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EDFA NEWSLETTER | January 2026

Welcome to the January 2026 edition of the EDFA Newsletter, and a happy new year to our community!


As we start 2026, this edition brings together key updates on EDFA’s activities, new members joining our network, recent and upcoming initiatives, Working Group highlights, and events across the European and global digital finance ecosystem. We look forward to another year of collaboration, informed policy dialogue, and strong engagement across our growing community.



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EDFA is growing

Welcome to our new members

We are happy to start the year with 2 more associations joining the EDFA community, further strengthening our representation and engagement across Europe’s digital finance ecosystem.

  • 🇳🇱 Dutch Crowdfunding Association (DCA) has joined EDFA as a member, bringing perspectives from the Dutch crowdfunding and alternative finance ecosystem.

  • 🇸🇪 SweFinTech has joined EDFA as a member, representing the Swedish fintech ecosystem and contributing insights from the Nordic market.

Our ecosystem is growing stronger

🇫🇷 Finance Innovation has joined the EDFA community as an affiliated ecosystem organisation, supporting collaboration and exchange across European fintech hubs.


What are we working on?

Fintech Visits – January 2026

EDFA hosted the January Fintech Visits session in Brussels, bringing together EFISZ and DG FISMA for an in-person exchange on electronic payments, interoperability, and regulatory perspectives. The session highlighted the value of direct dialogue between national ecosystems and EU policymakers.

👉Read more here


Fintech Café – January 2026

On 6 January, EDFA hosted the first Fintech Café d’Europe of the year, an informal online gathering bringing together fintech associations and ecosystem representatives. The January edition focused on ecosystem plans for 2026, with participants sharing upcoming events, policy priorities, and planned activities.

The next Fintech Café will take place on 3 February.

👉Register here


Platform Leaders Programme @ ICAFR 2026

EDFA is co-hosting the Platform Leaders Programme at ICAFR 2026, a dedicated track for equity- and lending-based crowdfunding platforms and ecosystem participants. The programme will focus on practical discussions around investor UX, secondary markets and tokenisation, platform data collaboration, and cross-border cooperation, helping platforms prepare for the next phase of digital investing.

📍 Málaga, Spain | 8–10 April 2026

👉Register your interest (non-binding)


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 Working Group: The AI Working Group continues to exchange on the implementation of the AI Act and its implications for financial services. Upcoming discussions will focus on emerging developments around agentic AI, practical use cases in the sector, and related risk considerations, alongside regulatory perspectives from public authorities.

  • Open Finance Working Group: The Open Finance Working Group discussed market developments around Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) in the context of PSD3/PSR, as well as broader considerations related to digital wallets and market access. Members exchanged views on implementation challenges and evolving regulatory approaches across Member States.

  • Blockchain & Crypto Working Group: The Blockchain & Crypto Working Group discussed recent regulatory developments related to the DLT Pilot Regime and MiCA, including interactions with national regulators and questions around scaling, supervision, and market structure. The group continues to gather member input ahead of upcoming EU-level discussions.

  • ECSP (Crowdfunding) Working Group: At the last meeting, discussions focused on the €5 million threshold that hinders fundraising by project promoters on platforms, unregulated players, and the latest news from the European Commission. The next meeting, on 4 February, will address other specific topics for platforms: LEI numbers, fees to be indicated on KIIS, best practices for investor financial education, etc.


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News from Our Community

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 🇪🇸 AEFI | Mission Spain 2026

Finnovating (AEFI’s member) has opened registrations for Mission Spain 2026, a curated programme for international companies looking to establish, expand, or accelerate business in the Spanish market.

Mission Spain offers structured access to key players across Spain’s fintech and digital finance ecosystem, including corporates, financial institutions, regulators, and specialised service providers.

EDFA members benefit from an exclusive 10% participation discount.

The programme combines targeted business meetings, practical regulatory and compliance sessions, institutional support, insights on incentives for foreign companies, and access to high-level private networking events.

👉 Limited spots available. Schedule a meeting to learn more


Upcoming Events

Frankfurt Digital Finance 2026 - Frankfurt, 11-12 February
The conference addresses the most pressing opportunities and challenges in digital finance, including digital money and assets, DeFi and tokenization, AI and quantum technology, open finance, payments, and regulation (FiDA, MiCAR, DORA). Gain insights from industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators shaping the future of finance.
🔗 Learn more



Baltic Payment Forum 2026 – Vilnius, 3 March
Join global payments leaders to discuss innovation, regulation, and cross-border growth.
EDFA members receive a special discount via their national associations.
🔗 Learn more


Money Motion 2026 – Zagreb, 11–12 March
Money Motion returns for its 4th edition, bringing together fintech leaders and innovators across banking, payments, crypto, retail, and technology to explore the future of finance.

🎟 EDFA network benefit: use code EDFA30MoMo26 for 30% off
🔗 Learn more


2026 Stockholm Fintech Week 2026 | Stockholm, 18–19 March

Stockholm Fintech Week brings together founders, financial institutions, regulators, investors, and innovators from across Europe to explore the future of financial services.

The programme includes a citywide series of side events and curated networking moments on 18 March, followed by a high-level conference on 19 March at Münchenbryggeriet, featuring discussions on emerging trends, regulation, and cross-border collaboration in fintech.

🔗 Learn more


FinTech R:Evolution 2026 – Paris, 1 April

‘Flight to quality’: Join us on Wednesday, 1 April 2026 for its 11th edition.

🔗 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



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. With conferences, workshops, investor–startup matchmaking, and networking opportunities, it will be a key platform to connect and collaborate on the future of AI.

🔗 Learn more

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