The Future of Finance Summit
The Future of Finance Summit
The infrastructure of finance is being rebuilt.
AI-native systems, programmable money, tokenized assets, and autonomous commerce are beginning to reshape how financial services are built and delivered.
Join us at UC Berkeley for the inaugural Future of Finance Summit, bringing together founders, investors, executives, researchers, and students shaping the next generation of global finance.
Organized by the Haas Blockchain Club and Haas Fintech Club, and sponsored by the Berkeley Center for Digital Assets, Berkeley SkyDeck Blockchain and Fintech Track, and the Berkeley Haas Fong Master of Financial Engineering Program, the summit will explore how AI, fintech, stablecoins, tokenization, and agentic commerce are transforming financial infrastructure and services.
Expect a keynote from Prakhar Mehrotra, SVP and Global Head of AI at PayPal, plus expert panels featuring leaders across finance and technology, curated networking, and a closing reception.
Agenda
8:30–9:30 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast
9:45–10:15 AM | Keynote: Prakhar Mehrotra — SVP, Global Head of AI, PayPal
10:30–11:00 AM | Panel 1: Stablecoins & Payments Infrastructure
How stablecoins are moving into payments and settlement, and what broader adoption will require.
Matt Austin — Sr. Director, Stablecoins, Visa
Sina Nader — Head of Network Growth, Canton Network
Jack McDonald — SVP, Stablecoins, Ripple
11:10–11:40 AM | Panel 2: AI-Native Finance
How AI is reshaping financial products, workflows, and decision-making.
Stephen Hedlund — Head of Finance, Rillet
Shivam Bharuka — Founder & CEO, Finn
Yody Chiu — Product Lead, AI, Airwallex
11:45 AM–12:15 PM | Panel 3: Tokenization & Capital Markets Infrastructure
How tokenization and new market infrastructure are expanding what can be financed and traded.
Sophie Marnhier-Foy — VP, Product Strategy, Head of Digital Assets Solutions, Nasdaq
Spencer Yang — Managing Partner, BlockSpaceForce
Adam Silver — Co-Founder & CEO, Plural
12:15–1:15 PM | Networking Lunch
1:15–1:45 PM | Panel 4: Signals & Noise: Current State of Financial Markets
Where capital is actually moving, which narratives are real, and what matters next.
Matt Danzig — Managing Director, FinTech, Lazard
Matt Hougan — Chief Investment Officer, Bitwise
David Lawant — Head of Research, Anchorage Digital
2:05–2:50 PM | Panel 5: Agentic Payments & Autonomous Commerce
What happens when software becomes an economic actor, and the identity, payments, governance, and settlement infrastructure autonomous commerce requires.
Gagan Mac — VP, Product, Head of Developer Products, Circle
Chi Zhang — Co-Founder & CEO, Kite
Zev Shimko — Head of Agentic Banking & Corporate Banking, Anchorage Digital
Shreya Adiraju — Strategy & Policy Development Lead, Stripe
3:00–3:30 PM | Panel 6: What’s Next in Fintech
How payments, identity, and settlement evolve when software becomes an economic actor.
Matt Yalowitz — Head of Ventures, Stripe
Abhay Mavalankar — SVP, Strategy & Investments, MoonPay
Victoria Zuo — Partner, QED Investors
3:30–5:00 PM | Closing Reception
Logistics
📍 Jarvis Auditorium, UC Berkeley
📅 Friday, October 2, 2026
🕣 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Coffee, light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
Registration
Complimentary tickets are reserved for currently enrolled UC Berkeley students only. To register for a student ticket, please use your @berkeley.edu email address and the dedicated student registration link/code shared through Berkeley student channels. Student registrations may be reviewed to confirm current enrollment.
Industry professionals, alumni, and other guests are kindly asked to register using a paid ticket.
Spots are limited. Register to join the builders and leaders shaping the future of finance.