The Payments Trilogue

The Payments Trilogue is a podcast of 3 seasoned payments professionals aiming to foster the European payments industry's stakeholder collaboration and self-regulation.

Michael Salmony, Javier Santamaria and Ralf Ohlhausen discuss current topics from their different perspectives.

A light-hearted, in-depth and sometimes controversial view on what is hot in payments and beyond.

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21 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 40 min
English

Episodes 21

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Tuesday · 39 min
TPT #52 RATINGS & PAYMENTS
In this episode, Sophia Furber from S&P Global's FinTech and Payments research practice, shares insights on the evolving landscape of payments, stablecoins, open banking, and Europe's payment sovereignty. Discover how this relates to their ratings business (or not) and what their research activities are showing.
August 18 · 44 min
TPT #51 NORDICS
In this episode, we discuss payments in the Nordics with Ville Sointu, Chief Strategist, Transaction Banking at Nordea. The Nordics are traditionally ahead of other regions and we discover why that is and what we can learn from their innovations in relation to retail payments, blockchain projects, open banking, electronic identity, and the digital euro. Fintech Daydreaming Podcast: https://fintechdaydreaming.com/ The Payments Trilogue Website: https://thepaymentstrilogue.com/
August 4 · 41 min
TPT #50 UK PAYMENTS INITIATIVE
In this episode, Charles Damen, Non-Executive Director of the UK Payments Initiative, explains this new venture, and we discuss its impact on open banking and the future of payments in Europe. Discover how the UK's open banking approach is shaping the industry, the regulatory enforcement and competition policy behind it, what it changes for merchants and retail payments, and what European payments sovereignty can learn from it.
July 21 · 35 min
TPT #49 DEBUNKING BLOCKCHAIN
In this episode, we host Lars Hupel, Chief Evangelist at Giesecke+Devrient, to discuss the realities and myths of blockchain, DLT and smart contract technologies in finance. We explore programmability, consensus mechanisms, legal limitations, offline CBDC and the future of digital currencies.
July 7 · 36 min
TPT #48 GIROCARD
In this episode, we discuss the success of the Girocard in Germany with Matthias Hönisch, Head of Card Business Department at BVR, and how it will fit into the future of European payment schemes, especially in relation to Wero and the digital euro. We also explore local schemes more generally, as well as standardization efforts such as CPACE, and strategic visions for payment sovereignty.
June 23 · 45 min
TPT #47 GOOD, BAD & UGLY
In this episode, Olivier Denecker, a former McKinsey payments expert, shares insights on Europe's payment innovations, regulatory impacts, and the future of European payment systems. With what he calls the good, the bad and the ugly, we explore Europe's strengths, challenges, and the path to creating a competitive, sovereign payment landscape.
June 9 · 42 min
TPT #46 PREMIUM APIs
This episode features Ortwin Scheja, who is the Lead Architect of the Berlin Group and a leading expert in open banking and API standards. We are discussing the evolution of premium APIs, open finance, and the future of banking standards in Europe. Gain insights into the differences between compliance and premium APIs, and how standardization can drive innovation and reduce costs.
May 26 · 50 min
TPT #45 BERLIN GROUP
In this episode, we host Wijnand Machielse from Berlin Group to discuss the evolution of open banking standards and premium APIs, the challenges of harmonization across Europe, and their future in relation to open finance, digital euro, and AI in payments.
May 12 · 43 min
TPT #44 AGENTIC COMMERCE
In this episode, we host Chris Jones, MD of PSE Consulting, to discuss the prospects of agentic commerce, its practical implications, consumer and merchant readiness, regulatory challenges, and the evolving role of AI and liability in payment transactions.
April 28 · 41 min
TPT #43 PAYPAL
In this episode, we host Mathilde Bonneau and Matti Salakari from PayPal to discuss their current position in the European payments ecosystem. We cover regulation, digital innovation, and global competitiveness, and we also explore their view on European payments sovereignty, PSD3/PSR, fraud prevention, and how to make wallet-based account-to-account (A2A) payments successful at the physical point of sale (POS).
April 14 · 39 min
TPT #42 ClearBank
In this episode, Ezequiel Canestrari, COO of ClearBank Europe explains the role of infrastructure banks, the impact of SEPA Instant payments, and their strategic move into stablecoins and cross-border payments. We discuss how fintechs can profit from working with sponsor banks, and the future of embedded banking in Europe.
March 31 · 26 min
TPT #41 EPSG
In this episode, we discuss the purpose of the European Payments Stakeholders Group (EPSG) with its chairman Torbjörn Furubjelke. We cover the role it played in harmonizing European card payments (when it was still called ECSG), and how it is now expanding this to mobile instant payments to allow consumers an easy and fair choice between all the options for making retail payments in ecommerce and at physical point of sales (POS) - together often called the point of interaction (POI).
March 17 · 27 min
TPT #40 INTEROPERABILITY
In this episode, we explore the complexities of interoperability in European payments, comparing greenfield solutions versus combining and leveraging existing infrastructure. We cover technical, legal, and commercial challenges, and the current status of payments interoperability in Europe.
March 3 · 33 min
TPT #39 PAYMENTS INFRASTRUCTURE vs. SERVICES
In this episode, we have a lively discussion about the state of payments in Europe, focusing on the balance between infrastructure and service innovation. We explore cultural perspectives, the role of fintechs, and the impact of regulation on the development of payment solutions. The conversation highlights the need for a shift towards user-oriented services and the challenges of creating a single market in Europe.
February 17 · 1 hr 1 min
TPT #38 PAYMENTS REGULATION
In this episode, we welcome Eric Ducoulombier, who is in charge of payments regulation at the European Commission. He reflects on the successes and challenges of these regulations, particularly in the areas of open banking and fraud prevention, while acknowledging the complexities of enforcement and the role of national authorities in ensuring compliance. We discuss the balance between regulation and market solutions providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of European payments and the future challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, particularly focusing on instant payments, the upcoming PSD3 and PSR, as well as stablecoins and AI.
February 3 · 40 min
TPT #37 NEXUS
In this episode, we engage with Mark Munne from Nexus Global Payments (NGP) to discuss the innovative Project Nexus, which grew out of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and is aimed at enhancing instant cross-border payment systems. We discuss the challenges of interoperability, the governance structure of Nexus, and the importance of transparency and cost reduction in international transactions. Mark shares insights on the project's goals, its operational model, and the future of global payment solutions, emphasizing the need for collaboration among central banks and payment systems.
January 20 · 42 min
TPT #36 E-INVOICING
In this episode, we discuss the critical topic of e-invoicing. Charles Bryant, a well-known expert in the field, shares insights on the evolution of e-invoicing, its importance in the payment process, and the global landscape of e-invoicing adoption. The conversation covers the distinction between invoices and payments, the role of standards like PEPPOL, and that of VAT and ERPs, the impact of AI, and the challenges faced by SMEs in adopting e-invoicing. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of mandating e-invoicing for widespread adoption and the potential benefits for governments, corporations, and suppliers alike.
January 6 · 44 min
TPT #35 B2B PAYMENTS
In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked topic of B2B payments with Erin McCune, a well-known expert on this subject. We discuss the significant market size of B2B transactions, the interests of buyers and suppliers, the challenges faced by SMEs, the role of fintech in transforming payment processes, and the impact of regulatory frameworks. The conversation explores the unique needs of businesses in the evolving payments landscape, the need for better solutions and the potential of stablecoins in enhancing B2B payment efficiency.
Dec 23, 2025 · 41 min
TPT #34 XMAS SPECIAL 2025
In this festive episode, we reflect on our previous year's wishes regarding the payments landscape, discuss what has come to fruition and what remains unfulfilled. We explore the challenges posed by regulations, the importance of accountability in public institutions, and the potential of innovations like the digital euro, stablecoins and EUDI wallet. Our conversation also touches on the disappointments surrounding open banking in Europe and concludes with a hopeful outlook on the future of payments and the need for a more effective regulatory framework.
Dec 9, 2025 · 39 min
TPT #33 LEI
In this episode, we discuss the critical role of identity in payments, focusing on the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) and its verifiable version (vLEI). Alexandre Kech, CEO of GLEIF, explains how LEIs serve as a passport for organizations, facilitating cross-border payments and trade. The conversation covers the challenges of LEI adoption, the importance of organizational identity, and the need for awareness and accessibility. The panel also explores the fragmentation of identity solutions, the role of LEI in payment systems, and future plans for enhancing its use in digital commerce.

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