Federal Reserve Payments Innovation Conference — October 21, 2025

The Federal Reserve will host a Payments Innovation Conference on October 21, 2025, in Washington D.C. The event is centered on stablecoins, tokenization and the use of AI in payments. Led by Fed Governor Christopher Waller, the conference aims to survey how emerging technologies are reshaping payment rails and to surface policy considerations that could influence regulatory frameworks and blockchain usage across the financial system.

The daylong conference will bring together industry participants, regulators and researchers to discuss the evolving landscape of stablecoins and tokenization as well as the risks and benefits they introduce for consumers, businesses and institutions. Organizers say the emphasis is on policy dialogue rather than funding or immediate market interventions, reflecting a focus on how rules and oversight might adapt to a tokenized payments environment.

Market observers expect the Fed-led convening to accelerate institutional interest in stablecoins and decentralized finance platforms by clarifying regulatory expectations. Recent moves by U.S. regulators to relax some restrictions on banks providing crypto services have already signaled a more permissive posture that could facilitate broader adoption of digital assets by traditional financial firms.

Governor Waller has stressed the need to “embrace technological change to improve payment safety and efficiency while remaining mindful of potential risks.”

— Fed Governor Christopher Waller (remarks ahead of the conference)

His comments convey cautious optimism but stop short of detailing concrete policy outcomes. The relative absence of direct statements from Fed Chair Jerome Powell has left parts of the market awaiting further guidance.

As industry stakeholders prepare for October’s discussion, the conference is likely to shape near-term debate on stablecoin oversight, tokenization standards, and how AI-driven tools will be integrated into next-generation payment systems.

• Clarifying regulatory expectations for banks, stablecoins and decentralized finance platforms
• Shaping technical and governance standards for tokenization across the financial system
• Assessing AI integration in payment monitoring, fraud detection and operational efficiency
• Informing institutional adoption by reducing uncertainty and highlighting oversight priorities