Breaking Banks Europe

Host Matteo Rizzi welcomes fintech ecosystem builder Rodrigo García de la Cruz for a global conversation on the future of financial innovation. This episode explores how fintech ecosystems scale across regions, why Nubank’s U.S. banking license marks a turning point for global neobanks, and how stablecoins and banking infrastructure are reshaping cross-border finance. The discussion also compares...

In this episode of  Breaking Banks Europe , host Don Ginsel is joined by fintech thought leader  Alessandro Hatami , co-founder of  Pacemakers.io  , to explore the most important trends shaping the future of financial services. The conversation covers financial inclusion and well-being, the cultural and legacy challenges holding traditional banks back, and why inclusion is as m...

In last month’s segment of #BBE, Elizabeth Kleinveld invited Lars Markull, founder of Embedded Finance Review, and Philipp Buschmann, CEO of AAZZUR. Celebrating the podcast’s sixth anniversary, the episode explores major trends across funding, regulation, partnerships, and the rapid rise of embedded finance. Key topics include the deep fintech–bank partnership between Allegro and PKO Bank Po...

As Breaking Banks Europe approaches its 6th anniversary, we’re celebrating with a special throwback! Host Matteo Rizzi welcomes back Serena Torielli, CEO and founder of WealthHype, who first joined us in Episode 3 – at the very start of our journey: https://provoke.fm/episode-3-insurtech/ In this new conversation, Matteo and Serena dive into Revolut’s explosive growth in Italy, the future of...

In this episode of  Breaking Banks Europe , hosts Matteo Rizzi and Don Ginsel welcome guest Bianca Lopes for a global discussion on fintech innovation, neobanks, and regulation. They begin with Revolut’s rapid growth and $13 billion expansion, comparing its evolving model to Brazil’s Nubank, which thrives with cost efficiency and minimal physical infrastructure. The conversation shifts to stableco...

August was hosted by Matteo Rizzi and the conversation features Ian Horne, Head of Content at Saxo Bank, and Sarah Kocianski, fintech consultant and former CEO of Fintech Wales, discussing major developments in the sector. They begin with AI-powered browsers, weighing opportunities for personalization against serious risks to privacy, data usage, and transparency. Klarna’s evolution from buy-now-p...

In this episode, host Elizabeth Kleinveld is joined by Leon Ifayemi (CFIT) and Kristy Duncan (Women in Payments) to unpack the latest in global fintech. The discussion covers Europe’s shifting financial landscape, with Wise and Starling Bank eyeing US listings—raising questions about Europe’s competitiveness. The EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority takes aim at crypto risks, while the US push...

This special episode of  Breaking Banks Europe  at Money20/20 features insights from fintech and crypto leaders shaping the future of finance. Jeff Parker, CEO of Paymentology, outlines the company’s global, cloud-based card processing platform that supports fintechs and digital banks in over 50 countries. Emphasizing agile infrastructure, tokenization, and financial inclusion, Parker hi...

Host Don Ginsel speaks with Jos van Kerkhof, Country Manager at Visa Netherlands, about key developments in fintech across Europe. They discuss Visa’s strong growth in the Dutch market, innovations in fraud prevention, and the rollout of Visa Debit to align with local payment habits. The conversation also covers broader industry trends, including the growing role of AI in commerce, such as Google’...

In the April 2025 episode of  Breaking Banks Europe , host Elizabeth Kleinveld is joined by guests  Amine Berraoui  (Founder & CEO of E10 Capital) and  Guy Stiebel  (a.k.a. the “Fintech Plumber”) for a deep dive into the latest fintech developments. The discussion opens with European banks’ cautious expansion into the U.S. market, citing high regulatory barriers...

In this episode, host Don Ginsel discusses the latest trends in fintech with Nik Milanović, the Founder & Fintech Enthusiast-in-Chief of “This Week in Fintech.” They explore the shifting landscape of fintech, particularly the role of traditional banks and the rising interest in stablecoins. Milanović explains how banks are cautiously adopting crypto-related strategies but remain un...

In this episode of News From The Fintech Front, host Matteo Rizzi is joined by Alexander Gaillard, CEO of InvestGlass, to discuss the biggest fintech stories of January 2025. The month saw a major funding round in Europe, with French fintech Swan raising €42M to expand embedded banking across the continent, highlighting strong investor confidence in the sector. In payments, Elon Musk’s X announced...

In this episode of  The Bankers’ Bookshelf  series for  Breaking Banks Europe , hosted by Paolo Sironi, Nicola Bilotta, a Senior Research Associate at the Florence School of Banking and Finance, delves into the evolving landscape of international reserve currencies and monetary systems. Bilotta discusses the forces driving the transformation—economic dislocation, geopolitical...

In this episode, Anthony Day, Managing Partner at Midnight, sits down with Matteo Rizzi to explore the major shifts in 2024 and early 2025 in the world of digital asset finance, tokenization, and AI technologies. Matteo announces that Breaking Banks Europe will transition from a weekly to a monthly show, while introducing new monthly series Breaking Banks Africa and a spin-off of #BBE, Paolo Siron...

In this  Breaking Banks Europe  live podcast episode, Matteo Rizzi interviews Parul Seth Khanna and Sam Ghiotti during the Singapore Fintech Festival. Parul, co-founder of  pinbox solutions , discusses the evolving fintech landscape in Asia, particularly in India. She shares insights on how the region is embracing technology and innovation to transform financial services, and the challenges compan...

At the  Singapore Fintech Festival ,  Breaking Banks Europe , hosted by  Matteo Rizzi  and supported by  CXO Conversations , featured conversations with  Premier Oiwoh  (NIBSS CEO) and  Jo Ann Barefoot  (CEO of the Alliance for Innovative Regulation). Premier highlighted Africa’s innovation leadership, emphasizing USSD payments and financial inclusion. Jo Ann discussed regulatory challenges...

In an insightful conversation at the Singapore FinTech Festival with CXO Conversations, Valeria Ndapunikwa Mbango and Tune Hafo Brock from the Bank of Namibia and host Matteo Rizzi discussed the nation’s progressive approach to driving fintech innovation. They highlighted initiatives like the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Accelerator Lab in partnership with NUST, aimed at building tech tale...

The podcast explores Morocco’s evolving fintech and innovation landscape, highlighting its potential as a hub for technological and economic growth. Despite challenges like a large unbanked population and bureaucratic hurdles, fintech startups are bridging gaps with innovative, user-friendly solutions, supported by collaborations with traditional banks and regulators. Morocco’s adoption of cryptoc...

In this month’s installment of News From The Fintech Front,  Silvia Attanasio ,  Mico Curatolo , and host  Don Ginsel  dive into the future of European finance, focusing on the digital euro and the impact of new regulations such as  MiCAR .  Silvia Attanasio  shares her perspective on the digital euro, highlighting its potential for innovation but stressing the n...

At this year’s Web Summit Lisbon , Matteo Rizzi took the mic to host two riveting live interviews on Breaking Banks Europe , bringing fresh insights from two of the brightest minds in fintech. First, he sat down with Ali Niknam , the visionary CEO and founder of bunq , a digital banking disruptor on a mission to offer transparency and a customer-first approach to financial services. Ali shared how...

In this episode of  Breaking Banks Europe , host  Don Ginsel  is joined by  Geert Van Kerckhoven , CEO and Co-Founder of  Oper , to discuss the transformation of mortgage lending through digitalization. They explore the evolving housing market, the challenges of making homeownership more accessible, and the role of technology in revolutionizing mortgage processes. Geert sh...

In Episode 252 of News From the Fintech Front , host Roberto Capodieci is joined by fintech expert Devie Mohan, co-founder and CEO of Burnmark, known for her influential research and advocacy for bank-startup collaboration. Together, they explore the UK’s dominance in European fintech, capturing 65% of deals despite reduced funding, with highlights from Monzo’s $5.9 billion valuation. Topics inclu...

In this episode, host Elizabeth Kleinveld speaks with John Lombela, founder and CEO of Axalio, about how fintech innovations are transforming the mining industry in Africa. John explains how Axalio empowers small-scale miners by providing access to modern equipment, financial education, and direct global markets, helping them increase safety, improve income stability, and reduce environmental harm...

In this special 250th episode of Breaking Banks Europe, titled “Fintech in a Word,” Matteo Rizzi celebrates 500 unique guests and 5 years of the show, by leading an insightful conversation with the six hosts, each reflecting on the one word that represents the last 15 years in fintech. Matthias Kroener emphasizes the importance of culture in shaping fintech’s future, while Paolo Sironi focuses on...

In this month’s  News From The Fintech Front , host  Don Ginsel  is joined by guests  Alex Johnson  and  Gabriella Orille , marking a major milestone for the show:  500 unique guests ! Key topics include the increasing role of  Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)  in transforming financial systems and how  neobanks  are strengthening ties...