Overheard at Money20/20 Las Vegas

This year’s Money20/20 in Las Vegas was less about hype and more about how the industry will actually create the future. The theme, “Create the Future”, reflected a clear shift in focus. Growth is no longer driven by the next product launch or flash of innovation; it’s powered by infrastructure, automation, and trust. Across sessions, one message came through loud and clear: finance is getting connected. Banks and fintechs are aligning around shared standards, smarter automation, and responsible innovation. For Liberis, that’s familiar territory. We’ve always believed the future of finance isn’t built alone, it’s built in partnership, inside the systems and platforms small businesses already trust. Here’s what we overheard, and what it means for the future of contextual finance.

AI has moved beyond experimentation; it’s now the foundation for how finance runs. From real-time decisioning to risk management and customer experience, AI is shaping every layer of financial operations. So what: The challenge isn’t adopting AI, it’s applying it responsibly. For Liberis, that means explainable, human-guided intelligence that helps us make faster, fairer funding decisions.

The next wave of growth depends on systems that work together, where data, identity, and money move easily and securely between networks. The industry is moving away from walled gardens toward shared frameworks that make finance more fluid. So what: Growth now comes from connection, not control. Liberis is built for this, embedding finance directly into the platforms’ businesses already use, with trust and transparency built in.

Trust used to be a value. Now it’s infrastructure. Whether through regulation, data protection, or AI transparency, trust is becoming the currency that underpins every financial interaction. So what: The winners will be those who bake trust into every layer of their model. At Liberis, that means turning responsible data use and transparent decisioning into our greatest competitive advantage.

Finance is no longer constrained by borders, but success still depends on understanding local realities. Businesses want funding and payments that feel local, even when they operate globally. So what: Liberis is helping partners deliver that balance, global reach with local insight, powered by data that adapts to each market.

Embedded finance has evolved. It’s no longer just about access; it’s about intelligence. Automation and AI are turning embedded products into predictive experiences, helping businesses get what they need before they ask for it. So what: Liberis is already moving in this direction, turning embedded finance into contextual finance, where data and foresight drive action in real time.

AI can help teams move faster, but without coordination, speed creates confusion. The most forward-thinking organisations are focusing on clarity, not chaos: aligning teams around one vision, one framework, and one set of priorities. So what: At Liberis, speed comes from alignment. Our partnerships work because we share the same goal: helping small businesses grow responsibly, not just rapidly.

Fintech is entering what some call a “Fintech Spring”, where banking, payments, and credit infrastructure are becoming modular, composable, and available as building blocks. This means anyone can assemble financial capabilities into their ecosystem, safely, quickly, and at scale. So what: Liberis has always operated this way. Our platform plugs into partners’ ecosystems to deliver embedded funding with minimal friction and maximum flexibility.

Money20/20 made one truth undeniable: fintech’s future isn’t about who builds the flashiest product. It’s about who creates the frameworks that let finance flow, securely, intelligently, and at scale. So what: At Liberis, we’re not just building products. We’re building protocols of growth, shared systems that connect partners, insights, and funding to help small businesses thrive.

The future of finance is embedded, intelligent, and partner-led. The real innovation now lies beneath the surface, in the connections, data, and trust that make every transaction work. At Liberis, we’re building that future, powering funding that’s instant, contextual, and available exactly when and where businesses need it. Because the future of finance won’t happen in isolation. It will happen in partnership.