The Payment Expert Podcast

Epizode

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  Crypto’s Dark Side: Scams, Sanctions and State-Backed Crime | Ep. 27 16.09.2026 22min

  From sophisticated investment scams to sanctions evasion and state-backed cybercrime, crypto has become an increasingly important part of the global financial crime conversation.In this episode of the Payment Expert Podcast, Louis Thompsett is joined by Senior Business Journalist Kieran O’Connor to examine some of the darkest corners of the digital asset economy.The pair look at how so-called scam farms build relationships with victims over weeks or months before stealing their money, why stablecoins such as USDT have become so useful to criminal networks, and how stolen funds can be dispersed across multiple wallets and exchanges within minutes.They also examine the human cost behind these operations, including forced scam compounds in Southeast Asia where victims of trafficking are coerced into carrying out fraud.The conversation then moves from organised crime to geopolitics, exploring how sanctioned states including Russia, Iran and North Korea have used digital assets to move money, bypass traditional financial rails and support state-linked activity.But is crypto actually better for criminals than cash?The episode ends by asking whether the permanent, public nature of blockchain transactions could ultimately make crypto one of the most traceable forms of financial crime.Subscribe to the Payment Expert Podcast for more news, insight and analysis from across the global payments industry.For the latest payments news, visit Payment Expert.#Crypto #Cryptocurrency #FinancialCrime #Stablecoins #Payments
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  Industrialised Financial Crime: AI's Impact on Fraud Sophistication| Ep. 026 09.09.2026 23min

  In this episode, Benjamin David from the Payments Association discusses the rapid evolution of financial crime, especially with AI's role in increasing fraud sophistication. We explore how firms can respond effectively through collaboration, better intelligence sharing, and responsible AI governance.Key TopicsThe impact of AI on fraud tempo and sophisticationThe importance of collaboration and intelligence sharing in financial crime preventionChallenges in AI governance and regulatory frameworksThe distributed and industrialised nature of modern financial crimeStrategies for effective threat prioritisation and resource allocationHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Benjamin DavidProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  Digital Cash Unleashed: Regulation, Innovation, and Interoperability | Ep. 025 02.09.2026 22min

  In this episode, Vikram Bharwani, CTO banking at NTT Data for UK and Ireland, discusses the future of digital money, interoperability, and the impact of new payment rails on the industry. He shares insights on CBDCs, stablecoins, tokenised deposits, and the strategic role of the UK in digital currency development.Key TopicsDigital money forms and their coexistenceCustomer behaviour and invisible payment layersCBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenised depositsInteroperability challenges and solutionsRegulatory landscape and strategic positioning of the UKFuture payment volume trends and market shiftsFailures and risks in digital payment systemsThe role of AI and automation in paymentsHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Vikram BharwaniProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  Proactive Compliance in AI Payments | Ep. 024 26.08.2026 24min

   In this episode, Ignas Dovidonis, Chief AML and CTF Compliance Officer at myTU, discusses the current state and future of agentic payments, AI's role in automating transactions, regulatory challenges, and the importance of compliance and infrastructure modernisation.Key TopicsAgentic payments and AI capabilitiesRegulatory and compliance challengesTrust and verification in AI systemsRegulation differences across marketsInfrastructure modernization in financeHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Ignas DovidonisProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  Is the UK Ready for the Digital Pound?| Ep. 023 19.08.2026 23min

  In this episode, we explore the UK's digital pound lab phase two, focusing on the integration of stablecoins and CBDCs, and what it means for the future of digital payments and regulation.Key  topicsDigital pound and stablecoin integrationRegulatory environment for digital currenciesInteroperability between CBDCs and stablecoinsBlockchain and payment infrastructureOwnership and control of digital profilesAtomic settlement and trust in digital paymentsHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Callum WilliamsProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  The Future of UK BNPL | Ep. 022 12.08.2026 22min

  In this episode, we explore the recent UK regulations on buy now pay later (BNPL), their impact on the market, and how major players like Klarna are adapting. We discuss market timing, regulatory challenges, and future trends in BNPL and banking integration.Key TopicsUK BNPL regulation implementation and market impactKlarna's strategic move towards banking licensesThe timing of BNPL regulation and market maturityAffordability checks and their implications for consumers and providersUS market differences and regulatory approachesThe future of standalone BNPL providers versus integrated financial servicesHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Kieran O'Connor Producer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  X Money: Elon Musk’s Next Disruptor or Fleeting Gimmick? | Ep. 021 05.08.2026 24min

  In this episode, we explore the launch of X Money by Elon Musk, its potential as a US super app, and the challenges it faces including security, regulation, and market competition. Our experts analyse whether X Money will succeed or just be a fleeting gimmick.Key TopicsLaunch of X Money and its featuresPotential as a US super app and market strategySecurity concerns and recent hacksRegulatory challenges and oversight issuesMarket competition with existing fintechs and challenger banksUser trust and adoption hurdlesX Money's revenue streams and business modelImpact of regional licensing and coverage gapsFuture prospects and potential for successHost: Louis ThompsettGuests:Kieran O'Connor & Callum WilliamsProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  BNY On The Future Of Global Payments | Ep. 20 29.07.2026 13min

  Payments are changing faster than ever.New payment rails, tokenisation, AI and always-on banking are reshaping how money moves around the world, but can the financial system keep up?In this episode of the Payment Expert Podcast, Louis Thompsett is joined by Bana Akkad Azhari, Head of EMEA Global Payments & Trade at BNY, to discuss the biggest trends shaping global payments and financial infrastructure.The conversation explores interoperability, cross-border payments, tokenisation, liquidity management, 24/7 payment rails and the growing role of AI in financial decision-making.In this episode:✅ Why interoperability is becoming more important than ever✅ The challenge of connecting new payment rails✅ How 24/7 payments are changing treasury and liquidity management✅ Why real-time visibility matters for financial institutions✅ How tokenisation could transform settlement and collateral management✅ The future of cross-border payments✅ Why AI agents need governance before they can make payment decisions✅ The importance of explainability and trust in financial AI✅ How better connectivity can improve client experiences✅ What the next generation of banking infrastructure looks likeBNY also shares why the future of payments is about much more than speed. Success will depend on better interoperability, trusted infrastructure, stronger data and intelligent automation working together.#PaymentExpert #Payments #Fintech #Banking #BNY #Tokenisation #CrossBorderPayments #AI #RealTimePayments #Treasury
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  Overhyped vs. Underrated: Elixirr’s Keith Bear Breaks Down the Future of Digital Wallets | Ep. 019 22.07.2026 23min

  In this episode, Keith Bear discusses the evolving landscape of digital payments, stablecoins, tokenised deposits, and the regulatory environment across the US and UK. Gain insights into how these innovations are shaping the future of digital finance and what banks and fintechs are doing to adapt.Key TopicsDigital payments evolutionStablecoin regulation in US and UKTokenised deposits and their applicationsImpact of regulation on banking strategiesFuture of A2A payments and digital walletsHost: Callum WilliamsGuest: Keith BearProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  How NVIDIA's Payment Foundation Models Are Reshaping Finance| Ep. 018 15.07.2026 26min

  In this episode, Pahal Patangia from NVIDIA discusses the transformative impact of payment foundation models, AI, and data sharing in financial services. We explore how these innovations are shaping the future of autonomous finance, agentic commerce, and personalized customer experiences.Key TopicsPayment foundation models and their capabilitiesThe impact of transformer architecture on financial dataBuilding a 360-degree customer viewAgentic commerce and autonomous transactionsThe importance of data sharing and open source modelsLiability and regulation in AI-driven paymentsThe convergence of AI, data, and infrastructure in financeHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Pahal PatangiaProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  The Future of Secure Agentic Transactions | Ep. 017 08.07.2026 22min

  In this episode, David Birch discusses the security and trust challenges of agentic transactions as they move from concepts to pilots, exploring digital identity infrastructure, standardisation, and fraud mitigation in the evolving payments landscape.Key  TopicsDigital identity infrastructure and its importanceSecurity challenges with agentic transactionsStandardisation needs for agentic frameworksFraud risks and mitigation strategiesThe role of digital signatures and certificatesLayered approach to transaction trust and discoveryPotential of hardware security modules (HSMs)Liability and legal considerations in agent-based paymentsHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: David BirchProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  UK Stablecoin Regulation: Industry-Friendly or Cautious Approach? | Ep. 016 01.07.2026 23min

  In this episode, we explore the latest developments in UK stablecoin regulation, comparing it with US and European models. We discuss the implications for industry growth, regulatory collaboration, and future prospects for digital currencies.Key TopicsUK stablecoin regulation and its industry impactComparison of US, EU, and UK stablecoin reserve requirementsRegulatory collaboration between FCA and Bank of EnglandImplications of high reserve caps and market viabilityFuture outlook for stablecoin innovation and interoperabilityHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Kieran O'ConnorProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  Open Banking's Biggest Problem: The FCA Has a Plan | Ep. 15 24.06.2026 21min

  Open banking has a problem and the FCA finally has the statutory powers to fix it. We sit down with Andrew Self, Head of Open Banking & Finance at the Financial Conduct Authority, to find out what the new regulatory framework actually means for the UK's open finance future.From variable recurring payments to the 2028–2030 Open Finance roadmap, Andrew breaks down the real obstacles, commercial models, consumer trust, data access and how the FCA plans to solve them.🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:Intro: Why open banking is at a crossroadsThe FCA's new statutory powers explainedWhy the commercial model has failed so farVariable recurring payments (VRP) — the game changer?Reliability & error messaging: the industry's weak spotOpen Finance vision: mortgages, SMEs, and pensionsThe PRISM framework: how the FCA prioritises use casesWhat needs to happen before 2028🔔 Subscribe for weekly payments, fintech, and financial services news.#OpenBanking #OpenFinance #FCA #Fintech #UKPayments
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  Capgemini- Fraud Beyond The Banks| Ep. 014 17.06.2026 21min

  In this episode, Oliver Hanmer, Managing Director of UK Financial Crime Compliance Advisory at Capgemini, shares insights from the global anti-scam summit, discusses the evolving landscape of financial fraud, the role of AI, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration in combating fraud.Key PointsGlobal Anti-Scam Summit insightsRole of AI in fraud detection and preventionCross-sector collaboration between finance, telecom, and social mediaRegulatory incentives and misalignmentsImpact of instant payments on fraudUK's national fraud strategy and online crime centreHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Oliver HanmerProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  The Future of Payment Automation with UK Payments Initiative (UKPI)| Ep. 013 10.06.2026 22min

  This episode features insights from the launch of the UK Payments Initiative (UKPI) at Money20/20 Europe, focusing on how Commercial Variable Recurring Payments (cVRPs) are transforming the open banking landscape. Experts discuss the phased rollout of these payment methods, regulatory and pricing frameworks, and the ecosystem collaboration required for widespread consumer adoption.Key TopicsThe evolution of UKPI and the shift to commercial-driven open bankingCommercial Variable Recurring Payments (cVRPs) vs. traditional direct debits and cardsThe phased rollout of cVRPs (Wave 1 restricted use cases to Wave 2 broader applications)Consumer benefits, including payment parameters, visibility, and control within banking appsRegulatory considerations, independent pricing principles, and mitigation of litigation risksTechnical plumbing, industry collaboration, and transaction volume as key success metricsHost: Louis Thompsett Guest: Richard Mould Producer: Anaya McDonald Editor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  Stablecoins and AI at Money20/20 Europe | Ep. 012 03.06.2026 19min

  This episode features insights from the Money2020 Europe event, focusing on stablecoins, agentic AI, regulation, tokenisation, and fraud prevention in the payments industry. Experts discuss industry milestones, regulatory frameworks, and the future of payment innovations.Key TopicsStablecoins and their regulatory landscapeAgentic AI and its impact on paymentsTokenisation projects like Project AgoraIndustry consolidation and M&A activityFraud and identity security advancementsHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Justin JacobsProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  Beyond the Rail: Pay.UK’s Vision for a Multi-Money World| Ep. 011 27.05.2026 20min

  In this episode Host, Louis Thompsett is joined by Justin Jacobs, Chief Policy and Engagement Officer at Pay.UK,  to discuss the future of digital money, interoperability of payment rails, trust, and security in a multi-money world. This episode explores opportunities, risks, and the evolving landscape of payments in the UK.Key TopicsMulti-money world and payment interoperabilityOpportunities in programmability and new use casesResilience and diversity of payment optionsTrust, consumer protection, and fraud preventionRegulatory adaptation and industry collaborationHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Justin JacobsProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  The Fintech Regulatory Revolution | Ep. 010 20.05.2026 28min

  In today’s episode, Host Louis Thompsett is joined by Shaanil Senarath-Dassanayake, Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, as the duo discuss the seismic shifts in the UK’s regulatory landscape and what the transition from "unregulated" to "fully authorised" actually means for the next generation of fintech innovators.Key Discussion PointsThe Crypto Authorization Gateway: Why the move from AML registration to full FCA authorization is more than just a paperwork exercise—it’s a total shift in operational expectations.Senior Management Accountability: How the extension of SM&CR to crypto firms is forcing founders to rethink personal liability and governance in a maturing market.The BNPL "Regulation Day": Navigating the July 15, 2026, deadline for Deferred Payment Credit and the compliance hurdles for firms facing FCA consumer credit rules for the first time.Structural Shakeups: What the consolidation of the PSR into the FCA means for payments firms and whether a "single supervisor" model will truly simplify the complex UK ecosystem.The AI Liability Gap: Insights from the FCA’s Mills Review on where the legal "buck stops" when agentic and generative AI systems cause consumer harm.Host: Louis ThompsettGuest: Shaanil Senarath-DassanayakeProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  Cross-Industry Defense: GSMA’s Top 5 Mobile Security Innovations | Ep. 009 13.05.2026 24min

  This episode explores how mobile network intelligence is transforming fraud prevention in the financial industry. Samantha Kight from GSMA discusses emerging threats, innovative API solutions, and the importance of cross-industry collaboration.Key TopicsEmerging mobile fraud threats and trendsGSMA's role in securing the mobile ecosystemInnovative API solutions for fraud detectionCross-industry collaboration against scamsImpact of open source and AI on securityHost: Louis ThompsettGuest: Samantha KightProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldLearn more about the latest payments insights: https://paymentexpert.com
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  Swift’s Digital Asset Innovation: Future Payments | Ep. 008 06.05.2026 18min

  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