“Fintech Frontier: Unlocking the Caribbean’s Digital Economy” took place on January 26, 2025, at the Renaissance Wind Creek, hosted by the Curacao Fintech Association (CFA) in collaboration with CANTO Caribbean.
Fintech Frontier will be a recurring series of events organized by CFA aimed at raising awareness and addressing pressing questions about fintech on the island. The Event Program consisted of the following:
🎤 Welcome Session and House Rules
Presented by the Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Timothy Martina (Base Caribbean)
🏛️ Opening Remarks
Delivered by Mrs. Teresa Wankin, Secretary General at CANTO Caribbean
💡 Introduction to Fintech and the Curaçao Fintech Association
Presented by Mr. Geraume Bor (Ictual)
🌍 Fintech and the Current State of the Industry
Presented by Mr. David B. Levy Maduro (CX Pay B.V.)
⚖️ Navigating Fintech Legislation
Presented by Mrs. Rejauna Rojer (HBN Law & Tax)
🤖 The Interaction between Telecom, Fintech, and AI
Presented by Mr. Oz Eleonora (Investor/Advisor)
🎬 Sponsor Showcase
All sponsors of the event were given 2 min to pitch their business
❓ Q&A Session
Engaging discussions featuring insightful questions from the audience
Key Takeaways
The event highlighted several critical aspects & challenges within the fintech sector:
Regulatory and Standardization Challenges
While fintech legislation and standardization present significant challenges, it is crucial to keep progressing. Continuous dialogue & collaboration are essential to overcoming these hurdles.
Connect with Fintech Businesses
The fintech ecosystem on the island consists of several groups that businesses can go to for information. For example, BTC Curaçao for Bitcoin awareness, and CX Pay & Sentoo for digital payment systems. Identifying the right group, seeking expert guidance & collaborating can facilitate smoother operations & compliance.
Start and Keep Collaborative Efforts
Establishing common ground within the fintech community & working collectively on specific areas can drive progress and benefit the entire region.
Overcoming Banking Barriers
The red tape within banks remains a significant challenge when adopting new technologies. However, fostering partnerships with banks is a necessary step to drive innovation & ensure widespread adoption. Patience is crucial for fintech projects, as meaningful progress does not happen overnight. Some initiatives may take 5 to 8 years to fully materialize.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Fintech Frontier was an insightful and engaging session. Due to time constraints, some topics (global fintech), were presented incredibly quickly. However, as innovation continues to evolve, future sessions are anticipated to provide a more in-depth exploration of these fascinating topics.
The 1st edition of Fintech Frontier set the stage for continued discussions and collaboration within the fintech ecosystem, with a shared commitment to innovation, compliance & growth in the region.
