TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 debuts Smart Money Stage, focusing on fintech, payments and AI

Source: TechCrunch Events Reading Time: 3 min

Money has evolved into far more than the cash in your wallet or your bank account. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, we are devoting an entire stage to that progression. The brand-new Smart Money Stage will be where fintech, payments, and AI collide.

From October 13–15 at San Francisco's Moscone Center, you can join leaders from Circle, Robinhood, American Express, Plaid, Airwallex, and many more as they explore how money is changing. Topics include:

• How stablecoins and instant payments are reshaping money movement
• The ways in which AI agents are being entrusted (or not) with financial decisions
• What it takes to create regulated financial infrastructure built for a global market

We are closing in on the end of our current pricing window — your chance to save on the best Disrupt prices is ending soon. Check out our ticket options here.

Smart Money Stage Programming

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

Stablecoins and instant payments are changing how money moves around the world. 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 changes could shape the future of payments. Hear where these new systems are gaining traction and which challenges remain.

Panelists:

• 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

The way people pay, invest, and manage money is changing fast. Robinhood, currently boasting a market cap of more than $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 changing consumer expectations are reshaping financial services, and what it takes to build trusted products that hold up under massive growth.

Speaker:

• Abhishek Fatehpuria, Head of Product, Robinhood

AI, Trust & Verification in Financial Services

As AI moves beyond generating content and begins taking action, financial companies are rethinking trust, oversight, and security. Our panelists will explore how AI agents are changing financial workflows, why transparency and human judgment still matter, and how companies are approaching privacy, fraud prevention, and identity verification in an AI-powered world.

Panelists:

• 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 built for today's global businesses. Airwallex, now valued at $11 billion by its investors, is building an AI-native financial operating system, helping companies move money across borders, manage global finances, and embed financial products into their own platforms. Founder and CEO Jack Zhang will offer a look at how AI is reshaping payments and what it takes to build regulated financial infrastructure that powers millions of businesses.

Speaker:

• Jack Zhang, Founder & CEO, Airwallex

Whether you are building the next payments rail, figuring out where AI fits into fraud and identity, or trying to understand where momentum is headed within consumer finance, the Smart Money Stage is built for founders and operators who need signal.

Image Credits: TechCrunch