Hosted by Dr. Chris Brummer, a fintech guru and founder of Bluprynt, DC Fintech Week 2024 was a resounding success, a melting pot of ideas and expertise. Industry and political leaders shared the stage, debating and collaborating on some of fintech’s most pressing challenges.
The event’s opening day, held at Fannie Mae headquarters, set the tone. Each session brought together heavy hitters willing to engage in meaningful discussions that spanned regulation, technology, financial inclusion, and more.
Chris Brummer thanked his team for all their hard work in making the event a success, posting on LinkedIn: “As DC Fintech Week comes to a close, it is an honor and privilege to highlight the team behind the scenes that made it happen. A multiday conference in Washington, D.C., involves months of planning, weekend calls, endless fire drills, more than a couple of sleepless nights — and a passion for service and delivering for others.”
DC Fintech Week 2024: A Diverse Gathering of Voices
One of the highlights of DC Fintech Week is the sheer variety of perspectives on display. This year’s event attracted prominent figures from the regulatory world, like Mike Hsu, acting Comptroller of the Currency, who shared their insights alongside tech industry pioneers like Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. The academic sector was well represented by experts like Hyun Song Shin, economic adviser and head of research at the Bank for International Settlements, whose research-driven perspective helped ground discussions in rigorous analysis.
Leaders from companies such as LinkedIn, Amazon Web Services, and OpenAI joined forces with regulators from around the world, including Saudi Arabia and Peru. Their shared presence highlighted the theme of collaboration — how diverse sectors, often with differing goals, can find common ground and shape the future of fintech together.
Opening Session: Building Trust in a Digitized Economy
The conference kicked off with a much-anticipated discussion between Hsu and Shin, moderated by Eleanor Mueller from Politico, focusing on the regulatory challenges that arise as fintech expands beyond traditional banking.
Hsu noted, “There is a regulatory gap in the U.S. that we’re going to need to address and confront.”
The next session explored the evolving nature of bank-fintech partnerships, moderated by Yana Miles from BNY Mellon. This panel brought together leading voices in the space, including Jo Ann Barefoot from the Alliance for Innovative Regulation and Livia Benisty of Banking Circle Group. Their conversation centered on how banks and fintechs can work together to deliver innovative services while managing the risks that come with such partnerships
Blockchain’s New Role in Financial Services
“We’ve tried to get people from quite literally all over the world to talk about everything from data, financial inclusion, housing. We just finished a conversation on stablecoins to really think about what’s the gamut of risk, opportunity and work that kind of has to get done in order to engage what is involving financial and technology landscape.”
That forward-thinking approach was evident in many of the events, including a session titled “The New Anatomy of Blockchain-Based Services,” Jillian MacNab from the Cardano Foundation, Patrick Murck of Surus, and Johnny Reinsch of Tradable offered a comprehensive look at blockchain technology’s role beyond traditional cryptocurrency applications. They explored blockchain’s potential for transforming various industries, with an emphasis on the emerging role of tokenization.
AI and the Future of Jobs in Fintech
One of the most insightful discussions of the day centered on the future of work, with Chris Brummer moderating a panel that included Karin Kimbrough from LinkedIn, Yazeed Alnafjan of the Saudi Central Bank, and Mark Palim, chief economist at Fannie Mae. This panel addressed the impact of artificial intelligence on job creation and job displacement within the financial sector.
Another standout session was “The Geopolitics of AI,” moderated by Douglas Arner from the University of Hong Kong, which examined the role of artificial intelligence in global commerce and security and included Carole House from the White House’s National Security Council.
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A Vision for Fintech
DC Fintech Week 2024 has once again solidified its importance as the mecca of cross-sector dialogue in advancing fintech in a responsible and inclusive way. Through conversations that crossed political lines and industry silos, the event highlighted the need for balanced regulatory frameworks, innovative technology, and ethical practices in AI and blockchain.
Dr. Chris Brummer’s vision of an open, collaborative platform has enabled DC Fintech Week to become more than an event — it’s a crucible for ideas and a launchpad for change. This year’s conference demonstrated that when regulators, academics, and industry leaders come together, they can achieve a deeper understanding of fintech’s challenges and pave the way for a more inclusive financial future.
And Brummer’s already planning the 2025 event. He posted on LinkedIn:
“I’ll personally have some big (really big) announcements coming up for a fall 2025 fintech event, especially as people ask how to get involved in the Washington D.C. ecosystem as it grows and makes its presence felt.”
