After Inflection? Digital Assets & TradFi in 2026

​The MENA FinTech Association is convening a closed-door roundtable on 12 February at the iFX EXPO 2026 to explore the evolving relationship between digital assets and traditional finance as the market moves beyond its initial inflection point.

​As regulatory clarity improves, institutional participation deepens, and infrastructure matures, digital assets are increasingly intersecting with core financial systems. This discussion will examine what the next phase looks like in 2026, where adoption is real, risks are better understood, and strategic decisions made today will shape long-term outcomes.

​Moderated by Zain Umer, Managing Director at CFC MENA and Co-Chair of the MFTA Policy & Regulation Working Group, the roundtable will bring together senior leaders from financial institutions, fintechs, regulators, and ecosystem enablers to discuss:

• ​How digital assets are being integrated into traditional financial services

• ​The role of regulation, custody, and market infrastructure in enabling scale

• ​Where value creation is emerging post-inflection

• ​Key risks, governance considerations, and lessons learned

• ​Strategic priorities for institutions navigating the next phase of convergence

​Designed as an interactive, off-the-record discussion, this session aims to foster informed dialogue, practical insights, and peer exchange on how digital assets and TradFi will coexist-and compete-in the years ahead.