Europe’s payment sector is entering a critical phase, and AI in payments is driving major transformation. In light of this, top industry decision-makers will meet in London to explore new challenges and potential solutions. ACI Worldwide launched its new Payments Unleashed EMEA for two days, beginning on 29-30 June 2026.
Moreover, executives from Mastercard, Santander, Amazon, NVIDIA, and PayPal will join the discussions. Furthermore, the summit features regulators, analysts, and fintech leaders. The conference seeks to explore the issues of control, fraud exposure, and the increasing importance of AI in payment processing.
The mainstage session opens with Dr. Leda Glyptis, author of Bankers Like Us and Beyond Resilience, whose work has become essential reading for leaders navigating payments modernisation. “Payments are no longer about keeping systems running; it’s about deciding who controls value, risk, and trust in a real‑time world. Those choices are being made now, and they will define the industry for the next decade,” Glyptis said.
Key Challenges Shaping the Future of Payments
As far as Europe is concerned, policymakers have been advocating for payment sovereignty and lower dependence on third-party systems. In parallel, new rules governing reimbursements are transferring fraud responsibility onto financial institutions. Moreover, AI-based commerce is rapidly developing, generating worries about authentication and user ownership.
Consequently, the event will explore key strategic questions shaping the industry. These include the issue of payment rails control, the cost of fraud, and the future of card networks. Besides, the forum will analyze the shift from AI as an enabler of payments to its execution. Another topic of discussion will be the rise of real-time payments and fraud management challenges. Europe’s ability to scale while maintaining sovereignty will also be assessed.
“The biggest questions in payments are no longer technical, they’re strategic,” said Thomas Warsop, president and CEO of ACI Worldwide. “Who owns the rails? How do we manage fraud in a real‑time world? And what happens when AI becomes an active participant in commerce? These are no longer abstract debates; they are live decisions that will determine who leads and who follows. Payments Unleashed is where those decisions get tested.”
The event will begin with a networking reception in London, followed by keynotes and executive sessions.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
