Irene Arias Hofman is the CEO of IDB Lab, the innovation and venture laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group. Their purpose is to discover new ways to drive social inclusion, environmental action and productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB Lab leverages financing, knowledge, and connections to support early-stage entrepreneurship, foster the development of new technologies, activate innovative markets, and catalyze existing sectors.
Previously, Irene worked for 20 years at the IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, where she managed the Financial Institutions Group and the LAC region with its 16-billion dollar portfolio. Her focus has been on innovation and technology, venture capital, and organizational development.

IDB Lab is the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group. We find and support new ways to drive social inclusion, environmental action, and productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB Lab leverages financing, knowledge, and connections to support early-stage entrepreneurship, foster the development of new technologies, activate innovative markets, and catalyze existing sectors

The Tech Revolution Reshaping the Financial Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean

A wave of technological innovation is reshaping the financial system across Latin America and the Caribbean. Emerging solutions—from blockchain infrastructure and tokenized payments to stablecoins, open finance, and real-time cross-border payment rails—are unlocking new pathways to inclusion. Central bank digital currencies like the Sand Dollar, combined with regulatory sandboxes and digital ID systems, are helping reach unbanked populations, MSMEs, and vulnerable groups. Yet, despite this momentum, challenges remain around adoption, interoperability, and legal certainty. Tackling these barriers is essential to ensure the region builds a more inclusive, efficient, and integrated digital financial ecosystem.

Jermaine Campbell holds an MBA in Business Administration from West Texas A&M University and currently serves as Manager of The Currency Department of The Central Bank of The Bahamas where he has been employed for 29 years, during which time he worked in Currency, Domestic Markets, and Foreign Reserve Management.

The Central Bank of The Bahamas, located on the island of New Providence, was established on 1st June, 1974, and is a monument to one of the most rapidly growing, international financial centers in the Caribbean. This unprecedented legal authority manages the financial policies of an independent nation, The Bahamas.

Session Chair

 

Ms. Chavkin leads the policy function at Paxos. She worked previously at the Stellar Development Foundation and JPMorgan Chase, and served in a variety of senior roles at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Paxos is the leading regulated blockchain and tokenization infrastructure platform. Paxos issues a number of U.S. dollar stablecoin products, including PYUSD and USDG.

Panel discussion: Battle of the Digital Currencies: CBDC, Tokenized Assets, or Stablecoins?

In an increasingly digital financial world, three contenders are shaping the future of money: Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), tokenized assets, and stablecoins. This panel brings together industry leaders, technologists, and policymakers to explore the strengths, limitations, and use cases of each. Are CBDCs the path to sovereign digital money? Will tokenized assets unlock new efficiencies in capital markets? Can stablecoins bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto? Join us for a lively debate on which digital currency model is best positioned to lead the next era of global finance.

Thierry is a strategic marketing executive with 25+ years of experience in digital solutions, B2B, B2C, and public infrastructure—shaping global brands and leading digital transformation across high-tech markets. He currently drives strategic marketing for SICPA’s digital sovereignty solutions, including digital currency ecosystems and CBDC, supporting secure and future-ready government infrastructures.

With decades of experience in monetary security, SICPA offers advanced CBDC solutions for both retail and wholesale needs. Our technology ensures cash-like offline use, interoperability, and real-time insights—empowering central banks with digital sovereignty. As a proud sponsor of the 2025 CBDC Conference, we help shape secure, inclusive digital finance.

CBDC Academy: Protecting Sovereignty: From Ink to Inclusive Digital Cash
SICPA opens the CBDC Academy with “Protecting Sovereignty: From Ink to Inclusive Digital Cash”, setting the tone for the conference. With over 70 years securing value for central banks in 130+ countries, SICPA positions CBDC not as a payment upgrade but as a sovereign decision. The session introduces SICPA Digital Cash, a retail CBDC solution designed for inclusion: offline, privacy-preserving, and with no additional device needed. SICPA will demonstrate how sovereign digital cash bridges physical and digital, reinforcing trust and resilience. Participants leave with a clear view of SICPA as a long-term, central-bank-aligned partner.

Charles is the Head of DFS and Market Infrastructure at Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR). In this role, he leads development and implementation of AFR’s DFS and Market Infrastructure program strategy; ensuring that a comprehensive portfolio of impactful projects are developed and implemented to support the achievement of digital financial inclusion.

Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) supports the removal of systemic barriers that hinder access to and use of financial services by low-income people, particularly the rural poor, women, youth and MSMEs, and supports the development and provision of financial services including savings, credit, insurance, investment, payments, and remittances.

CB+DC Academy: CBDCs for impact: Harnessing financial inclusion use cases to transform access and usage of financial services

In the fast evolving technological and regulatory landscape, it is important to keep one question that should remain core to the discussion: how CBDCs impact financial health through access and usage of financial services.

CBDCs, if inclusively designed, offer the potential to deliver fast, affordable, and secure financial services directly to individuals. Payments, programmability and other innovation build ups can bring about a new era of swift, customized and low-cost use cases.

Ecosystem design, regulatory alignment, public-private collaboration, and user-centric innovation must converge to ensure CBDCs serve the needs of the financially excluded and underserved not just the financially connected.

Learning from Rwanda’s journey of CBDC exploration, this session will engage on key considerations such as:

• How can CBDCs improve financial resilience and long-term well-being for individuals and small businesses?
• What technological and policy enablers are essential to reach the unserved and underserved?
• How can programmability support targeted financial interventions?

Ingrid leads the financial innovation discipline at the National Bank of Rwanda, including in the areas of Rwanda Central Bank Digital Currency exploration, the Bank’s Regulatory sandbox implementing the Open Finance Framework, development of digital public infrastructure for innovative and inclusive financial solutions.

National Bank of Rwanda is the central bank of Rwanda

CB+DC Academy: CBDCs for impact: Harnessing financial inclusion use cases to transform access and usage of financial services

In the fast evolving technological and regulatory landscape, it is important to keep one question that should remain core to the discussion: how CBDCs impact financial health through access and usage of financial services.

CBDCs, if inclusively designed, offer the potential to deliver fast, affordable, and secure financial services directly to individuals. Payments, programmability and other innovation build ups can bring about a new era of swift, customized and low-cost use cases.

Ecosystem design, regulatory alignment, public-private collaboration, and user-centric innovation must converge to ensure CBDCs serve the needs of the financially excluded and underserved not just the financially connected.

Learning from Rwanda’s journey of CBDC exploration, this session will engage on key considerations such as:

• How can CBDCs improve financial resilience and long-term well-being for individuals and small businesses?
• What technological and policy enablers are essential to reach the unserved and underserved?
• How can programmability support targeted financial interventions?

 

Panel Discussion: Regulation and Supervision of Digital Currencies

This panel discussion explores the evolving landscape of digital currencies and the critical role of regulation and supervision in ensuring financial stability and consumer protection. The panelists will examine questions around compliance, innovation, and international cooperation. Attendees will gain insight into emerging regulatory frameworks and their implications for the future of digital finance.

Linda leads the Fintech & Innovation Unit, overseeing the Regulatory Sandbox. She led the Bank’s CBDC R&D. With 15+ years at the Bank, she’s held key roles in Payments Systems. She currently serves as the Gender Focal Point in AFI’s DFS Working Group, driving inclusive digital financial services across the sector.

Central Bank of Eswatini

CB+DC Academy: Digital Lilangeni: Insights from Eswatini’s CBDC Research and Development Journey

This masterclass offers an in-depth exploration of the Digital Lilangeni project of the Central Bank of Eswatini. The project aimed to assess the feasibility, potential benefits, and risks of introducing a CBDC in Eswatini. Participants will gain insights into the strategic motivations behind the project, its design principles, and the technological and legal implications.

The session will cover:

• Key findings from diagnostic study
• Design considerations including interoperability, privacy, and financial inclusion
• Lessons learned
• Next steps

This session is designed for central bankers, fintech professionals, researchers, and policymakers interested in understanding the practical realities of CBDC exploration and the value of evidence-based decision-making in digital finance

Michael is a multi-disciplinary IT executive with multiple exits as a co-founder, CTO, and engineer. He brings deep experience across blockchain, fintech, financial services, and merchant solutions. As CTO of Movmint, he leads strategic technology development across the fintech spectrum.

Movmint invented and powers the global benchmark for retail digital currency, the Bahamian SandDollar. Movmint’s modular ecosystem empowers central banks and communities with digital wallets, inclusive payments, and real-world adoption engines. Built for people, trusted by nations, and designed to deliver resilience, accessibility, and sovereignty at scale.

Breakout session: Navigating the Movmint Ecosystem

Movmint is best known for designing, supporting and powering The Bahamian Sand Dollar, the global benchmark for retail Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Michael Dowling, CTO of Movmint, will workshop the interoperability of the Movmint ecosystem and how to best leverage the platform in the Bahamas and beyond for merchant services, central bank private clearing, lending, and more.

Johannes Duong graduated with Master in computer science at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU-Wien). He currently works in Treasury BACK-office department for Settlement and Collateral Management in the Austrian National Bank (OeNB). He is also responsible for the Blockchain research projects (DELPHI and CITADEL).

Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) is the central bank of Austria.

Breakout session : Workshop DELPHI deep dive
The workshop gives deep insight into the DELPHI initiative especially the technical setup and architecture.

Varlam Ebanoidze brings an impressive 17-year track record of professional experience, specializing in risk management and digitalization within the banking sector. At NBG Varlam focuses on implementing a countrywide FinTech Open Finance strategy and regulatory framework. Varlam's passion lies in the strategic transformation of risk management to align with the evolving paradigm of 'Open Finance'.

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) is the central bank of Georgia. The main objective of the National Bank is to ensure price stability. Georgia's first central bank was established in 1919. In its current form the National Bank of Georgia has existed since 1991.

Presentation title will be announced shortly

Alexander is a Managing Partner at Chavanette Advisors, which he founded in 2018 to help institutions navigate and lead in the digital economy. With a background at Monitor Deloitte, Porsche Consulting, and Apple, he brings global expertise in business strategy, operations, and emerging technologies.

A pioneer in the development of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) systems and next generation central banking platforms, Alexander has designed industry recognized frameworks for CBDC architecture, regulated stablecoins, and the broader digital finance technology vendor landscape. His work is widely used for strategic planning, research, and regulatory alignment.

He is a frequent speaker at international conferences, an active blockchain researcher, and holds degrees from the American University of Paris.

Chavanette Advisors is a boutique Management Consulting firm that specialises in the creation and implementation of future-focused technological solutions. The company provide expert advice and project management to financial services and enterprise clients globally, engaging disruptive technologies that are transforming their operations and industries.

Panel discussion : Interoperability & Standardization

As digital currencies—CBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits—continue to evolve, the demand for seamless interoperability and globally recognized standards has become increasingly urgent.

This panel will explore the critical role of interoperability and standardization in fostering a cohesive digital currency ecosystem. It will examine the challenges and opportunities presented by fragmented infrastructures, differing technical protocols, and regulatory asymmetries across jurisdictions.

The panel will also highlight current efforts toward establishing technical and governance standards.

 

A former computer scientist with 25 years of banking experience. Focus on new payment methods and forms of money, such as trigger solutions and tokenised deposits.Co-author of the German banking industry papers "Europe needs new money" and "Commercial Bank Money Token", a form of tokenised deposits.

DZ BANK is the second-largest bank in Germany. As the central institution of the cooperative banking sector in Germany, we provide solutions for around 700 cooperative banks.As a commercial bank, DZ BANK also serves companies and institutions with our own network of branches and representative offices around the world.

Commercial Bank Money Token (CBMT)

Commercial Bank Money Token (CBMT) is a new form of money. Its economic underpinnings are identical to those of the commercial bank money currently in use. Technically, CBMT exists as a native token on distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), which enables commercial bank money to benefit from the advantages of this technology. This talk explains why CBMT was designed, its key design principles and how it differs from a stablecoin. It also covers how corporates and commercial banks would use CBMT, and the current state of play. Finally, it briefly touches on the possibility of collaborating with CBDCs.

Lior Glass is a Director of Product Management in Oracle's Mission-Critical Systems group, focusing on developing new digital asset solutions for the financial services industry. He has over a decade of experience promoting digital asset adoption in financial services, including roles as the Global Blockchain Lead at BNY Mellon and the Cryptocustody Strategy Lead at Citi. In his current role, he’s driving Oracle’s innovations in digital assets capabilities across public and permissioned blockchains with AI-powered compliance and supervision.  Lior holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a B.Sc. in Engineering from the Technion.

Oracle is a cloud technology company that provides organizations around the world with computing infrastructure and software to help them innovate, unlock efficiencies and become more effective. We also created the world’s first – and only – autonomous database to help organize and secure our customers’ data.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure offers higher performance, security, and cost savings. It is designed so businesses can move workloads easily from on-premises systems to the cloud, and between cloud and on-premises and other clouds. Oracle Cloud applications provide business leaders with modern applications that help them innovate, attain sustainable growth, and become more resilient.

The work we do is not only transforming the world of business–it’s helping defend governments, and advance scientific and medical research. From nonprofits to companies of all sizes, millions of people use our tools to streamline supply chains, make HR more human, quickly pivot to a new financial plan, and connect data and people around the world.

At work, we embrace diversity, encourage personal and professional growth, and celebrate a global team of passionate people developing innovative technologies that help people and companies tackle real-world problems head-on.

CB+DC Academy: Tales from the CBDC Trenches

After years of exploration and proof-of-concepts, we’re now entering the “money time” for digital currency initiatives, such as stablecoins and CBDCs to deliver tangible results. Amid growing competition for digital money many central banks face urgent need to move beyond the initial exploration into live, operational systems that can modernize payments and enhance financial inclusion.

Oracle is actively involved in global CBDC initiatives for both wholesale as well as retail digital currencies. The session will showcase a CBDC project implementation using Oracle Blockchain Platform and Oracle’s extended CBDC Sandbox providing a robust, scalable, interoperable, and secure infrastructure to meet central banks’ needs.  We’ll review architectures for advanced use cases ranging from cross-border wholesale payments to scalable domestic retail CBDC deployments. We will also explore best practices for designing, deploying and managing CBDC projects, based on Oracle’s engagement with CBDC pilots, long history in financial services and many large-scale payments projects.

This session is for decision-makers and technical leads in financial institutions and central banks who want to move beyond the experimental phase to build a sustainable future with digital assets and CBDCs.

 

Breakout Session: Build It by Noon: Unfolding Oracle’s FinTech Data Platform Initiative for Safe Digital Assets in Regulated Banking and Finance

A core challenge for policymakers in the CBDC space and other digital asset projects is the alignment of technological capabilities with stringent compliance and governance requirements. Key questions arise: How can necessary controls be robustly implemented? How can confidentiality and privacy be ensured on a shared ledger while maintaining essential oversight?

This session addresses these challenges by presenting a modular, composable solution designed specifically to meet policy objectives. The architecture leverages available building blocks, such as secure and verifiable ledgers based on DLT and immutable database, an atomic transaction coordinator with AI-enhanced workflows, and advanced analytical capabilities leveraging advanced AI with multi-LLM integration. These core services are seamlessly integrated with pre-built, customizable application components, including smart contract templates and libraries, rich integration and workflow libraries, intuitive user interfaces, comprehensive analytics and reporting dashboards, and financial crime compliance using machine learning models.

This approach significantly reduces development complexity, using low-code development tooling for every component, from smart contracts to workflows, application UIs, and analytics. It empowers policymakers by enabling the rapid implementation of controls and providing transparent, auditable oversight capabilities. The session will expand on the available building blocks and demonstrate a practical use case, illustrating how these elements are used in practice. A quick overview of next steps, including expanding the use case and preparing for production deployment, will conclude the session.

Dr. Jonas Gross is Co-founder and Chairman of the Digital Euro Association and Chief Operating Officer at etonec. He advises private-sector companies as well as central banks in developing impactful and value-adding digital currency solutions. Also, he is Co-founder and CEO of Hakata, a company bridging digital identities globally between the payments and digital assets domains. Holding a Ph.D. in economics and drawing from extensive industry expertise, Jonas is a recognized thought leader in central bank digital currencies, stablecoins, and crypto assets. Besides sharing his insights as co-host of the "Bitcoin, Fiat, & Rock'n' Roll" podcast, He is guest lecturer at various universities and expert panel member of the European Blockchain Observatory and Forum.

The Digital Euro Association is a leading think tank on digital fiat currencies. The DEA is at the forefront of CBDC and stablecoin developments, by working together closely with regulators as well as central banks, amongst others.

Panel discussion: Battle of the Digital Currencies: CBDC, Tokenized Assets, or Stablecoins?
In an increasingly digital financial world, three contenders are shaping the future of money: Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), tokenized assets, and stablecoins. This panel brings together industry leaders, technologists, and policymakers to explore the strengths, limitations, and use cases of each. Are CBDCs the path to sovereign digital money? Will tokenized assets unlock new efficiencies in capital markets? Can stablecoins bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto? Join us for a lively debate on which digital currency model is best positioned to lead the next era of global finance.

Youri is a C-level executive with 20+ years of global experience scaling businesses across tech, media, and public sectors. Former YouTube leader at Google, now VP at SICPA, he drives digital business growth and partnerships. A multilingual strategist, he excels in P&L, M&A, and international expansion.

With decades of experience in monetary security, SICPA offers advanced CBDC solutions for both retail and wholesale needs. Our technology ensures cash-like offline use, interoperability, and real-time insights—empowering central banks with digital sovereignty. As a proud sponsor of the 2025 CBDC Conference, we help shape secure, inclusive digital finance.

Currency Sovereignty in the Digital Age

As the world moves toward digital money, central banks must evolve their mandate to defend and enable sovereignty in the digital space. This speech will explore how SICPA’s 70-year legacy in safeguarding physical currency translates into digital solutions like inclusive, offline-capable CBDC. It will argue that the real issue is not technology but control: who governs the money of tomorrow? SICPA presents a long-term, sovereign-by-design alternative that supports national resilience and societal inclusion.

 

Breakout session: How can CBDC and broader tokenisation initiatives protect sovereignty while achieving inclusion goals

The Breakout Session introduction will explore how CBDC (and sovereign tokenisation) can both reinforce national sovereignty and promote inclusion—if designed with these goals in mind. It frames the risks of dollarization, private digital currencies, uncontrolled token ecosystems, positioning SICPA as a sovereignty-first approach to inclusive digital cash.The introduction will open a dialogue on how central banks can retain control and protect currency’s role as a public good.

Karina A. Johnson is the CBDC Project Specialist at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and Project Manager on the ECCB’s DCash pilot project. DCash was the first CBDC issued by a currency union. Karina is an attorney-at-law and holds postgraduate specialisations in International Economic Law; and Finance and Law. She is a founding member of the Caribbean Digital Finance Alliance.

The ECCB is the Monetary Authority for a population of 600,000+ people spanning six sovereign states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and two U.K. overseas: Anguilla and Montserrat. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has been diligently fulfilling its mission of “Advancing the good of the people of the Currency Union” by maintaining monetary and financial stability and promoting growth and development.

CB+DC Academy: First Movers-Insights from the ECCB's CBDC Pilot and New Perspectives on the Future of Digital Money

With the completion of the ECCB's 3-year CBDC pilot and the benefit of post-pilot analysis, how has our approach to, and thinking about, CBDCs evolved. Specifically; how have we levied the lessons of the pilot in clarifying a role for CBDCs as part of an integrated and innovative payment system in the ECCU.

 

As the digital currency landscape matures, stakeholders across the public and private sectors are grappling with what lies ahead. This forward-looking panel will examine various perspectives on the future trajectory of digital currencies, including CBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits.

The discussion will explore key trends shaping the next phase of digital currency adoption, including regulatory convergence, technological innovation, cross-border collaboration, and evolving use cases in retail and wholesale finance. Panelists will reflect on lessons learned from recent pilot programs and policy developments, while identifying critical priorities for ensuring scalability, trust, and inclusivity.

This session aims to provide a holistic outlook on how digital currencies are likely to impact the global financial system, the strategic decisions ahead for both regulators and innovators, and the collective roadmap needed to foster a resilient, interoperable, and equitable digital financial future.

Dr. Kombe Kaponda is the current chairperson for the Central Bank of Zambia (BoZ) FinTech working group, leading research on the effects of financial technologies and the feasibility of CBDC in developing economies. He is a certified Digital Finance Practitioner (CDFP), and a very active contributor to the global fintech and digital innovations agenda, participating in the IMF-World Bank Technology Community of Practice (CoP), a CBDC technology CoP in the Digital Advisory Unit focusing on R&D and research about CBDC technology for mutual global learning. He is also a founding trustee of the Association for Digital Finance Practitioners (ADFP) in Zambia and the Global Alliance of Digital Finance Associations. He is currently participating in the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Architecture Interoperability committee, Taxonomy & CBDC, Digital Currency Ecosystem Global Initiative working group. Kombe is a published author on financial technologies developments in SSA and has facilitated fintech and cyber security training workshops and seminars.

Bank of Zambia is the central bank of Zambia.

The opportunities of CBDC, Emerging Technologies, and AI in Developing Economies - Case of Zambia

The presentation explores how CBDC, emerging technologies, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) present transformative opportunities for developing economies, with a focus on Zambia. It highlights how a well-designed CBDC can promote financial inclusion by extending secure, low-cost digital payment systems to unbanked and underserved populations. It outlines how Financial Technologies (Fintechs) are using emerging technologies like blockchain, mobile platforms, and digital identity systems to interoperate and connect to the National Financial Switch (NFS), eliminating friction, reducing transaction costs, and enhancing transparency. Furthermore, it examines the role of AI in driving data-driven policy decisions, enhancing regulatory supervision (SupTech), and enabling innovative financial products tailored to local needs. The presentation emphasizes potential benefits for Zambia, such as strengthening monetary policy effectiveness, fostering fintech innovation, supporting cross-border payments within the SADC region, and boosting digital literacy. It concludes by underlining the need for strong governance frameworks, robust cybersecurity, public trust, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to maximize these opportunities while managing associated risks.

 

 

Jack is a Senior Consulting Manager at Teranode Group, specialising in blockchain strategy and advisory. He has previously been an advisor to the World Economic Forum on digital identity, working alongside governments and UN agencies. He now delivers holistic Web3 strategies, unlocking future value across identity, payments, and emerging digital ecosystems.

Teranode Group is a collective of 18+ companies delivering blockchain-based innovation since 2015.Our advisory team draws on over a decade of hands-on experience in digital currencies, blockchain, and Web3. We’ve helped financial institutions, central banks and governments shape and deliver impactful solutions, from strategy to implementation.

Trusted Digital Identities: The cornerstone of secure digital currency ecosystems

In the evolving landscape of CBDCs and stablecoins, trusted digital identities are critical to ensuring secure, compliant, and inclusive ecosystems. This presentation explores how robust identity infrastructure underpins effective KYC/AML, protects against fraud, and more importantly, safeguards privacy of individuals. For central and retail banks, digital identity isn’t just a support function—it’s foundational to the credibility, scalability, and adoption of both sovereign and privately issued digital currencies.

 

Breakout session: Demo and deep dive into Teranode Group’s Sovereign KYC and Digital Identity Wallet solution

Following on from the ‘Trusted Digital Identities: The cornerstone of secure digital currency ecosystems” keynote, join us to learn more about our solution and see how our digital identity wallet is shaping a more inclusive and compliant payment ecosystem.

 

John Kiff was a Senior Financial Sector Expert at the IMF from 2005 to 2021, focusing on financial stability and fintech issues, and OTC derivatives. Before that, he was at the Bank of Canada for 25 years where he managed the funding and investment of the government’s foreign exchange reserves.

Kiffmeister Consulting provides advice to central banks and international financial institutions on digital currencies. It also publishes a daily update on fintech and digital payments developments, and a monthly report on central bank digital currency (CBDC) exclusively for official institutions.

CBDC Academy: Blurring Lines Between Retail and Wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency

Until recently central banks have been running their retail CBDC projects along separate tracks. There is now a trend towards merging the tracks, as more central banks look to wholesale CBDC-backed tokenized deposits, and maybe even stablecoins, to achieve their digital retail payment-focused objectives. This session will start by recapping recent developments in the retail CBDC space. It will then explore how the lines between retail and wholesale CBDC are blurring, and assess potential future central bank-backed digital currency configurations.

Hubert Knapp serves on the CBSO Executive Secretariat, advancing global standards for sovereign digital money and resilient central banking. A recognized thought leader in digital money, he guides the transition to Central Banking 4.0, championing interoperability and shaping secure, sovereign infrastructures that future-proof the financial system for the digital age.

The Central Banking Standards Organisation (CBSO) defines global standards for sovereign digital money and Central Banking 4.0. Through its reference architecture and interoperability frameworks, CBSO equips central banks with resilient, future-ready infrastructures, ensuring systemic stability, sovereignty, and innovation in the transition to digital financial ecosystems.

Panel discussion : Interoperability & Standardization

As digital currencies—CBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits—continue to evolve, the demand for seamless interoperability and globally recognized standards has become increasingly urgent.

This panel will explore the critical role of interoperability and standardization in fostering a cohesive digital currency ecosystem. It will examine the challenges and opportunities presented by fragmented infrastructures, differing technical protocols, and regulatory asymmetries across jurisdictions.

The panel will also highlight current efforts toward establishing technical and governance standards.

 

Jane Khodarkovsky is a former trial attorney and human trafficking finance specialist in the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Criminal Division, in the U.S. Department of Justice. She is currently a partner at Arktouros, where she advises private companies and projects focused on regenerative finance, sustainability, machine learning, digital identity and on-chain AML and sanctions compliance.

Arktouros pllc is a law and advisory boutique dedicated to civil society and emergent technology.

Panel Discussion: Regulation and Supervision of Digital Currencies

This panel discussion explores the evolving landscape of digital currencies and the critical role of regulation and supervision in ensuring financial stability and consumer protection. The panelists will examine questions around compliance, innovation, and international cooperation. Attendees will gain insight into emerging regulatory frameworks and their implications for the future of digital finance.

Conrad Kraft is a Strategic Advisor at the Digital Euro Association, where he supports policy dialogue and innovation around stablecoins, CBDCs and tokenised deposits. Formerly in public-sector finance, he holds an MSc in Digital Currencies & Blockchain from the University of Nicosia and has completed fintech programmes at MIT and Oxford. He also serves as an Ambassador for the Global Blockchain Business Council, advancing the responsible adoption of blockchain technology in global finance and enterprise.

The Digital Euro Association is a leading think tank on digital fiat currencies. The DEA is at the forefront of CBDC and stablecoin developments, by working together closely with regulators as well as central banks, amongst others.

The Role of Stablecoins in Financial Sovereignty

This presentaion traces how different stablecoin types reshape four sovereignty pillars - Monetary, Payments, Regulatory and Digital - balancing gains in currency modernisation, cheaper cross-border payments and supervisory tech against challenges such as “digital dollarisation,” financial-stability run risk, regulatory arbitrage and cloud dependence. Framed by the EU’s MiCAR rule-set, the session closes with policy considerations for regulators.

Ananya Kumar is the deputy director for future of money at the GeoEconomics Center. She leads the Center’s work on the future of money and does research on payments systems, central bank digital currencies, stablecoins, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets. Her analysis has been cited by the Economist, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Federal Reserve, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Kumar previously worked in research assistant capacities at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Foreign Policy Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She has also worked as a legal analyst at Sidley Austin LLP in New York City. She holds a MA in strategic studies and international economics from SAIS, where she was a Merrill Center fellow. Kumar graduated cum laude from Bryn Mawr College with a BA in economics and political science.

Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) is the central bank of Austria.

The Emerging Digital Assets Ecosystem
This presentation will cover Atlantic Council's research on CBDCs, stablecoins and crypto and raise emerging issues as regulations are created.

Richard was one of the first lawyers to focus on the regulation of blockchain and digital assets. He has advised clients on securities regulatory issues since the 1990s. Richard’s practice focuses on the representation of investment banks, investment advisers, exchanges, and custodians. He is routinely quoted in leading publications.

Taft is a full-service American law firm. The firm’s FinTech Practice is best known for advising clients before the SEC, the CFTC, the OCC, the FDIC, and state banking and securities regulators, and FINRA. Taft’s FinTech attorneys advise clients who are designing digital assets, including Stablecoins, and cryptocurrencies.

Panel discussion: Battle of the Digital Currencies: CBDC, Tokenized Assets, or Stablecoins?

In an increasingly digital financial world, three contenders are shaping the future of money: Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), tokenized assets, and stablecoins. This panel brings together industry leaders, technologists, and policymakers to explore the strengths, limitations, and use cases of each. Are CBDCs the path to sovereign digital money? Will tokenized assets unlock new efficiencies in capital markets? Can stablecoins bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto? Join us for a lively debate on which digital currency model is best positioned to lead the next era of global finance.

Ms. Inutu Lukonga is a special assistant to the Director in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the IMF. She has 42 years operational experience as a Central Banker, Macro-economist, and Financial Sector Expert. She joined the IMF in 1993 after her tenure as Deputy Director of Research at the Central Bank of Zambia. At the IMF, she has worked as a Macro-Economist and as a Financial Sector Expert. She also worked at the Financial Services Authority in the UK as a regulator for banks and securities firms. Her research studies cover a broad range of areas, including Debt Restructuring, International Trade Policy, Financial Stability, Banking Supervision, Islamic Finance, Fintech, and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

Ms. Lukonga holds a BA Degree in Economics from the University of Zambia, a Master of Arts degree in International Economics from University of Sussex in the UK and was a PHD candidate in Development Economics also at the University of Sussex.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a global financial institution, whose mandate is to promote global monetary cooperation, financial stability, international trade, high employment and sustainable economic growth, as well as reduce poverty around the world.

Generative AI and Payments: Balancing Innovation with Stability

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) represents a new inflection point in the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI). With capabilities to transform customer service, automate repetitive processes, power real time fraud detection, and use data to provide customer centric products, Gen AI’s potential to improve productivity, efficiency and risk management is immense. But alongside the opportunities, there are also risks such as AI enabled fraud that is difficult to identify, deep fakes that can lead to authentication failures or expanded cyber threat attack surfaces that can undermine integrity, trust and resilience of the broader financial ecosystem. Disruptions can also propagate quickly across borders and magnify systemic risks given that payment systems are deeply interconnected across borders. So as financial institutions embed Gen AI into core payment infrastructures, regulators face the challenge of how to encourage innovation while maintaining financial stability and trust in payment systems. The presentation will explore Gen AI’s applications across the payment value chain, the risks it introduces, and how these risks propagate—highlighting the need to harness its benefits without compromising financial stability.

 

Panel Discussion: Regulation and Supervision of Digital Currencies

This panel discussion explores the evolving landscape of digital currencies and the critical role of regulation and supervision in ensuring financial stability and consumer protection. The panelists will examine questions around compliance, innovation, and international cooperation. Attendees will gain insight into emerging regulatory frameworks and their implications for the future of digital finance.

Jesse is on a mission to promote global financial inclusion. With a 20+ year background as a serial fintech entrepreneur, banking executive, and decentralized finance (DeFi) innovator, Jesse is committed to transforming financial services saying, “It’s unacceptable that over two billion people in the world don’t have access to the digital economy».

Movmint invented and powers the global benchmark for retail digital currency, the Bahamian SandDollar. Movmint’s modular ecosystem empowers central banks and communities with digital wallets, inclusive payments, and real-world adoption engines. Built for people, trusted by nations, and designed to deliver resilience, accessibility, and sovereignty at scale.

The Controversial Coexistence of CBDCs and Stablecoins

As the developers of the Bahamian Sand Dollar, Movmint are the inventors, operators, and primary support partner of The Bahamian Sand Dollar— the world’s first retail Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This global benchmark for digital currency operates amidst a tidal wave of momentum around full-reserve stablecoins. Movmint CEO Jesse Lund will discuss the future of CBDCs in the face of stablecoin legislation in the U.S., its impact on developing nations and around the world.

Artak Manukyan is Board Member of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA). Prior to joining CBA, he served as a MP. He was also an advisor to the PM of the Republic of Armenia. Throughout his career, Mr. Manukyan has acted as an expert for Armenian branches of TI, WB, ADB, UN, GIZ, World Vision.

The Central Bank of Armenia is Armenia's national bank. Its main objectives are to ensure price and financial stability. In addition to its main objectives, the CBA also has other tasks, including: Regulation of financial services (including payment services, securities market operations, consumer protection, and competition protection), Regulation of money circulation, and etc.

CBDCs motivation and Asset Tokenisation. CBA's experience

This presentation will focus on the motivations behind the launch of a CBDC in Armenia. In particular, it will examine the challenges of cross-border payments, as Armenian banks currently face high costs, slow processing times, and limited operating hours for international transactions. A DLT-based CBDC could improve cross-border payments by enabling faster, cheaper, and 24/7 transactions through automation and enhanced international cooperation. Additionally, offline payment capabilities could expand financial access, especially in areas with limited internet connectivity or banking infrastructure. This would allow individuals to conduct transactions without needing to travel long distances or rely on internet access, thereby improving convenience and promoting financial inclusion.

Tony McLaughlin worked in payments for 30 years in tradfi institutions.  He pioneered the Regulated Liability Network and instigated BIS/IIF Project Agora.  He is now CEO of Ubyx, the stablecoin clearing system.

Ubyx is a stablecoin clearing system that enables banks and fintechs to simply process stablecoins on behalf of their customers, depositing them into existing accounts.

Stablecoin Market Structure and Strategy

Overview of stablecoin market structure and strategies of issuers, chains, banks, fintechs and nation states.

Allison Middleton heads the Digital Currency Adoption Unit and has served as an active member of the Central Bank of The Bahamas’ digital currency project management team since its inception. As a SandDollar veteran, she is well-versed in all aspects of the initiative.  In her current role, Allison plays a crucial part in advancing the national mass adoption of the Bahamian CBDC by developing strategies and implementing impactful programs to enhance the user experience. Allison’s background includes software engineering, information technology training and support, strategic communication and financial inclusion.

The Central Bank of The Bahamas, located on the island of New Providence, was established on 1st June, 1974, and is a monument to one of the most rapidly growing, international financial centers in the Caribbean. This unprecedented legal authority manages the financial policies of an independent nation, The Bahamas.

Offline CBDCs: The Importance of Offline Functionality for Financial Inclusion

This presentation highlights the importance of offline CBDC functionality in achieving financial inclusion, particularly in underserved and remote communities, as well as disaster-affected areas with limited access to infrastructure. Beyond its technical value, this session explores how the introduction of offline capability would serve as a strategic driver of SandDollar adoption by increasing accessibility, trust, and usability.

Simit leads the consulting practice at Teranode Group, specialising in digital currencies, blockchain, and Web3. He advises financial institutions and central banks on navigating the evolving digital currency landscape, helping them define and implement effective strategies to stay ahead in the rapidly transforming world of digital finance and emerging technologies.

Teranode Group is a collective of 18+ companies delivering blockchain-based innovation since 2015.Our advisory team draws on over a decade of hands-on experience in digital currencies, blockchain, and Web3. We’ve helped financial institutions, central banks and governments shape and deliver impactful solutions, from strategy to implementation.

CB+DC Academy: Designing the future of money: Strategic priorities for banks in a diversifying digital currency landscape

The digital currency landscape is becoming increasingly diverse — spanning CBDCs, stablecoins, tokenised deposits, e-money tokens, and commercial bank money tokens. These forms of money are not competing in isolation; they are converging into a complex, interdependent ecosystem that will reshape the financial system over the next decade.

For both central banks and commercial institutions, the strategic challenge is no longer about whether to engage — but how to align, sequence, and scale their efforts to establish a framework for a future state that is continually evolving.

In this session, we will explore:

• The emerging architecture of digital currency
• The role and impact of AI on the digital currency landscape
• Legislation and the impact on payment system
• Use cases and future drivers and trends for digital currencies

A framework to help banks to map priorities, identify drivers, and define a vision around digital currency strategies.

 

Panel discussion: The way forward – An Outlook

As the digital currency landscape matures, stakeholders across the public and private sectors are grappling with what lies ahead. This forward-looking panel will examine various perspectives on the future trajectory of digital currencies, including CBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits.

The discussion will explore key trends shaping the next phase of digital currency adoption, including regulatory convergence, technological innovation, cross-border collaboration, and evolving use cases in retail and wholesale finance. Panelists will reflect on lessons learned from recent pilot programs and policy developments, while identifying critical priorities for ensuring scalability, trust, and inclusivity.

This session aims to provide a holistic outlook on how digital currencies are likely to impact the global financial system, the strategic decisions ahead for both regulators and innovators, and the collective roadmap needed to foster a resilient, interoperable, and equitable digital financial future.

Asen Naydenov is all about driving change, currently rocking the role of Product Owner for the Digital Euro at the Austrian National Bank. With years of hands-on experience in digital banking and a strong track record in regulatory projects, Asen is collaborating closely with the European Central Bank to seamlessly integrate the Digital Euro into Austria’s payment landscape. His mission goes beyond national borders—the Digital Euro is envisioned to close the gap in Europe’s fragmented payment ecosystem and establish a unified system for approximately 350 million citizens, making everyday transactions easier, faster, and more secure across the continent.

Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) is the central bank of Austria.

Eurosystem CBDC Initiatives – OeNB’s Contribution
Covering the global topic of CB+DCs, an overview on retail and wholesale applications is given. This includes specific insights into the Austrian market and views on the future outlook. Conclusions drawn from a recent paper are presented, as well as current research on consumer behaviour.

Kwame Oppong is the Head of Fintech and Innovation at Bank of Ghana.
His background spans Technology, Digital Financial Services (DFS) operations, policy development, and regulation. He has consulted for several governments, public sector institutions, international development organizations and private corporations globally.
Prior to joining the Bank, Kwame worked with CGAP (World Bank Group), Millicom, Hewlett Packard Company (now HP EB) and other organizations in the banking, housing finance and health insurance industries.
Kwame is a passionate advocate for financial inclusion, innovation, and the development of digital economies.

Bank of Ghana is the central bank of Ghana.

The presentation title will be announced soon

Pinar Ozcan is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Saïd Business School, Oxford University. She is also the academic director of the Oxford Future of Finance and Technology (Fintech) Initiative at Oxford. Pinar specializes in strategy, entrepreneurship, and technology markets. Her current research includes fintech and CBDC ecosystems, open banking, digital disruption, and the rise of big tech platforms.

Oxford University provides world-class research and education to benefit society on a local, regional, national and global scale.

 

 

CBDCs versus Stablecoins: The Politics of Digital Money

As digital currencies gain momentum, central banks face mounting pressure to innovate while safeguarding monetary sovereignty. In this keynote, Professor Pinar Ozcan explores the geopolitical and institutional dynamics shaping the rise of CBDCs and stablecoins—highlighting how power, trust, and infrastructure design influence the future of digital money. Drawing on research in fintech ecosystems and global regulation, the talk offers strategic insight for policymakers navigating this high-stakes transformation.

Before joining the Bank of Slovenia Marko Pahor was for over two decades a professor of statistics and economics at the University of Ljubljana. Besides the role in the central bank, he is a member of the high-level task force on digital Euro at the ECB. 

The Bank of Slovenia is the central bank of the Republic of Slovenia. Since 1 May 2004, when Slovenia joined the European Union, the Bank of Slovenia has been a member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).

How do CBDCs fit into contemporary payment ecosystems?

One of the most frequently asked questions about Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) is: “Why do we need them?” In other words, in a world where cash payments are increasingly being replaced—not just complemented—by a wide range of electronic payment methods, from payment cards to instant and mobile solutions, what is the rationale for introducing CBDCs? The core argument I want to make is that there is a gap between physical cash and private electronic payment systems—a space that CBDCs are uniquely positioned to fill. Since the nature and size of this gap vary across different monetary jurisdictions, the role and design of CBDCs will inevitably differ as well. They will need to adapt to local conditions in order to effectively bridge these gaps and meet the specific requirements for successful implementation.

 

Governors' Panel on Digital Currencies

In this panel, the deputy governors of several central bank share their views on digital currencies. Gain unique perspectives on digital currency design, policy considerations, and the role of digital currencies in shaping the future financial system. Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and potential implications of CBDCs and stablecoins in the financial sector. Hear from these high-level decision-makers their strategic vision and practical insights that drive the digital currency agenda.

Dr. Novelette Panton has portfolio responsibility for the Payment System and Money Services Oversight Division which includes oversight of the systematically important payment systems and entities testing innovations in the Fintech Regulatory Sandbox, as well as facilitating the licensing and supervision of Money Services Businesses, that is Cambios and Remittance entities. She is the Chairman of the CBDC Steering Committee, Deputy Chair of the Risk Management Committee, a member of the National Anti Money Laundering Committee, as well as a member of   regional and international Committees - including CARICOM Fintech Working Group; CEMLA Fintech Expert Group and Western Hemisphere Payments and Security Settlement Forums.  Novelette holds a PhD in Economic Development Policy from the University of the West Indies and is a Justice of the Peace and Lay Magistrate.

Bank of Jamaica is the central bank of Jamaica

Jamaica's CBDC - JAM-DEX® : Real World Insights on Implementation

Having embarked on its CBDC initiative in 2020 as part of the country’s digital transformation, Jamaica has had mixed experiences. While there have been successes in some areas, implementation challenges remain, requiring agile solutions from the Bank of Jamaica.

 

Panel Discussion: Regulation and Supervision of Digital Currencies

This panel discussion explores the evolving landscape of digital currencies and the critical role of regulation and supervision in ensuring financial stability and consumer protection. The panelists will examine questions around compliance, innovation, and international cooperation. Attendees will gain insight into emerging regulatory frameworks and their implications for the future of digital finance

Maximilian Pfeifer graduated with a bachelor’s in finance. He currently works on CBDC and on the current Fintech (DLT) topics in the OeNB as well as the collateral management. His Bachelor thesis focused on tokenized gold and digitalization of financial markets.

The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) is the central bank of the Republic of Austria. As such, it is an integral part of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). In the public interest, it helps shape economic development in Austria as well as in the euro area.

Eurosystem CBDC Initiatives – OeNB’s Contribution

Covering the global topic of CB+DCs, an overview on retail and wholesale applications is given. This includes specific insights into the Austrian market and views on the future outlook. Conclusions drawn from a recent paper are presented, as well as current research on consumer behaviour.

Shaqueno oversees operations of the Financial Market Infrastructure Unit to support the stability safety, functionality, and efficiency of systemically important financial market systems in The Bahamas. This includes the oversight and management of the Real Time Gross Settlement System, the Central Securities Depository, SWIFT, and the Central Bank Digital Currency Platform, Sand Dollar.

 

Balancing Innovation and Stability - The Central Bank's Role in a CBDC Ecosystem

The presentation will cover the The Central Bank of the Bahamas' role in the SandDollar Ecosystem.

Sharmyn Powell’s central banking career spans over 25 years at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). As Chairperson of the ECCB’s Fintech Working group, she led the ECCB’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot project, DCash. Sharmyn is currently on a 2-year secondment at the BIS Innovation Hub, Swiss Centre.

The Bank for International Settlements' mission is to support central banks' pursuit of monetary and financial stability through international cooperation, and to act as a bank for central banks.

Panel Discussion: The Impact of Digital Currencies on Payment System

This panel will discuss how digital currencies will influence the way payments will be made in the future. What are the pros & cons, the risks & opportunities?

This panel delves into how digital currencies are reshaping global payment systems, from reducing transaction costs to enabling real-time cross-border transfers. The panelists will discuss the opportunities and disruptions brought about by stablecoins, tokenization, CBDCs. The conversation will explore the integration of digital currencies into existing payment infrastructures and their potential to enhance financial inclusion. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the technological, economic, and policy implications of this transformation.

Jaime Pradenas has extensive experience designing and executing projects at the intersection of finance and technology. Jaime leads initiatives focused on DLT technology, tokenization, CBDCs, and next-generation market infrastructures. He holds a master’s degree in financial management and is a Civil Industrial Engineer with a minor in Computer Science.

 The Central Bank of Chile is an autonomous technical body whose task is to ensure the stability of the currency, and the level of inflation. It also promotes the stability and efficiency of the financial system, guaranteeing the normal functioning of internal and external payments.

Public Money for a Tokenized World: Exploring the Role of Wholesale CBDCs

Tokenization promises more open, efficient markets—but only if settlement infrastructure evolves in parallel. This speech examines the role of wholesale CB+DCs in bridging today’s systems with tomorrow’s tokenized economy. It outlines how central banks can support innovation without compromising stability, through carefully designed and purpose-driven digital currency experiments.

 

 

 

In an increasingly digital financial world, three contenders are shaping the future of money: Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), tokenized assets, and stablecoins. This panel brings together industry leaders, technologists, and policymakers to explore the strengths, limitations, and use cases of each. Are CBDCs the path to sovereign digital money? Will tokenized assets unlock new efficiencies in capital markets? Can stablecoins bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto? Join us for a lively debate on which digital currency model is best positioned to lead the next era of global finance.

Mark Rakhmilevich is Vice President of Product Management and Development at Oracle, leading the Fintech, Blockchain, and Transaction Management portfolio within Oracle’s Mission-Critical Systems group. He drives technology and product strategy for key solutions including Oracle Blockchain Platform, Blockchain App Builder, Oracle Database Blockchain Tables, Tuxedo, Transaction Manager for Microservices, and the Fintech Data Platform initiative—delivering innovation both in the cloud and on-premises.

With a focus on the complex needs of financial institutions, central banks, and enterprise clients, Mark guides global organizations in leveraging blockchain, digital assets, and data platforms to drive measurable outcomes—accelerating growth and innovation, deepening customer engagement, streamlining operations, reducing fraud and risk, and bringing to market innovative solutions that solve real-world economic and societal challenges.

He plays a pivotal role in Oracle’s blockchain and digital assets strategy, working with customers and partners across sectors to move from experimentation to production—sharing industry use cases, advising on deployment architectures, and aligning technology with regulatory and business imperatives. Mark has been actively involved in CBDC and digital asset initiatives with central banks and financial services innovators worldwide.

A recognized thought leader, Mark is shaping Oracle’s innovation in Digital Assets, Decentralized Identity, and AI-powered compliance through the Fintech Data Platform initiative. He has spoken at global forums including the OMFIF Digital Money Summit and regularly contributes insights on Oracle Blockchain Blog and on Linked.in.

Oracle is a cloud technology company that provides organizations around the world with computing infrastructure and software to help them innovate, unlock efficiencies and become more effective. We also created the world’s first – and only – autonomous database to help organize and secure our customers’ data.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure offers higher performance, security, and cost savings. It is designed so businesses can move workloads easily from on-premises systems to the cloud, and between cloud and on-premises and other clouds. Oracle Cloud applications provide business leaders with modern applications that help them innovate, attain sustainable growth, and become more resilient.

The work we do is not only transforming the world of business–it’s helping defend governments, and advance scientific and medical research. From nonprofits to companies of all sizes, millions of people use our tools to streamline supply chains, make HR more human, quickly pivot to a new financial plan, and connect data and people around the world.

At work, we embrace diversity, encourage personal and professional growth, and celebrate a global team of passionate people developing innovative technologies that help people and companies tackle real-world problems head-on.

CB+DC Academy: Tales from the CBDC Trenches

After years of exploration and proof-of-concepts, we’re now entering the “money time” for digital currency initiatives, such as stablecoins and CBDCs to deliver tangible results. Amid growing competition for digital money many central banks face urgent need to move beyond the initial exploration into live, operational systems that can modernize payments and enhance financial inclusion.

Oracle is actively involved in global CBDC initiatives for both wholesale as well as retail digital currencies. The session will showcase a CBDC project implementation using Oracle Blockchain Platform and Oracle’s extended CBDC Sandbox providing a robust, scalable, interoperable, and secure infrastructure to meet central banks’ needs.  We’ll review architectures for advanced use cases ranging from cross-border wholesale payments to scalable domestic retail CBDC deployments. We will also explore best practices for designing, deploying and managing CBDC projects, based on Oracle’s engagement with CBDC pilots, long history in financial services and many large-scale payments projects.

This session is for decision-makers and technical leads in financial institutions and central banks who want to move beyond the experimental phase to build a sustainable future with digital assets and CBDCs.

 

Unifying CBDCs, Deposit Tokens, and Stablecoins into the Future of Money

The digital currency debate has often been framed as a zero-sum contest—CBDCs vs. Stablecoins vs. Deposit tokens. But in practice, the monetary future is shaping up to be “all of the above.” Each form of digital money is advancing rapidly, backed by distinct stakeholder groups, use cases, and regulatory frameworks. This presentation reframes the conversation: from competition to coexistence.

We’ll highlight the distinct benefits each form of money offers, and the unique strengths they bring to the broader financial ecosystem—sovereign trust and monetary authority in CBDCs; regulatory familiarity, fractional reserve backing, and credit creation in deposit tokens; cross-border utility, and portability in reserve-backed stablecoins, and with money market fund–backed stablecoins, the additional benefits of institutional-grade liquidity and capital efficiency.

We’ll also explore how to architect a unified, multi-layered digital money ecosystem, integrating these instruments through a shared settlement layer such as a unified ledger approach supporting independence through cross-ledger interoperability.  We’ll also show how Oracle digital assets solutions can augment Central Bank capabilities leveraging CBDCs programmability for targeted interventions, ensure universal access without dependency on specific financial institution, while aligning with regulators’ priorities: financial stability, monetary policy control, AML compliance, and system resilience. Ultimately, this is not a technology race—it’s a design challenge. One that demands realism and interoperability, while incorporating continuous compliance monitoring and embedded supervision across all layers of the digital currency stack.

 

Panel Discussion: The Impact of Digital Currencies on Payment Systems

This panel will discuss how digital currencies will influence the way payments will be made in the future. What are the pros & cons, the risks & opportunities?

This panel delves into how digital currencies are reshaping global payment systems, from reducing transaction costs to enabling real-time cross-border transfers. The panelists will discuss the opportunities and disruptions brought about by stablecoins, tokenization, CBDCs. The conversation will explore the integration of digital currencies into existing payment infrastructures and their potential to enhance financial inclusion. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the technological, economic, and policy implications of this transformation.

As Deputy Governor, Mr. Rolle oversees the payments function as part of his broader duties. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Economics, College of William and Mary (USA), and a Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Quantitative Methods, University of Georgia (USA).

The Central Bank of The Bahamas, located on the island of New Providence, was established on 1st June, 1974, and is a monument to one of the most rapidly growing, international financial centers in the Caribbean. This unprecedented legal authority manages the financial policies of an independent nation, The Bahamas.

 

Governors' Panel on Digital Currencies

In this exclusive panel, the deputy governors of several central bank share their views on digital currencies. Gain unique perspectives on digital currency design, policy considerations, and the role of digital currencies in shaping the future financial system. Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and potential implications of CBDCs and stablecoins in the financial sector. Hear from these high-level decision-makers their strategic vision and practical insights that drive the digital currency agenda.

Mr. Rolle has served as Governor of the Central Bank since 2016.  He was previously Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, and a Senior Advisor on the IMF’s Executive Board. He holds graduate degrees in economics from American University (Washington DC) and Carleton University (Ottawa) and is a CFA Charterholder.

The Central Bank of The Bahamas, located on the island of New Providence, was established on 1st June, 1974, and is a monument to one of the most rapidly growing, international financial centers in the Caribbean. This unprecedented legal authority manages the financial policies of an independent nation, The Bahamas.

Welcome Keynote Address

Anca is the co-founder of SODA and web3 advisor to the World Bank Innovation Office. She has spent almost five years as Head of Public Sector at cLabs, working on Celo, an open blockchain platform. Prior to that she spent over eight years at the World Bank focused on financial inclusion and fintech.

SODA is a technology-agnostic firm offering advisory services at the intersection of central banking, digital finance and the web3 industry, aiming to make public digital money a reality. SODA focuses on enabling ‘real life’ user-centric use cases for digital currency to help test public digital money and drive adoption.

Panel Discussion: Regulation and Supervision of Digital Currencies

This panel discussion explores the evolving landscape of digital currencies and the critical role of regulation and supervision in ensuring financial stability and consumer protection. The panelists will examine questions around compliance, innovation, and international cooperation. Attendees will gain insight into emerging regulatory frameworks and their implications for the future of digital finance.

Joachim Samuelsson is CEO and board member at publicly-listed Swedish deep tech company Crunchfish. Joachim is a tech pioneer and a serial entrepreneur with many patents in digital payments and mobile technology. He has a Master of Science degree from 1998 in Industrial Engineering and Management from Linköping University.

Crunchfish is a deep tech company developing a device-agnostic trusted client application platform for offline payments, tokenized card payments as well as other mobile client / server systems. Crunchfish has been listed on Nasdaq in Stockholm since 2016, with headquarters in Malmö and a subsidiary in India.

Rethinking Retail Payments - Respecting Roles and Responsibilites in the Payment Ecosystem 

Crunchfish respects the roles in the payment ecosystem by allowing banks and payment application providers to enable end-users to MAKE payments with lsyer-2 wallets, while central banks with CBDC payment networks deliver the ability to RECEIVE and settle layer-2 payments This natural separation of responsibilities creates resilence, scalability, interoperability, flexibility and healthy competition within the payment ecosystem. Digital IOUs in a patented Reserve, Pay, and Settlement approach generalize how both card payments and smart contracts work. Welcome to explore how this groundbreaking innovation enables resilient payments seamlessly in modular and future-ready CBDC system.

 

Panel discussion : Interoperability & Standardization

As digital currencies—CBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits—continue to evolve, the demand for seamless interoperability and globally recognized standards has become increasingly urgent.

This panel will explore the critical role of interoperability and standardization in fostering a cohesive digital currency ecosystem. It will examine the challenges and opportunities presented by fragmented infrastructures, differing technical protocols, and regulatory asymmetries across jurisdictions.

The panel will also highlight current efforts toward establishing technical and governance standards.

Simon is Deputy Head of Digital Currency Technology at the Bank of England, where he co-leads the technology work on the digital pound. Over the past decade, he has held a range of roles across the Bank’s digital currencies, fintech and CBDC initiatives. He played a key role in shaping the February 2023 Technology Working Paper on the digital pound.

The Bank of England is the UK's central bank.

Innovation and the Bank of England’s Digital Pound Lab

This presentation will provide an overview of the Bank of England Digital Pound Lab. The Lab is an experimental platform for industry to test use cases and understand potential business models for a digital pound. The session will cover the objectives and approach for the Lab, as well as the Lab's infrastructure and capabilities.

David is a seasoned software engineer and digital innovation architect with over a decade of experience in Java, microservices, and secure API ecosystems. At SICPA, he leads the technical architecture of the CBDC solution, designing resilient, scalable infrastructures to support digital currency ecosystems and mission-critical government-grade platforms.

With decades of experience in monetary security, SICPA offers advanced CBDC solutions for both retail and wholesale needs. Our technology ensures cash-like offline use, interoperability, and real-time insights—empowering central banks with digital sovereignty. As a proud sponsor of the 2025 CBDC Conference, we help shape secure, inclusive digital finance.

Presentation title will be announce soon

Ulrich runs the implementation department for the retail digital euro within Bundesbank. He has more than 25 years’ experience in financial market infrastructure and banking.

Deutsche Bundesbank is the central bank of Germany.

Panel Discussion: The Impact of Digital Currencies on Payment Systems

This panel will discuss how digital currencies will influence the way payments will be made in the future. What are the pros & cons, the risks & opportunities?

This panel delves into how digital currencies are reshaping global payment systems, from reducing transaction costs to enabling real-time cross-border transfers. The panelists will discuss the opportunities and disruptions brought about by stablecoins, tokenization, CBDCs. The conversation will explore the integration of digital currencies into existing payment infrastructures and their potential to enhance financial inclusion. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the technological, economic, and policy implications of this transformation.

Harry is a senior marketing and positioning strategist. He previously worked at Banque Paribas and ABN AMRO and was a director at two leading international strategic consultants.

He is a leading contributor to innovation in both the retail and corporate payments and transaction space. He has also been actively involved in developing a.o. financial planning, international pensions and new steps in 'social innovation'. His strength is in catalyzing institutions into developing vision and strategies and in identifying and implementing client-centric solutions.

He is a columnist and guest speaker, sits on several advisory boards and regularly publishes in leading international media.

Smorenberg Corporate Consultancy is an advisory specialized in payments and financial transactions.

Governors' Panel on Digital Currencies
In this exclusive panel, the deputy governors of several central bank share their views on digital currencies. Gain unique perspectives on digital currency design, policy considerations, and the role of digital currencies in shaping the future financial system. Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and potential implications of CBDCs and stablecoins in the financial sector. Hear from these high-level decision-makers their strategic vision and practical insights that drive the digital currency agenda.

 

Panel Discussion: The Impact of Digital Currencies on Payment Systems

This panel will discuss how digital currencies will influence the way payments will be made in the future. What are the pros & cons, the risks & opportunities?

This panel delves into how digital currencies are reshaping global payment systems, from reducing transaction costs to enabling real-time cross-border transfers. The panelists will discuss the opportunities and disruptions brought about by stablecoins, tokenization, CBDCs. The conversation will explore the integration of digital currencies into existing payment infrastructures and their potential to enhance financial inclusion. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the technological, economic, and policy implications of this transformation.

Wee Kee is responsible for architecting business capabilities for digital payments, and developing strategies to address current needs and capture future opportunities. He works closely with the product team to develop product vision and strategies, and with the technology team on aligning technical solutions with business needs. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan in 2022, Wee Kee was the Specialist Leader for Distributed Ledger Technology at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, where he led Project Ubin, was also Advisor at the BIS Innovation Hub, where he led Project Dunbar.

Kinexys by J.P. Morgan is the firm’s blockchain business unit focused on building the next generation of financial infrastructure utilising blockchain technology. Kinexys Digital Payments offers a blockchain-based deposit product that allows clients to make domestic and cross-border payments between Kinexys Digital Payments accounts on a 24/7, near real-time basis.

Designing Payment Tokens for Safety, Integrity, Interoperability, and Usability

With the growing interest on stablecoins, deposit tokens and CBDCs, Kinexys by J.P. Morgan and MIT Digital Currency Initiative collaborated on the research and development of a prototype for payment tokens on EVM-based blockchains. This presentation will discuss key findings from the research, including the additional capabilities required in payment tokens to meet compliance and regulatory requirements, the gaps in existing token standards and the proposal of two new sets of capabilities to address these gaps. The presentation will also highlight challenges in current approach towards token standards, and why narrow composable standards would help drive convergence in the space.

Stanley is a fintech visionary having, prior to Movmint, led JP Morgan’s Onyx product development, Deloitte’s Southeast Asia's Blockchain Lab, and Adhara.io's GroupNet. Stanley spent two years as CTO at IBM Blockchain for Financial Services globally, and acted as IBM's global Central Bank Digital Currency subject matter expert.

Movmint invented and powers the global benchmark for retail digital currency, the Bahamian SandDollar. Movmint’s modular ecosystem empowers central banks and communities with digital wallets, inclusive payments, and real-world adoption engines. Built for people, trusted by nations, and designed to deliver resilience, accessibility, and sovereignty at scale.

CB+DC Academy: Integrating with the Sand Dollar

Movmint is best known for designing, supporting and powering The Bahamian Sand Dollar, the global benchmark for retail Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Stanley Yong, Chief Product Officer of Movmint, will facilitate a workshop on the platforming capability of the Sand Dollar ecosystem and, in particular, a technical approach to integration. The platform is a modular and flexible CBDC ecosystem, with tools to support consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and regulators, built to support real time payments at a national scale.