Money has evolved far beyond the cash in your wallet or your bank account. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, we’re dedicating an entire stage to this transformation. The brand-new Smart Money Stage will explore the intersection of fintech, payments, and AI.
From October 13–15 at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, join leaders from Circle, Robinhood, American Express, Plaid, Airwallex, and more as they dive into how money is changing. Topics include how stablecoins and instant payments are reshaping money movement, whether AI agents can be trusted with financial decisions, and what it takes to build regulated financial infrastructure for a global market.
Our current pricing window is closing soon—this is your chance to save on the best Disrupt prices. Check out ticket options here. If you need more convincing, here’s a preview of the Smart Money Stage programming:
The Future of Money Movement: Stablecoins, Instant Payments & What’s Next
Stablecoins and instant payments are transforming how money moves globally. This session examines how these new payment systems compare to traditional banking infrastructure, where FedNow and private networks fit in, and how regulatory and market shifts could shape the future of payments. Learn where these systems are gaining traction and which challenges remain.
Speakers:
- Nikhil Chandhok, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Circle
- Rodney Robinson, Co-founder and CEO, TabaPay, Inc.
- Lotti Siniscalco, General Partner, Emergence
Winning the Modern Financial Consumer
How people pay, invest, and manage money is changing rapidly. Robinhood, now valued at over $90 billion, has evolved from a trading app into a financial platform spanning investing, banking, credit, crypto, and prediction markets. Head of Product Abhishek Fatehpuria will share how technology and shifting consumer expectations are reshaping financial services—and what it takes to build trusted products that scale under massive growth.
Speaker:
- Abhishek Fatehpuria, Head of Product, Robinhood
AI, Trust & Verification in Financial Services
As AI moves beyond content generation into autonomous action, financial companies are rethinking trust, oversight, and security. Our panelists will discuss how AI agents are transforming financial workflows, why transparency and human judgment remain critical, and how companies are addressing privacy, fraud prevention, and identity verification in an AI-powered world.
Speakers:
- Hannah Bozian, VP, Agentic Partnerships & Strategy, American Express
- Pedro Sanzovo, Head of Fraud and Identity, Plaid
- Victoria Zuo, Partner, QED Investors
Building the Infrastructure for Global Commerce
Traditional financial systems weren’t designed for today’s global businesses. Airwallex, now valued at $11 billion by investors, is building the payment infrastructure to support cross-border commerce. This session explores the technologies and strategies needed to create scalable, compliant financial systems for a connected world. (Full details to be announced soon.)
Stay tuned for more updates as we finalize the Smart Money Stage lineup.
via TechCrunch