The Payments Podium
The Payments Podium
The Payments Professor
2026 Payments Predictions
30 minutes Posted Jan 29, 2026 at 3:33 pm.
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Show notes
The payments world is heading into uncharted territory. In this episode, we explore what’s next for banking and treasury, from the rise of digital-asset-focused bank charters to AI agents executing payments on behalf of humans. We dig into identity, programmability, smart contract risk, and why immutability still makes treasurers nervous. The conversation also tackles regulatory clarity, quantum computing as a “Y2K redux,” and the growing gap between institutions that can afford innovation and those that can’t. A candid look at why 2026 and beyond may force hard choices, consolidation, and a redefinition of how financial institutions survive and compete.