This summer, Oradea Fortress will host the 5th edition of UNCHAIN Festival (on 17–18 June 2026), a high-level finance summit bringing together over 900 senior leaders and decision-makers from more than 40 countries, including financial institutions, regulators, technology providers, and industry leaders.

Marking its anniversary edition as the premier summit of CEE, UNCHAIN Festival 2026 is honoured to welcome as Keynote Speaker Prof. Marek Belka, former Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Poland—a leading voice at the intersection of economics and public policy, and an economist with a distinguished career spanning academia, government, and international institutions. Over the course of his career, he has held a series of influential international roles, including Head of Economic Policy in Iraq’s Coalition Provisional Authority, Executive Secretary of the UNECE, and Director of the European Department at the IMF, before going on to serve as President of the National Bank of Poland and later as a Member of the European Parliament.

He will be joined by prominent officials and central bank governors from across Central and Eastern Europe, as well as key decision-makers from private and international financial institutions, including the European Commission, the European Banking Authority, and regulatory bodies from Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Moldova, and the Czech Republic.

By fostering high-level dialogue and cross-border collaboration on the most pressing issues shaping the future of finance in the region, the UNCHAIN Festival reinforces its position as the premier summit for decision-makers in banking, fintech, insurance, and technology across Central and Eastern Europe.

The agenda will address key topics including the digital euro (Europe’s upcoming CBDC aimed at modernising payments and preserving monetary sovereignty), the European Unique Identifier (EUID) for streamlined cross-border KYC and verification, cybersecurity and operational resilience under DORA, AI governance and its responsible applications in banking, instant payments (SEPA SCT Inst), asset tokenisation using DLT to enhance capital market efficiency, and the evolving open finance framework under PSD3 to drive innovation and competition.

A dedicated section of the UNCHAIN Festival will spotlight the region’s most dynamic ecosystems, showcasing top disruptors and innovative companies driving transformation across financial services. This initiative is designed to give early-stage and stage disruptors a prominent platform to present regional business opportunities, innovation frameworks, and cutting-edge solutions poised to redefine the financial landscape.

Applications are open until May 15th via https://unchainfestival.com/startups/ inviting the most ambitious innovators to step forward and take part in shaping the future of finance on a regional stage.

Under this initiative, a carefully selected group of companies representing countries from across Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltics will take the stage to share their national perspectives on the future of finance and the disruptive technologies shaping the industry.

“UNCHAIN Festival was created as a platform for meaningful dialogue among financial industry leaders, and the 2026 edition marks a significant step in shaping the future of finance in the region. With our new initiative spotlighting top disruptors from across CEE and the Baltics, we aim to elevate national perspectives and connect ecosystems that can collaborate to accelerate innovation,” said Alexandra Pollack, Founder and CEO at UNCHAIN.

Continuing its annual tradition, UNCHAIN Festival 2026 will recognize excellence in financial services and technology, presenting awards to the most outstanding disruptors and innovators from Central and Eastern Europe.

All of this is made possible thanks to the essential support of key players in the fintech ecosystem, such as Visa—the event’s Main Partner—along with Raiffeisen Bank Romania, BRD Groupe Société Générale, and Banca Transilvania as Banking Partners, Payten Romania as Gold Partner. The event’s sponsors, who support innovation in the CEE region, are Garanti BBVA, fme Romania, SurePay, Worldline, Profile Software, Axe Finance, TSYS, Finshape, Namirial, CMS Cameron McKenna, and VeritaHR.

CEE finance leaders return to the UNCHAIN Festival each year. Early Bird tickets offering a 30% discount are available at https://unchainfestival.com/tickets/ for a limited period of time until April 22nd. Prices will increase after this date.

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Prof. Marek Belka – Biography

Prof. Marek Belka (1952) is an economist with a distinguished career in academia, government, and international institutions. He has been affiliated with the Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of Łódź for most of his career and has held research fellowships at Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and the London School of Economics.

He twice served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (1997; 2001–2002) and was Prime Minister of Poland from 2004 to 2005. His international roles include leading economic policy in Iraq’s Coalition Provisional Authority (2003–2004), serving as Executive Secretary of UNECE (2006–2008), and heading the European Department at the IMF (2008–2010). He was President of the National Bank of Poland (2010–2016) and a Member of the European Parliament (2019–2024).

In 2024, he was appointed Chair of the Audit Board of the Ukraine Facility, overseeing financial support for Ukraine’s recovery.

About UNCHAIN Festival

UNCHAIN Festival is the leading finance and technology summit in Central and Eastern Europe. Since 2022, it has connected banks, fintechs, regulators, and industry leaders in Oradea, Romania, fostering cross-industry collaboration and turning emerging trends into actionable strategies for regional growth and resilience.

Key Provisions

• Risk-Based Classification: AI systems are categorized by risk levels, with stricter rules for higher-risk applications. Systems posing unacceptable risks, such as cognitive behavioral manipulation and social scoring, are banned.
• Prohibitions: Bans predictive policing based on profiling and biometric categorization by race, religion, or sexual orientation.
• General-Purpose AI Models: Those with no systemic risks face limited requirements focused on transparency. High-risk models must adhere to stricter regulations.

An AI Office within the European Commission will oversee rule implementation, supported by a scientific panel of independent experts and an AI Board composed of member state representatives. Non-compliance fines are based on a percentage of the offending company’s global turnover or a set amount, whichever is higher. Public service entities must assess the impact of high-risk AI systems on fundamental rights before deployment.

The AI Act encourages innovation through regulatory sandboxes, allowing controlled testing of AI systems. The regulation mandates increased transparency in developing and using high-risk AI systems, requiring registration in the EU database and disclosure when using emotion recognition technology.

The product steps into the market with various features designed to attract seasoned crypto traders. The platform offers an extensive selection of over 100 tokens, including major cryptocurrencies, which can be traded with exceptionally low fees—0% for makers and only 0.09% for takers. 

Integration within the Revolut Ecosystem

Revolut X can also integrate seamlessly with the existing Revolut ecosystem. Traders can easily switch between fiat and cryptocurrency without incurring additional fees, facilitating a fluid transfer of funds across different asset types. This feature simplifies the process for traders who operate with diverse portfolios.

However, the platform isn’t just about low fees and easy integration. It also offers advanced trading capabilities, including real-time trading data, analytics, and integration with TradingView charts. Revolut also ensures the safety of traders’ assets, with the majority of funds kept in cold storage and security measures in place to prevent account takeovers and ensure the integrity of transactions.

In addition to its trading features, Revolut wants to promote crypto literacy among its users. The platform encourages the use of its Learn module to help traders understand complex crypto concepts and trading strategies. This educational initiative is part of Revolut’s broader mission to provide all-in-one crypto services that cater to the needs of its diverse customer base.

Strategic Growth Amidst Global Expansion

Revolut began the year with just over 8,000 employees and has quickly scaled up, planning to increase its workforce to approximately 11,500 by year-end. The company’s growth strategy involves significant hiring across its Sales, Customer Support, and Financial Crime (FinCrime) teams, which will see the majority of the new roles. Francesca Carlesi, CEO of Revolut UK, emphasized the company’s momentum, stating:

Revolut continues to grow from strength to strength; to support that growth, it is essential that we recruit the best talent from across the industry. 10,000 employees is an exciting milestone, but we’re not stopping there.

A Remote-First Culture

As a remote-first business, Revolut leverages a decentralized workforce model that enables it to tap into a broader talent pool beyond traditional financial hubs like London. This approach allows the company to offer more flexible working conditions and attract talent from across the UK and globally. Over one-third of Revolut’s workforce is already based outside of London, showcasing the effectiveness of this model in a modern work environment.

In 2023, the company received over one million job applications globally and was certified as a Great Place to Work in eight of its markets, including the UK. These accolades reflect Revolut’s commitment to employee satisfaction and organizational culture which future employees can also enjoy.

As our home market, the UK is at the centre of Revolut’s growth, and is an integral part of not only the company’s expansion locally but also internationally. We look forward to welcoming the next batch of Revoluters over the next few months to help build Revolut across the globe.

Francesca Carlesi

Innovation in Entertainment Finance

FilmChain has been at the forefront of addressing the entertainment industry’s challenges related to delayed payments and lack of financial transparency. Their platform automates the collection and distribution of revenues, providing real-time payments and on-demand financial reporting. This system not only streamlines financial management but also ensures immediate access to detailed financial reports and analytics. 

We are excited to broaden our suite of products and harness cutting-edge technologies. Our quest to revolutionize global payments and expedite cash flow has now received a robust vote of confidence from an exceptional group of investors.

Maria Tanjala, co-founder of FilmChain

Adding to their list of accolades, FilmChain was the first winner of the Startup Tournament at the UNCHAIN Festival. This victory highlights the startup’s potential and innovation within the fintech and entertainment sectors.

FilmChain’s use of financial technology includes its architecture and fintech APIs, as well as a private Ethereum blockchain that enhances transaction transparency and auditability. This allows for precise ownership tracking and facilitates the management of future secondary sales in asset management. 

Our payment infrastructure is meticulously crafted to cater to the critical needs of these stakeholders. With the infusion of fresh capital, we are poised to empower a new wave of filmmakers across North America.

 Irina Albita, co-founder of FilmChain

The trials, set to run from May to November 2024, are part of the ECB’s broader strategy to assess the feasibility and advantages of employing DLT in the core processes of financial transactions. The focus is on evaluating DLT’s capability to streamline euro-denominated issuances and delivery-versus-payment (DvP) transactions, which are crucial for the smooth functioning of financial markets.

Collaboration with Industry Leaders

Clearstream, a central securities depository and part of the Deutsche Börse Group, is the only CSD participating in the first wave of these ECB trials. By bringing its digital post-trade platform D7, enhanced with DLT capabilities, into the trials, Clearstream aims to demonstrate how tokenized securities can be effectively managed within the DLT framework.

Clearstream’s participation in the ECB trials is a significant milestone in our digitisation journey: we are expanding our D7 digital securities infrastructure with DLT components and fostering connections with the main digital payment solutions across the Eurosystem. We are thrilled to further collectively shape the future of an inter-connected digital European settlement landscape together with the ECB and our broad participant base. Of course, Clearstream will leverage the trial insights to further enhance D7 for the industry.

Jens Hachmeister – Head of Issuer Services & New Digital Markets at Clearstream

The ECB trials are a great step towards integrating DLT into the European financial ecosystem, potentially leading to more transparent, efficient, and secure transaction processes. By connecting with central banks’ digital offerings like the Bundesbank’s Trigger Solution and Banca d’Italia’s TIPS Hash-link, the trials also pave the way for greater interoperability and innovation within the sector.

Jordan pointed out the substantial changes a retail CBDC could bring to the current monetary system, including the roles of central banks and commercial banks, which might lead to extensive consequences for the financial ecosystem. He believes the risks associated with a retail CBDC outweigh the potential benefits. 

Retail CBDC could fundamentally alter the current monetary system and the role of central banks and commercial banks, with far-reaching consequences for the financial system.

Thomas Jordan

However, the SNB is actively exploring a wholesale CBDC, which facilitates transactions between commercial banks using central bank money, aiming to enhance the speed and reduce the costs of payments.

The SNB’s Stance on Digital Currencies

Thomas Jordan’s remarks underscore a cautious approach toward the adoption of retail CBDCs, emphasizing the importance of evaluating potential impacts on the financial system thoroughly. The SNB’s exploration of a wholesale CBDC indicates a more targeted approach to digital currency, focusing on improvements in transaction efficiency within the banking sector.

The Chairman’s concerns about the fundamental alterations a retail CBDC could cause within the monetary system highlight the complexities involved in introducing digital currencies. This caution reflects a broader debate within the global financial community regarding the best path forward in the era of digitalization.

The SNB’s trial of a wholesale CBDC suggests a keen interest in leveraging technology to optimize the existing financial infrastructure. This initiative might serve as a critical learning opportunity for the SNB and other central banks considering similar ventures, balancing innovation with financial stability.

This move, endorsed by the European Payments Council, combines SEPA Instant Credit Transfers (SCT Inst) with open banking, finalizing the puzzle pieces for an open, pan-European payment method.

Joe Morley, EU CEO and General Manager of TrueLayer, shared insights on how SPAA is set to invigorate the European open banking ecosystem. The scheme’s financial model encourages banks to monetize APIs and collaborate with fintechs to develop advanced, digitally native account-to-account payment services. This approach is a significant departure from the PSD2, which many banks viewed merely as a compliance requirement, limiting their drive to expand beyond basic open banking services.

New Features and Future Expectations

One of the SPAA scheme’s most intriguing features for both scheme participants and end-users is Dynamic Recurring Payments (DRP). This feature enables customers to establish recurring payments with variable parameters, promising a broad range of new use cases and simplifying the online checkout process. Additionally, the Payment Certainty Mechanism introduced by SPAA could enhance in-store open banking payments by assuring merchants of immediate fund transfer guarantees.

Looking forward, the combination of widespread instant credit transfers and open banking, facilitated by the SPAA scheme, presents a clear path towards an open and sustainable European payment method. With demand from Third Party Providers (TPPs) and their merchant clients already evident, the scheme’s successful implementation could see the first SPAA transactions by as early as 2025, signaling a significant shift in the European payment landscape.

A Race Against Time

Banks have been given a deadline of April 8 to get their gears turning, with the full compliance date breathing down their necks on January 9, 2025. It’s all about being able to handle instant credit transfers in euros, and the clock is already ticking loudly. 

The EU is not just about speeding up payments – it’s a strategic play to boost the European economic and financial sector’s independence, reducing the reliance on big names like Visa and Mastercard, and by extension, enhancing the stability and sovereignty of Europe’s financial system.

Craig Ramsey, Global Head of Real-Time Payments at ACI Worldwide, calls it unprecedented in scale and speed. The financial institutions across the EU are now tasked with an incredibly rapid adaptation, a challenge that’s as colossal as it is critical. The sector’s being nudged (okay, pushed) to prioritize this massive change, highlighting the EU’s determination to fortify its financial autonomy.

The main goal behind this move is to help the EU’s digital economy grow stronger and faster. By making payments almost instant, the EU is making it easier for people to buy and sell things online, which is great news for businesses and shoppers alike. This could lead to more jobs, innovative services, and a bigger, better marketplace for digital goods and services.

Meeting the Demand for Digital

People and businesses have been wanting faster and more reliable digital services for a while now, and this new instant payment rule is the EU’s way of responding to that demand. In today’s world, waiting days for a payment to go through just doesn’t cut it anymore. The EU is acknowledging that and making changes to keep up with the times.

The EU is also focusing heavily on keeping these payments safe. New rules are in place to protect against fraud and hacking so people can feel more confident about using digital payments. This should help everyone feel more comfortable with the idea of instant payments and encourage more people to try them.

The implementation of the ten-second rule is also a testament to the growing influence of fintech innovations in shaping the future of banking and payments. Fintech companies have been at the forefront of developing instant payment solutions, and this new mandate is likely to spur further innovation in the sector. As traditional banks and new fintech players adapt to these regulations, we can expect to see a surge in creative and user-centric payment solutions that could redefine how we think about money and transactions.