What payment innovations such as embedded finance, BNPL, blockchain, or biometric authentication do you see having the most impact on the ecosystem?

With the explosion of AI leading to a significant surge in identity theft and deepfake scams online, tools that help ensure stability during periods of rapid growth will likely be considered the innovators. The biggest change is tying each payment to the real person. Passkeys and Microsoft Entra Verified ID let someone approve and pay with one safe tap. Putting the payment inside the approval step moves money right away, and fewer people quit. Dollar-stablecoins (like USDC) and tokenized cash from firms like BlackRock help payouts arrive fast, even across borders. We keep most work on the user’s device, so less private data moves around, which matches what groups like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the DOJ want—safer data with less sharing.

Where do you see the greatest opportunities for banks and FinTechs to collaborate in delivering better payment experiences?

Banks and FinTechs can use a shared, trusted ID to check customers for free first, then pay instantly when approved. Instead of passing private data, they can share simple “proofs” that say something is true. A customer can carry verified info from one bank to another, so they don’t start over. Smart helpers (agents) can fill forms and pay, but only when the person’s Verified ID allows it. This fits new data-rights rules from the CFPB and helps banks meet safety goals from the White House and DOJ without slowing people down.

As customers demand seamless payment experiences, what role does personalization play in shaping loyalty?

Personalization builds loyalty when it is easy, fast, and transparent. Use only the data needed and do the math on the customer’s device when possible. Fewer steps, less waiting, and instant results make people feel in control. When a payment is approved and shows up right away, trust grows, and people come back. This style also lines up with the CFPB’s push for permissioned data sharing.

Do you see regulatory frameworks helping or slowing down innovation in the payments space?

They help if you plan for them. The CFPB’s §1033 rule lets customers give permission once and reuse it. The DOJ rule under Executive Order 14117 limits risky bulk data transfers, which encourages keeping data on the phone instead of big pools. Work by the U.S. Congress on stablecoins (like the GENIUS and CLARITY efforts) and guidance from the White House and ONCD make fast, safe digital dollars clearer. Teams that design for consent and privacy from the start move faster in the long run.

How does FreshCredit® differentiate itself in terms of customer value and long-term trust compared to traditional players?

FreshCredit® joins identity and payment in one smooth step: verify, approve, and pay. Your data stays on your device (with Turso), and we keep only a secure fingerprint on a Substrate blockchain to prove nothing changed. We use passkeys and Microsoft Entra Verified ID instead of passwords, which cuts fraud and manual checks. We settle by Stripe (card/ACH) today and can use dollar-stablecoins where speed matters; results show up right away to reduce disputes. FreshCredit® is not a credit bureau like Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion—so privacy is stronger, and risk is lower. You get fewer false “no’s,” lower costs, and faster funding.

What emerging trends will most redefine digital payments and customer experience globally?

Verified IDs will act like a “card on file” that works almost anywhere with one safe tap. Customer-approved helpers will compare offers, fill forms, and pay—always tied to the person’s Verified ID so actions are traceable. Dollar-based digital money, which groups like the IMF and BIS track closely, will make payouts and cross-border payments quick and clear. Tokenized assets from leaders like BlackRock and Ondo will run 24/7. More decisions will happen on the user’s device, which is faster and safer, and fits the CFPB, DOJ, and White House goals for less data movement and stronger consent. The winners will design for permission, intolerability, and innovation.

About Devon Shigaki:

Devon Shigaki is the founder of FreshCredit®, a financial technology company reshaping how trust is built, measured, and scaled in digital systems. With a background at the intersection of computational neuroscience, behavioral economics, and emerging technologies, Devon is pioneering solutions that give individuals ownership of their credit and identity—challenging centralized models that have historically excluded millions from economic opportunity. For more information, please visit – https://freshcredit.com/