8:30 am - 9:00 am

Registration & Networking Breakfast

Connect with peers and industry leaders over coffee and breakfast before the day's sessions.

9:00 am - 9:15 am

Welcome Remarks

Setting the tone for Finance 3.0, highlighting the UAE’s leadership in financial innovation, and presenting the goals of the forum.

9:15 am - 10:00 am

Panel 1: Stablecoins and Digital Assets - A New Paradigm for Banking

Exploring the transformative impact of stablecoins and digital assets on banking operations, payment systems, and client offerings.

Subtopics:

  • How stablecoins enhance payment systems and liquidity management.
  • Integrating stablecoins into traditional banking to attract and retain clients.
  • Strategic implications for high-value transactions and private wealth management.
  • Stablecoins as tools for financial inclusion and remittances.

10:00 am - 10:15 am

Keynote: The Future of Finance - Bridging Traditional and Digital Ecosystems

A thought-provoking address on the convergence of traditional finance and Web3 innovations, highlighting the opportunities and challenges for financial institutions in this transformative era.

10:15 am - 10:40 am

Fireside Chat: The Risk-Reward Equation—Should Banks Embrace Digital Assets?

A candid discussion between a senior banking executive and a digital finance innovator, debating whether the risks of adopting digital assets outweigh the rewards—or vice versa.

10:40 am - 11:00 am

Coffee Break & Networking

A short break to refresh and connect with other attendees.

11:00 am - 11:45 am

Panel 2: Regulation as an Enabler - Creating a Safe Space for Digital Asset Adoption

This panel will focus on the role of regulatory frameworks in fostering trust, compliance, and innovation in the digital finance ecosystem.

Subtopics:

  • The UAE’s Payment Token Services Regulation and its global significance.
  • Navigating compliance: AML, CFT, and the challenges of cross-border operations.
  • Building a framework that balances innovation with risk mitigation.
  • How regulations are empowering traditional banks to explore digital assets.

11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Panel 3: Stablecoins Reimagined - Banks and Fintech as Future Issuers

This session will reimagine stablecoins as tools for banks and fintech firms, focusing on their potential to issue regulated and sustainable stablecoins.

Subtopics:

  • Why banks are uniquely positioned to issue stablecoins as trusted institutions.
  • Fintech firms as innovators: Designing user-centric stablecoin ecosystems.
  • Revenue streams beyond reserve interest: Building sustainable business models.
  • Collaborative opportunities between banks, fintech firms, and regulators.

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm

Lunch Break & Networking

A longer break for attendees to enjoy lunch and network with peers and speakers.

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Panel 4: DeFi and Compliance - Finding the Missing Recipe for Mutual Acceptance

This panel examines how DeFi’s innovative solutions can evolve to meet the compliance and security standards required by banks and regulators.

Subtopics:

  • Addressing the current barriers preventing DeFi adoption in traditional finance.
  • Governance and transparency innovations that could make DeFi more acceptable.
  • Risk management strategies for DeFi platforms.
  • Collaborative models between DeFi projects and traditional financial institutions.

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

Panel 5: Leading the Way - Custody, Tokenization, and the Future of Banking

A forward-looking discussion on how banks can lead the next wave of Finance 3.0 by pioneering custody services and tokenizing real-world assets (RWA).

Subtopics:

  • The strategic role of banks in providing custody services for digital assets.
  • Tokenization of RWA: Unlocking liquidity and investment opportunities.
  • Building trust and security in tokenized ecosystems.
  • Case studies of successful banking initiatives in custody and tokenization.

3:15 pm - 3:30 pm

Closing Remarks

A summary of the day’s insights, highlighting actionable takeaways and the path forward for Finance 3.0.