All articles by Douglas Blakey

Douglas Blakey

Safeguarding through insurance – how it works and what’s changing under the FCA’s 2026 Regime

Safeguarding through insurance offers UK payment and e-money firms a useful option when facing liquidity constraints. With FCA changes from May 2026, firms must understand how it works, non-renewal risks, and compliance obligations, explains Azhar Rana

AI is moving into the terminal and retailers are paying attention

Jean-Philippe Niedergang explains why retailers are starting to view the terminal as part of the wider retail intelligence layer, with embedded AI and biometrics moving into real-world checkout environments

Why money movement is becoming a strategic battleground

In a market shaped by instant expectations, regulatory intensity, and relentless innovation, the institutions that can move value intelligently, securely, and at scale will set the pace for everyone else, explains Mick Fennell

The financial system is changing and stablecoins are driving it 

Shah Ramezani explains why the utility of stablecoins only continues to grow apace and unlike other previous fintech trends, adoption is ongoing and isn’t slowing down anytime soon

UPI highlights the transformative potential of instant payment systems  

UPI has rapidly shifted India from cash to real-time mobile payments, scaling globally, while raising concerns over fraud and security risks, writes Bhavya Patel

Rethinking payment sovereignty in Europe: Why choice matters more than replacement

A new payment infrastructure rarely achieves widespread adoption without deliberate coordination across the financial system, including how it is presented to the public, not just how it is built, writes Daniel Ruhman

The invisible economy: How digital finance can unlock growth across emerging markets

Murtaza Ali explains how fintechs can help unlock untapped economic growth by making access to financial tools more widespread via digital tools

Are banks actually ready for stablecoins?

Neha Dasani reflects on what the rise of stablecoins means for banks, the operational lessons emerging from early adopters, and what financial institutions must prioritise in 2026 to avoid falling behind as settlement infrastructure evolves

Why real-time finance is forcing retail banks to rethink infrastructure

Ravi Ranjan explores how the financial services industry is entering a new phase of infrastructure modernisation driven by growing demand for real-time financial operations, embedded services and continuous financial visibility

Africa’s payments paradox: Why complexity is the market’s greatest advantage

Tim Davis explains why Africa’s fragmented payments landscape should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a barrier for fintechs and payments providers looking to scale across the continent