Within just the past few years, payments have transformed entirely — tap to pay has become even more prevalent, traditional financial institutions are exploring blockchain, and generative AI is emerging as critical to boosting fraud protection rates by as much as 300%. Borders are no longer barriers to global trade, instant access to earnings is the expectation, not a perk, and paper checks and physical wallets are fast becoming museum pieces — at least among the youngest of us.

Reuters Events is set to host the much-anticipated conference, "The Future of Insurance Europe 2025," scheduled for May 7-8 in Amsterdam. This year’s conference will tackle the critical challenges and opportunities within the European insurance sector, including AI integration, risk management, and evolving customer expectations. 

Kasta, aiming to build the most user-friendly crypto & cash payments platform with Ka.app, has secured a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration from Bank of Lithuania (Lietuvos Bankas) in Lithuania, marking its third European regulatory approval.

Tobi Knaup 

Pluto Finance, a leading property finance provider, is pleased to announce the appointment of Shane Ryan as Lending Director for the UK and Ireland. This strategic hire marks an exciting step in Pluto Finance’s continued growth and expansion into the Irish market.

As we approach 2025, financial institutions across the EU face the challenge of complying with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which is set to take effect on the 17th of January. DORA is focused on strengthening cybersecurity and operational resilience across financial ecosystems, with the consequences for non-compliance ranging from regulatory fines to reputational damage and an increased risk of cyberattacks.

Financial crime—things like fraud, money laundering, and illegal fund transfers—is a growing problem that affects economies worldwide. While recent initiatives, like the UK ‘Financial Crime Intelligence Sharing Initiative’, signal progress, the tools and technology for detecting and preventing financial crime must evolve urgently to outpace increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

RTPs

Real-time payments have surged in recent years, with huge growth in cross-border transactions - however, the B2B space remains relatively untapped. In 2025, we anticipate significant growth in B2B real-time payments, driven by enhanced interoperability and the growing need for streamlined corporate operations. This will help bolster market competition but also enhance transaction security and efficiencies - a critical demand as businesses move faster than ever in the global economy.

The regulatory gaze will intensify. It’s fair to say that regulation usually lags behind innovation – but that innovation also attracts scrutiny. In 2025, we’ll see significant movement as the world’s regulators seek to balance their objectives of consumer protection and market integrity with allowing room for innovation to thrive.

eBay and Klarna, the AI-powered global payments network and shopping assistant, have announced the expansion of their strategic partnership to key European markets making Klarna’s Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) payment options available to more eBay shoppers. The move gives eBay buyers more choice and flexibility in how they pay, and aligns with the evolving preferences of today’s shoppers.