatory requirements they must meet