The single-day conference will host representatives from major crypto and digital assets companies.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is hosting a first-of-its-kind conference on Oct. 21, 2025, focused on payments innovation. For the first time, cryptocurrencies will be part of the official agenda.
The event is bringing together economists, technologists, and policymakers to discuss the evolving landscape of money and digital payments. Representatives from blockchain and stablecoin firms, including Chainlink, Paxos, Circle, and Coinbase, are scheduled to attend, signaling the Fed’s growing openness to engaging directly with the crypto industry.
The event began at 9:00 AM ET with remarks from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher J. Waller. Topics that will be discussed include bridging traditional finance with the digital asset ecosystem, stablecoin use cases, AI in payments, and tokenized products.
According to the event announcement, the conference aims to “consider a broad range of perspectives” on how to improve the payment system and foster innovation.
Oct 21, 2025 | 9:00 AM ET – Waller kicks off conference with opening remarks
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher J. Waller kicked off the inaugural Payments Innovation Conference.
In his opening remarks, Waller highlighted the importance of integrating decentralized finance (DeFi) and cryptocurrency innovations into the broader payments landscape.
“The revolution transforming payments is demanding change everywhere,” he said.
Waller explained a two-pronged strategy: supporting innovation driven by the private sector while developing targeted public infrastructure that could enhance the resilience and efficiency of payment systems.
He also highlighted the Fed’s ongoing exploration of tokenization, smart contracts, and artificial intelligence in payments, suggesting a growing willingness to experiment with next-generation financial tools.
Waller closed his remarks by floating the idea of a new “payment account” framework designed to better accommodate forward-looking financial institutions.
