What are we working on?

🖋️ Joint FIDA Op-Ed

Our latest opinion piece, co-signed by EFA and ETPPA , tackles the high-stakes debate surrounding FiDA. We argue that without a balanced Open Finance framework, we risk handing European financial data over to non-EU tech giants. The piece emphasizes that the current pushback from traditional banking and insurance lobbies could inadvertently stifle EU competitiveness and the Single Market. 

👉 Read the Op-Ed

✉️ Open Letter: MiCAR & DLT Market Integration

EDFA has officially published its Open Letter on the Market Integration and Supervision Package. The letter addresses the critical need for supervisory convergence across Member States to support the DLT Pilot Regime and MiCAR implementation. We are calling for a framework that supports market uptake rather than creating fragmented silos. 

👉 Read the letter

🇧🇬 Fintech Visits - March 2026

EDFA recently hosted the Bulgarian Fintech Association for a dedicated session with DG FISMA. The exchange brought together Fintech Bulgaria and EU policymakers for an in-depth discussion on the practical implementation of the "Big Six": PSD3/PSR, CCD2, MiCA, DORA, eIDAS 2.0, and AML. These sessions continue to be a vital bridge, ensuring that the realities of national markets are reflected in EU-level supervision. 

👉 Read the full recap here

☕ Fintech Café - March 2026

On 9 March, we gathered for the monthly Fintech Café, our informal digital hub for association leads and ecosystem representatives. Beyond the usual updates on national regulatory priorities, the session focused on streamlining cross-border collaboration as we head into a busy legislative Spring. 

The next Fintech Café will take place on 7 April.
👉 Register here

🎙️ EU Roundtable of Financial Centres | Tallinn

EDFA will be represented in Tallinn at the upcoming EU Roundtable of Financial Centres, hosted by our member FinanceEstonia. EDFA President, Alessandra Guion will be a featured speaker on the role of digital finance in strengthening global financial hubs, joined by Board Member Karsten Wenzlaff as part of the delegation representing our community.

👉 Event Details

Working Group Updates

Is your association a member of EDFA?

Join our working groups to contribute to key policy discussions and ensure your voice is heard at the European level. 

👉 Register here

Working Group Highlights

EDFA’s working groups continue to bring together experts and members from across Europe to discuss key developments shaping the future of digital finance.

• AI Digital and Data Security: The focus has shifted toward Agentic AI. The group explored the practical applications and risk considerations of AI agents acting with intentionality. Discussions centered on the limitations of the EU AI Act in addressing these autonomous agents, featuring a deep-dive presentation by Sumsub on the balance between innovation and safety.
  

• Open Finance: The group has been active on the FiDA front, finalizing our recent FIDA Op-Ed. We also discussed EIOPA’s recent inquiry into whether ChatGPT qualifies as an insurance distributor, a timely reminder of how technology is outpacing regulation.
  

• Blockchain & Crypto: The group’s primary focus this month was the finalization and launch of the DLT/MiCA Open Letter, ensuring that the call for stronger supervisory convergence reached the right desks in Brussels.
  

• ECSP (Crowdfunding): On 4 March, EDFA co-hosted a high-level global webinar with Global Equity Crowdfunding Alliance (GECA) and Crowdfund Insider to discuss the future of international equity crowdfunding. The session brought together industry leaders to explore practical pathways for reducing market fragmentation across the EU, US, and UK.

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Brussels Policy Watch

EDFA encourages members and ecosystem stakeholders to respond, particularly on issues affecting digital finance competitiveness and cross-border market integration.

The "28th Regime": EU Inc. Proposal 

On 18 March 2026, the European Commission presented its proposal for EU Inc., a landmark optional corporate framework that serves as the starting point for the EU's 28th Regime. This "digital-by-default" system aims to eliminate the fragmentation of 27 national legal systems, allowing innovative companies to incorporate and scale across the Single Market with unprecedented speed and reduced administrative costs.

EDFA is currently analyzing the proposal to help our members identify and seize the opportunities offered by this unified European corporate identity.

🔗 Official EU Inc. Proposal

EU banking competitiveness consultation

🔗 Targeted consultation | deadline: 19 April 2026

AMLA customer due diligence RTS

🔗Public Consultation | deadline: 8 May 2026

News from Our Members

 🇧🇪 FinTech Belgium | Scaling AI to Create Business Value

FinTech Belgium is hosting an interactive session on 23 April in Brussels exploring how financial institutions can move beyond AI pilots to deliver measurable P&L impact. Featuring speakers from BNP Paribas Fortis, Accenture, and leading fintechs like Yields, Datavillage, and Sagacify, the event will focus on industrializing AI through strategy, data, and ecosystem partnerships. 

👉 Register here

🇪🇸 AEFI | Mission Spain 2026

Finnovating (AEFI member) has opened registrations for Mission Spain 2026, a curated program for international companies looking to establish or accelerate business in the Spanish market. The mission offers structured access to key fintech players, including financial institutions, regulators, and service providers.

EDFA members benefit from an exclusive 10% participation discount. The program features targeted business meetings, regulatory sessions, and high-level networking events.

👉 Schedule a meeting to learn more

🇵🇱 FinTech Poland | Strengthening Regional Fintech Collaboration

On March 2, Fintech Poland convened a high-level roundtable in Vilnius. The discussion focused on the synergy between Lithuania’s regulatory agility and Poland’s market scale, highlighting Embedded Finance and VC exchange as key drivers for regional growth.

👉 Read the takeaways

🇮🇹 ItaliaFintech | Fintech Awards 2026 Winners

On March 19 in Milan, ItaliaFintech celebrated the fourth edition of the Fintech Awards, honoring innovation in Italian digital finance.

👉 View the winners

Industry Insights

In collaboration with:

Germany’s Fintech & Banking Report 2026

This update explores a landscape of "integrated intelligence," where profitability and regulatory maturity drive growth. The study provides an in-depth look at how the German ecosystem is navigating MiCA, the EU AI Act, and Agentic Banking.

This year’s report features an interview with Uli Fricke, President of EDFA member Digital Invest Germany, on the maturity of the German market.

👉 Download the Report

Upcoming Events

MEMBER EVENT: FinTech R:Evolution 2026 | Paris, 1 April 

France FinTech’s flagship fintech event returns to Station F for its 11th edition, bringing together entrepreneurs, decision-makers, investors, researchers and regulators for a full day of debates, workshops and networking.

Exclusive EDFA member benefits are available via the EDFA Member Hub.

🔗 Learn more



International Conference for Alternative Finance Research 2026 | Malaga, 10–12 April

The 5th International Conference for Alternative Finance Research (ICAFR 2026) will take place in Málaga, Spain, bringing together researchers, policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to discuss developments in crowdfunding, digital investing, and alternative finance.
🔗 Learn more

EU at the Finance Tech Frontier | Berlin, 17 April 

A high-level gathering focused on leading sovereignty, security, and innovation within the European financial landscape.

🔗 Learn more



Integrating Europe’s Capital Markets | Brussels, 6 May 

Hosted by BETTER FINANCE, this event focuses on delivering results for retail investors within the Capital Markets Union.

🔗 Learn more

Economic Forum on AI | Brussels, 7 May 

A flagship forum hosted by the European Commission dedicated to the economic impact of AI-driven competitiveness in the Union.

🔗 Learn more

AI Everything Abu Dhabi | May 11, 2026

The event will bring together innovators, policy-makers, investors, and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge AI technologies, pioneering research, and industry-ready solutions across multiple sectors.

🔗 Learn more

Balkan Payment Forum 2026 | Tirana, 14 May

A high-level summit for banks, regulators, and fintechs to explore the payment landscape in the Balkans. Discussions will cover the impact of PSD3, Instant Payments, and Open Finance on regional growth.

🔗 Learn more

ESMA Annual Conference | Paris & Online, 21 May

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) explores a "New Era for EU Capital Markets." Members are encouraged to join, online registration is available.

🔗 Learn more

GITEX Europe - AI Everything | Berlin, 21-23 May 

The European debut of the global AI powerhouse, focusing on scaling AI to create real business value. The event connects European tech ecosystems with global innovators, policy-makers, and investors to explore cutting-edge research and industry-ready solutions.

🔗 Learn more

Future Finance Fest (3f) | Amsterdam, 5 June

Held immediately following Money20/20 Europe at the nhow Amsterdam RAI, 3f bridges the gap between industry and academia. The event features curated sessions on AI, digital infrastructure, and sustainable finance. Industry participants interested in speaking can contact the organizers at [email protected]

🔗 Learn more