TechCrunch Disrupt 2026’s new Smart Money Stage explores fintech, payments, AI, and everything between 

Money has evolved into acold much than the currency successful your wallet oregon your slope account. And astatine TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, we’re devoting an full signifier to that progression. The brand-new Smart Money Stage volition beryllium wherever fintech, payments, and AI collide.

From October 13–15 successful San Francisco’s Moscone Center, you tin articulation leaders from Circle, Robinhood, American Express, Plaid, Airwallex, and galore much arsenic they excavation into the details of however wealth is changing. We’re talking astir however stablecoins and instant payments are reshaping wealth movement, the ways successful which AI agents are being entrusted (or not) with fiscal decisions, and what it takes to make regulated fiscal infrastructure built for a planetary market.

We’re closing successful connected the extremity of our existent pricing model — your accidental to prevention connected the champion Disrupt prices is ending soon — so cheque retired our summons options close here. And if you inactive request immoderate convincing, let’s dive into the Smart Money Stage’s programming:

The Future of Money Movement: Stablecoins, Instant Payments & What’s Next 

Stablecoins and instant payments are changing however wealth moves astir the world. This league looks astatine however these caller outgo systems comparison to accepted banking infrastructure, wherever FedNow and backstage networks acceptable in, and however regulatory and marketplace changes could signifier the aboriginal of payments. Hear wherever these caller systems are gaining traction, and which challenges remain.

With Nikhil Chandhok, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Circle; Rodney Robinson, Co-founder and CEO, TabaPay, Inc.; and Lotti Siniscalco, General Partner, Emergence

Winning the Modern Financial Consumer 

The mode radical pay, invest, and negociate wealth is changing fast. Robinhood, presently boasting a marketplace headdress of much than $90 billion, has evolved from a trading app into a fiscal level spanning investing, banking, credit, crypto, and prediction markets. Head of Product Abhishek Fatehpuria volition stock however exertion and changing user expectations are reshaping fiscal services, and what it takes to physique trusted products that clasp up nether monolithic growth.

With Abhishek Fatehpuria, Head of Product, Robinhood

AI, Trust & Verification successful Financial Services 

As AI moves beyond generating contented and begins taking action, fiscal companies are rethinking trust, oversight, and security. Our panelists volition research however AI agents are changing fiscal workflows, wherefore transparency and quality judgement inactive matter, and however companies are close present approaching privacy, fraud prevention, and individuality verification successful an AI-powered world.

With Hannah Bozian, VP, Agentic Partnerships & Strategy, American Express; Pedro Sanzovo, Head of Fraud and Identity, Plaid; and Victoria Zuo, Partner, QED Investors

Building the Infrastructure for Global Commerce 

Traditional fiscal systems weren’t built for today’s planetary businesses. Airwallex, present valued astatine $11 cardinal by its investors, is gathering an AI autochthonal fiscal operating system, helping companies determination wealth crossed borders, negociate planetary finances, and embed fiscal products into their ain platforms. Founder and CEO Jack Zhang volition springiness you a look astatine however AI is reshaping payments, and what it takes to physique regulated fiscal infrastructure that powers millions of businesses.  

With Jack Zhang, Founder & CEO, Airwallex 

Whether you’re gathering the adjacent payments rail, figuring retired wherever AI fits into fraud and identity, oregon conscionable trying to recognize wherever momentum is headed wrong user finance, the Smart Money Stage is built for founders and operators who request signal, not spin.  

Plus, if you articulation america astatine Disrupt 2026, you’ll besides get entree to each the networking, broadside events, and opportunities to larn from the remainder of our extended lineup of speakers. It’s a three-day sprint successful the bosom of the startup assemblage that volition permission you acceptable for the adjacent twelvemonth of innovation, so registry today!