The UNCHAIN Fintech Festival, held on June 19-20 at the Fintech Fortress, recently wrapped up its two-day event. This year’s highlights included the signing of Chris Skinner’s latest book, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Romanian and Polish Fintech Associations, and the recognition of exceptional achievements in the industry.
UNCHAIN Fintech Festival is an annual event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from the fintech sector. The festival features keynote speeches, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and showcases of cutting-edge technologies. It serves as a hub for collaboration and the exchange of ideas, driving the future of financial technology.
For the past three years, Oradea has become the epicenter of financial services in Central and Eastern Europe. Each year, the event draws over 500 delegates from across the globe. The two-day event features discussions on the latest trends in finance, business networking, startup pitches, roundtables, interviews with key CEE voices, parties, and more. This year, representatives from six central banks, over 170 commercial banks and financial institutions, more than 200 fintech and technology providers, and over 80 ecosystem players, academia, and media attended.
A „Hot” Agenda at UNCHAIN
The festival explored the latest developments in regulation, digital banking transformation, AI in finance, open banking, neobanking, payments 3.0, digital assets, insurtech, regtech, and sustainability in finance. Over 70 esteemed speakers from around the world shared their insights and expertise.
One of the standout themes was payment innovation. AI’s transformative role in finance was another focus, with experts discussing how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing financial services. Sessions on the evolving regulatory landscape and its implications for the fintech sector were also critical.
Chris Skinner’s Keynote and Book Signing
Renowned author and fintech expert Chris Skinner gave a keynote address and held an exclusive signing session for his latest book, „Intelligent Money.” Skinner, known for his influential works on banking and finance, engaged with festival participants and signed autographed copies of his new book.
MOU Signing Between Romanian and Polish Fintech Associations
A significant milestone was the signing of an MOU between the Romanian Fintech Association and the Polish Fintech Association. This strategic partnership aims to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint initiatives between the fintech ecosystems of both countries.
Banca Comerciala Romana Named Best CEE Digital Bank
Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) was honored with the prestigious CEE Digital Bank of the Year Award, presented by VISA. This award recognizes BCR’s exceptional digital transformation efforts, innovative banking solutions, and customer-centric approach. Mihai Sandu, Head of Digital Sales & Strategic Partnerships at BCR, highlighted the bank’s achievements, particularly its digital banking platform, George.
PastPay Wins UNCHAIN Startups Tournament
PastPay emerged victorious in the UNCHAIN Startups Tournament, earning the „Oscar of CEE Fintech.” This award highlights the startup’s innovative solutions and its potential to impact the fintech sector. PastPay offers merchants instant revenue and flexible payment terms, enhancing cash flow, boosting sales, and improving the overall payment experience.
Supported by Regional Financial Innovators
The event’s success was made possible with support from numerous partners. Visa was the main partner. Banking partners included Banca Comerciala Romana, Raiffeisen Bank Romania, and Banca Transilvania. Regtech partners were Forvis Mazars and Evrotrust. Technology partners included Google Cloud, InfoCert, and Payten. Other sponsors were CitiBank, Garanti BBVA, and Amazon Web Services.
Hosted by Visit Oradea and Make IT in Oradea, and supported by logistic partners such as Nazzuro, Autonom, and Digi, UNCHAIN provided a unique opportunity to be part of a transformative community.
Blind Bird Tickets on Sale for 2025 Edition
In anticipation of next year’s event, the UNCHAIN Fintech Festival has announced the sale of blind bird tickets for the fourth edition at a 50% discount. This limited-time offer provides an excellent opportunity for early registrants to secure their participation at a reduced rate. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit: unchainfestival.com/tickets.
