All articles by Douglas Blakey
Douglas Blakey
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
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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
CASS 15 – The new safeguarding rules explained
In August 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced CASS 15, reshaping the safeguarding regime for payments and E-money firms. Oliver Hawes sets out the key priorities for in scope firms
The cashless myth is distracting fintech from a bigger infrastructure challenge
Neil Martin explains why the “cashless UK” narrative is focusing fintech and banks on the wrong problem
Digital wallets are emerging as the leading infrastructure for trust in banking
Mick Fennell explores how digital wallets are becoming a new layer of digital trust and explains what banks must do to modernise their infrastructure to support this shift