Money20/20 2025 USA has dedicated itself to being the trusted meeting place for the leaders of financial services to unite and build “the future of finance.” In keeping true to that, we are excited to share a number of upcoming initiatives focused on the next wave of fintech innovation, bridging traditional and decentralized finance.

The exploration of decentralized finance has been part of Money20/20’s DNA from inception. Lest we forget that Fintech and Cryptocurrency were both born out of the Financial Crisis of 2008.

We are fully aware that DeFi, Cryptocurrency, and just about every other word in the space is either too specific or too general to fully explain what we’re talking about here, but you know what we mean. Consider it purposefully overgeneralizing. Don’t be such a stickler, sheesh.

Finally, the two are converging and we see the intersection of TradFi and DeFi as the one of the critical areas of focus that will create a seismic shift in what we have classically thought of as Financial Services. That intersection has been our focus for years now and we are doubling down in 2025 and beyond.

There are plenty of meeting places for the world of TradFi and DeFi to meet in their own silos, but, Money20/20 is the only place where that intersection meets to learn, do deals, and have the real, human conversations necessary for two groups with a somewhat combative past to drive meaningful progress.

It is in the mission of Money20/20 to foster the future of financial services - whatever form that takes - and to continue building the platform that will propel that future in a positive, compliant, and profitable direction. In pursuit of that future, we know there will be moments in time where decades happen in weeks and months happen in days.

That is the moment we’re living in here and now. We are living through financial and world history all at once.

The first wave of fintech was driven by consumer focused application and a general distrust of the financial system. The same can be said for cryptocurrency.

The second wave of fintech wrestled with the established regulation and policy regimes as the winners scaled at an unprecedented pace. The same can be said for cryptocurrency.

Now, the third wave. The convergence of TradFi and DeFi. Banks in the US can now custody Bitcoin, the US has a Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve, and the enterprise level adoption is growing at a CRM busting speed. The sheer volume of activity can’t be encompassed into a pithy little quip as we like to do. It’s just too big.

Years of conversation, hypothesizing, and testing have led to real products live in-market today despite significant regulatory headwinds over the last four or so years. The talking, theorizing, and testing has led to this moment. A historical moment, if you will.

As is often the case in financial services, things happen gradually over years and then suddenly.

We have featured the biggest speakers across the world of DeFi and cryptocurrency- from the established, trusted private companies to the most important regulators (see speaker examples below) in the space as these two worlds have gradually moved closer and closer together.

• Antonio Alvarez Lorenzo (Crypto.com)
• Ben Horowitz (A16Z)
• Cleve Mesidor (Blockchain Foundation)
• Chair Gary Gensler (SEC)
• Commissioner Hester Peirce (SEC)
• Cuy Sheffield (Visa)
• David Marcus (Libra, now Lightspark)
• Dante Disparte (Circle)
• Denelle Dixon (Stellar)
• Edward Woodford (Zero Hash)
• Jonathan Levin (Chainalysis)
• Kristin Smith (The Blockchain Association)
• Nathan McCauley (Anchorage Digital)
• Raj Dhamodharan (Mastercard)
• Ran Goldi (Fireblocks)

And suddenly, after years of nurturing the relationships between DeFi and TradFi, the moment is here.

We are seeing what will likely be the next, “crypto spring,” and that is in no way referencing cryptocurrency prices. It’s all about Digital Asset Infrastructure.

Join us at the intersection of TradFi and DeFi in Las Vegas this year. It’s time to make Digital Asset Infrastructure sexy again.

If you’re on either side, playing in the middle, or just trying to learn what this all means, Money20/20 2025 is the place to build your company and get your questions answered.

If you’re interested in learning more before all the details are released to the public, please reach out to Alexander Siegel at alexander.siegel@informa.com