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EDFA NEWSLETTER | May 2026

This month's update covers EDFA's key activities, policy engagements, and the latest from our community across Europe.


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What are we working on?

General Assembly and Board Renewal | Prague, 15 May

EDFA held its 2026 Annual General Assembly in Prague on 15 May, hosted by the Czech Fintech Association. Members elected the renewed Board of Directors for the next mandate. Congratulations to the incoming board:

A warm thank you to all outgoing board members, Don Ginsel and Karsten Wenzlaff for their service and commitment to EDFA's mission.

👉 Read the full announcement

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📊 EDFA Responds to the Commission Consultation on Private Equity Exits

EDFA has submitted its response to the European Commission's consultation on private equity exits, contributing the perspective of Europe's digital finance ecosystem on capital markets access, exit pathways, and the role of alternative finance in enabling scale-up growth across the Single Market.

👉 Read the full response


📝 Joint Op-Ed on FiDA Published in La Revue Banque

A joint op-ed by EDFA, the European FinTech Association (EFA), and ETPPA has been published in La Revue Banque, one of France's leading banking publications, with a comment from EDFA Board Chair Alessandra Guion-Gambrill. The argument: delaying FiDA is not a neutral choice. FiDA needs improvement on phasing, use case prioritisation, and cybersecurity. The answer is to improve it, not abandon it.

🇫🇷 Read in French (La Revue Banque)

🇬🇧 Read in English


🇨🇿 EDFA at Fintech Roadmap | Prague, 14 May

EDFA attended the 5th edition of Fintech Roadmap at the Czech National Bank. EDFA President Alessandra Guion-Gambrill and Open Finance Working Group Chair Henrik Sjølie joined a fireside chat on open finance and FiDA. The session explored why FiDA is good for consumers, fintechs, and incumbents alike; why open finance is already happening outside Europe's control; and why the real question is whether Europe builds the framework that keeps it within its own standards.

👉 Learn more

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🇳🇱 Meet the EDFA Community at Money20/20 Europe | Amsterdam

Money20/20 Europe takes place 2-4 June in Amsterdam, and much of the EDFA community will be there. Want to connect on the sidelines? Just hit reply.


☕ Fintech Café - May 2026

The May Fintech Café session featured updates from across the network, a presentation by the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) on measuring and communicating the impact of financial centres, and an update from the Lithuanian Fintech Association on their current priorities. The session closed with a discussion on EU digital sovereignty and the Digital Euro pilot, covering business viability, merchant adoption, and the role of open banking players in the emerging scheme.

The next Fintech Café takes place on 9 June.

👉 Register here


🇱🇻 EDFA on Stage at the Baltic Fintech Days | Riga

EDFA members were on stage at Baltic Fintech Days in Riga, in a panel bringing together Tobias Tenner, Tina Luse, Kaido Saar, Karsten Wenzlaff, and Chris C. on how new players are winning in markets where incumbents have long dominated, and what real collaboration between banks and fintechs looks like on the ground.

👉 Read more

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Brussels Policy Watch

EDFA encourages members and ecosystem stakeholders to engage with the items below, particularly on issues affecting digital finance competitiveness and cross-border market integration.


EC | MiCA Review - Commission Consultation

DG FISMA | Deadline: 31 August 2026

The Commission has launched a public consultation on MiCA, assessing whether the EU's crypto-asset framework remains fit for purpose following market and international policy developments since its 2024 implementation.

Public questionnaire: Submit here

Targeted questionnaire (issuers, CASPs, industry bodies): Submit here


ESMA | MiCAR - Transitional Period Ends 1 July 2026

Legislative milestone | Action required before 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, any entity providing crypto-asset services to EU clients without a MiCA licence is in breach of EU law. ESMA has published a dedicated statement setting out wind-down expectations for CASPs that have not yet obtained authorisation.

🔗 ESMA statement on end of transitional periods


PSD3/PSR - ECON Committee Approval

European Parliament + Council | Legislative milestone

The European Parliament’s ECON Committee formally endorsed the final PSR text and PSD3 text on 5 May 2026, advancing the package toward a final plenary vote and formal Council adoption ahead of its official publication in the Official Journal of the EU.


ESMA | Call for Evidence - Structure of European Equity Markets

Deadline: 30 June 2026 | Public workshop: 11 June 2026

ESMA is gathering evidence to assess whether adjustments to the EU equity market structure framework are needed. A public workshop takes place on 11 June.

🔗 Respone here


ESMA | MiCA Reverse Solicitation - NCA Compliance Table Updated

Supervisory guidance 

ESMA has updated its compliance table showing which NCAs comply or intend to comply with ESMA's guidelines on reverse solicitation under MiCAR. 

🔗 Compliance table


Industry Insights

in collaboration with

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A selection of in-depth analyses on developments shaping European digital finance, curated from our partner Contextual Solutions.


Europe's Savings and Investments Union: What It Means for Fintech

The SIU is moving from ambition to architecture. This analysis maps the legislative building blocks now taking shape and what the framework means for fintech positioning, market access, and cross-border scaling.

🔗 Read the analysis


PSD3/PSR: Final Texts Published

The final texts of PSD3 and PSR have been published. This analysis unpacks the key changes, what the new framework requires from payment institutions and fintechs, and sets out the implementation timeline.

🔗 Read the analysis


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News from Our Community

🇳🇱 Holland Fintech Association - Executive Fintech Summer School | 2-3 July

Holland Fintech is running its Executive Fintech Summer School on 2-3 July 2026 at the Amsterdam Business School. The two-day intensive covers fintech innovation, AI, regulation, and emerging technologies. 

Application deadline: 19 June 2026.

👉 Programme and registration


🇧🇪 🇳🇱 FinTech Belgium and Holland Fintech - European Networking Event | Amsterdam, 2 June

FinTech Belgium and Holland Fintech are co-organising the annual networking side event at TNW City Amsterdam, two minutes from the Money20/20 street party. Drinks, food, founders, investors, and fintech teams across borders.

Tuesday June 2 | 18:00-21:00 | TNW City, Amsterdam

👉 Register and learn more


🇧🇪 FinTech Belgium - AI Barometer 2026 Release Event

FinTech Belgium is hosting the launch of its 2026 AI Barometer, the annual study mapping how Belgium's financial institutions are integrating AI. 

Thursday June 18 | 18:00 CET | Vlerick Business School Brussels

👉 Learn more and register


🇭🇺 Hungarian Fintech Association - Budapest Fintech Summer Talks

The Hungarian Fintech Association is hosting Budapest Fintech Summer Talks in collaboration with Deloitte and Ergomania. The programme covers Hungary's fintech R&D potential, AI in financial design, tokenised capital markets, and MiCA developments, with networking throughout. 

Wednesday, June 10 | 15:00 - 21:00 CEST | Deloitte Hungary, Budapest

👉 Learn more and register


🇳🇱 Holland Fintech - Webinar: Navigating DORA

Holland Fintech is hosting a practical webinar on DORA implementation: from regulation to execution, covering strategies for financial resilience. 

Thursday 11 June | 10:00 - 10:45 CET | Online

👉 Register here


🇵🇱 FinTech Poland - Warsaw Finance Week 2026 | Save the Date, 3-6 November

Warsaw Finance Week 2026 returns to CIC Warsaw on 3-6 November with a bigger international footprint, top-level speakers, and a programme spanning finance, fintech, AI, and regulation. Join the waiting list to be first to know when registration opens.

👉 Join the waiting list

Upcoming Events

EDFA proudly partners with these selected events. To access exclusive EDFA member benefits and discounts, please contact your local EDFA member association.


Money20/20 Europe | Amsterdam, 2-4 June 2026

Europe's #1 fintech event brings together 8,500+ senior decision-makers from banks, fintechs, payments, policy, and technology. The 2026 edition introduces a curated meetings programme and The Intersection, a new stage where traditional finance and DeFi converge.

🎟️ EDFA benefit: Save €200 via this link

🔗 Register and learn more


Future Finance Fest (3f) | Amsterdam, 5 June 2026

Held immediately after Money20/20 Europe at nhow Amsterdam RAI, 3f bridges industry and academia with curated sessions on AI, digital infrastructure, and sustainable finance. Interested in speaking? Contact [email protected].

🔗 Register and learn more


Point Zero Forum | Zurich, 23-25 June 2026

The annual global gathering co-organised by GFTN and the Swiss Finance Institute (SIF), themed "Rewiring Trust: Technology and the New Rules of Money." Brings together 2,000+ policymakers, central bankers, regulators, and industry leaders on AI, tokenisation, and digital finance policy.

🎟️ EDFA discount code: PZF26-IND-PTNR-30DISC-EDFA (30% off Industry Pass)

🔗 Learn more


UNCHAIN Fintech Festival | Oradea, 17-18 June 2026

Five years in and still the most electric gathering in Central and Eastern European fintech. UNCHAIN brings 900+ delegates from 40+ countries to the historic Oradea Fortress for two days of expert panels, roundtables, pitch competitions, and evenings you will actually remember. 

🔗 Learn more and register


GITEX Europe | Berlin, 30 June - 1 July 2026

The European debut of GITEX, focusing on scaling AI to create real business value. Connects European tech ecosystems with global innovators, policymakers, and investors.

🔗 Learn more

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