Converge

Markets are shifting—have we reached a turning point? This week, Steven Dooley joins us to discuss “tariff fatigue” in FX markets, the slowing US economy, and its impact on the dollar, bond yields, and equities. Meanwhile, Europe is showing signs of resilience, driven by stabilizing economic data, hawkish ECB signals, and lower energy costs. We also break down key FX moves, including the weakening...

We sat down with Jessica Chen Riolfi, co-founder and CEO of Uprise , about her journey in the fintech industry, the challenges small business owners face in financial planning, and the promising role (and pitfalls) of AI. We touched on Uprise's unique approach to financial advisory combining the best of human support, embedded services, and AI. We also discussed the importance of partnerships...

In this episode, FX and Macro Analyst George Vessey discusses the current macroeconomic landscape, focusing on inflation, tariffs, and their impact on markets. He highlights the persistent inflationary pressures, the evolving trade tensions under Trump's policies, and the implications for the US dollar.. We also cover the volatility in markets due to these factors and provides insights into th...

This week, we sat down with Soups Ranjan , the co-founder and CEO of AI risk management platform, Sardine , to chat about the evolution of fraud prevention technologies in the AI era. We touch on the importance of partnerships in the fintech space, and the challenges posed by AI in fraud detection - including how Sardine uses AI to detect deepfakes and improve identity verification. Soups' sha...

Is the U.S. recession still on the horizon, or has resilience pushed it further out? Can Europe’s economy surprise to the upside despite the gloom? How will inflation data shape central bank policies in the coming months? This week, we break down the February Global FXOutlook and the market’s reaction to Trump 2.0. From the initial USD rally post-election to its sharp pullback on tariff uncertaint...

LatAM is a hotbed for fintech innovation, and Colombia - LatAm’s 4th largest economy - occupies a unique position in global commerce. In this episode, we sat down with Christian Guevara Téllez and Luis Felipe Aparicio of Colombian brokerage firm, Acciones y Valores S.A., to discuss the cross-border payment landscape in Colombia. We touch on the unique regulatory challenges faced in Colombia, the i...

The global bond sell-off continues to reverberate through markets, US economic resilience has dampened Fed rate cut bets, equities are falling, the dollar is surging and UK assets, including the pound, are tumbling – welcome to 2025. After a fairly turbulent 12 months, people are wondering what 2025 may hold in store. It’s that time where it’s not uncommon to see calls by analysts for the year ahe...

To kick of a new year of Converge conversations, we sat down with Hal Ramakers , Senior Vice President of Global Solutions at Brightwell , to discuss the evolution of Brightwell from its origins in maritime payroll for the cruise line industry to its current role in providing cutting-edge cross-border payment solutions. We cover the challenges faced in global payroll solutions, the importance of l...

This week, Convera Head of Market Insights, Steven Dooley, discusses the significant market reactions following the 2024 US election, the impact of tariffs on foreign exchange markets, macroeconomic trends including interest rate cuts, and the outlook for 2025 amidst geopolitical tensions. We explore how the election results influenced investor sentiment, the implications of tariff discussions on...

At Money2020 USA, we sat down with Margaret Weichert , Chief Product Officer at The Clearing House , and Peter Tapling , Managing Director of PTap Advisory, to discuss the transformative potential of instant payment applications. We covered: The evolution of payment systems and how new technologies like tokenization are being leveraged to create seamless financial transactions The challenges and o...

What could a centralized authority, or 'fraud czar', do to combat the growing complexities of fraud in the global financial sector? We sat down with an expert panel at Money2020 to explore this question by looking at the various types of fraud at play, including synthetic identities and the evolving tactics of fraudsters, particularly in the context of new technologies. The group highlight...

At Money2020 USA, we sat down with two experts to discuss the evolving landscape of risk management and hedging strategies in the modern enterprise, particularly in the context of geopolitical instability and emerging markets like Africa. David Renta, Global Head of Hedging at Convera and Benjamin Fernandez, CEO and founder of African payments fintech, Nala, share insights on navigating these chal...

In this week's market update, Boris Kovacevic discusses the implications of the recent US elections, focusing on Donald Trump's victory and its impact on the economy and global markets. We cover the economic factors that influenced the election results, particularly inflation, and explore the concept of US exceptionalism in the context of global trade dynamics. We also touch on geopolitica...

At Money2020, we sat down with ⁠Zoya Lieberman⁠ of ⁠Endava ⁠and ⁠Ramiro Nandez⁠ of ⁠Mercado Pago⁠ to discuss the evolving landscape of digital payments in the Americas, focusing on the role of AI, the challenges of cash adoption, and the importance of user experience and financial inclusion. We explore the collaboration between fintechs and traditional banks, the regulatory hurdles faced in differ...

With five days to go until a historically close US election, market participants can't stop talking about the what ifs. Hear from macro analyst Boris Kovacevic on what outcomes we could see in the markets globally following the November 5th US elections. Disclaimer: Converge is Convera’s new podcast that discusses a range of financial services topics. We want to remind our listeners that the infor...

To kick things off at Money2020 USA we spoke with Ari Redbord from TRM Labs . With 11 years under his belt at the US Dept. of Justice, Ari shared his views about the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, the challenges of crypto crime, and the importance of compliance in the financial sector. We touch on the role of TRM Labs in combating illicit activities in the crypto space, the future of stable...

Grab your copy of our Are You Ready For 2025? report. With 2025 on the horizon, economic uncertainty looms. Will the world economy finds its balance, or are we still bracing for the next curve? If real wage growth falters, consumer spending could take a hit. Businesses need to be prepared for shifts in consumer behavior and tighten their risk management focus. This week, we're sharing our rece...

Grab your copy of our US Election Guide for FX Markets! Voters are heading to the polls on November 5th to vote for the 47th President and 50th Vice President of the United States. The most important political event of the year will be accompanied by elections for both chambers of Congress. The composition of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives will be crucial for the domestic ec...

This week, we hosted a lively discussion with the founding team of Algbra, a UK-based fintech startup focused on ethical finance and combating financial exclusion. Algbra is a Certified B Corporation, sitting among a global network of businesses that meet high social and environmental impact standards. We explore Algebra's unique dual business model, which includes both B2C and B2B services, t...

Powell pushed the large 50 basis point cut over the line with the help of the market. This has given investors the green light to scream for more easing as early as November. Wall Street is reading between the lines: if the Fed's willing to cut 50 now, why not again in November? Volatility surrounding major macro events and rate decisions will persist going into year end. US policy makers have...

This week, we sat down with Rahul Bhargava, consultant for The World Bank, about the evolving landscape of cross-border payments. The G20's roadmap for faster payments faces key milestones over the next two years, and the significance of BIS projects like Project Nexus have been instrumental in illustrating how faster, more secure, more transparent global payments could become a reality. We di...

Global macro finds itself at a crossroads. The last job report left investors scratching their heads due to the mixed picture it painted but yesterday’s higher than expected inflation print likely confirmed that the Fed will cut interest rates by 25 basis points next week. It will be all about how the Fed wants to be perceived by markets. What is important for investors is that the global easing c...

This week, we sit down with Venture Capitalist and Fintech consultant Kimberly Ofori to discuss the concept of Camels (slow and sustainable companies) versus Unicorns (fast and disruptive companies) in the fintech landscape, and why camels are gaining more attention in 2024. But what about Zebras? These purpose-driven companies prioritize profit and social impact. We discuss the importance of bala...

The expectation of easier monetary policy in the United States has led investors away from the Greenback and has pushed the euro, pound, and yen to yearly highs. Speculators are now simultaneously bullish on all three currencies for the first time since early 2021. Meanwhile, investors seem to have all but forgotten the volatility shock from three weeks ago. Global equity benchmarks are approachin...

This week we're joined by Thomas Mueller and Fatemeh Nikayin , co-founders of Rivero , a SaaS platform focusing on modernizing the most challenging aspects of payment operations (PayOps), including fraud recovery, scheme compliance, and dispute management. We discuss the significant growth that Rivero has experienced in the past year, their focus on providing solutions for card payment operati...