On 1 August, EDFA hosted the second edition of the Virtual Fintech Café, bringing together associations, networks, and experts from across Europe and beyond. The Café continued its role as an open space for exchange, where participants share updates, initiatives, and perspectives in a relaxed yet focused setting.

Regulatory Updates on the Agenda

The session began with a round of regulatory insights, highlighting three topics shaping the digital finance landscape:

• 28th Regime and EU Startup Consultation – participants discussed the Commission’s proposal to create an optional EU-wide framework to ease cross-border business for innovative companies.
• AI Act and Innovation Offices – a focus on how regulatory sandboxes and digital finance hubs will be implemented under Article 57 of the AI Act, supporting experimentation and safe innovation.
• EU Presidencies Outlook – an update on the priorities of the upcoming Danish and Cypriot Presidencies in relation to digital finance and key events such as EuroFi in September.

Diverse Participation

The Café brought together EDFA members, European fintech associations, and international partners. Associations from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Poland joined the discussion, alongside colleagues from Armenia, Austria, Denmark, Jersey, the UK, and global networks including the Digital Euro Association and the Global Financial Technology Network.

Member Spotlights

The open floor presentations provided snapshots of current initiatives:

• Fintech Poland shared progress from their Payments Working Group and Digital Identity Specialization, covering regulatory challenges and projects around KYC, wallets, and payments.
• Digital Invest Germany announced their upcoming workshop in Frankfurt on 10 September, focusing on civil liability for financial intermediaries, crowdfunding platforms, and crypto asset providers.
• Nordic Fintech Week 2025 presented its community-driven programme, set to gather 2,500+ participants from over 50 countries in Copenhagen this September.
• The Digital Euro Association highlighted its work on stablecoin and MiCAR tracking, and announced the Digital Euro Conference 2026.
• Global Financial Technology Network (GFTN) outlined plans for a delegation to the Singapore Fintech Festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary in November.

Looking Ahead

With each edition, the Fintech Café strengthens its role as a trusted platform for dialogue and collaboration, ensuring Europe’s fintech community remains connected, informed, and ready to shape the future of digital finance together.

We look forward to continuing the conversation at our next session on 1 September.

📅 Register once to join all sessions via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HUPayZ_YSuCBzeo0LbqiKQ