The Payments Association sits down with ACI Worldwide’s Jeremy McDougall and Somya Patnaik to explore how the UK and global payments landscape is being reshaped by real-time technology, regulatory reform, digital currencies, and a rapidly converging ecosystem of new payment forms. With real-time payments accelerating worldwide, open banking adoption hitting record highs, and the UK embarking on a once‑in‑a‑generation modernisation of its payments infrastructure, our guests unpack where the biggest opportunities lie, and what the next decade of payments could look like.

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In this episode of the Insights Podcast, Jack Robertson speaks with Gabriel Lakeman and Christian McDermott of Latham & Watkins about the emerging regulatory framework for stablecoins in the UK. They discuss how stablecoins differ from other cryptoassets, the Bank of England's consultation on sterling-denominated systemic stablecoins, and what key regulatory developments firms should be watching for in 2026. They also explore the practical steps companies should be taking now to prepare as UK and EU regulatory expectations around backing requirements, holding limits, and authorisation become clearer.

Find out more about The Payments Association via our website www.thepaymentsassociation.org or follow us on social media.

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Cross-border payments are no longer as slow or opaque as their reputation suggests. But progress has been uneven. In this episode of Insights Podcast, Heather Lee, global head of payment strategy at Swift, Damian Richardson, head of payments, product and schemes at NatWest, and Michelle Cowan, cash market manager for the UK and Europe at Standard Chartered Bank, explore the evolving cross-border payments landscape. They discuss how initiatives like ISO 20022, GPI tracking, and instant payment schemes are improving speed and transparency, and why challenges around last-mile processing, regulatory fragmentation, and data quality continue to create friction. The conversation also looks ahead to how greater interoperability, richer data, and emerging digital models could help deliver faster, more predictable payments for consumers and businesses alike.

Find out more about The Payments Association via our website www.thepaymentsassociation.org or follow us on social media.

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