[Money20/20 - Interview with Tracey Davies] Where physical meets digital

At Money20/20 USA, we spoke with Tracey Davies, who has led Money20/20 through a decade of growth and is preparing to step away, about how the event has evolved, the convergence of DeFi and TradFi, and the role of agentic AI alongside human connection.

From two events to a global platform

Ten years ago, Money20/20 consisted of two events. According to Tracey Davies, it is now a global brand with six editions, including Money20/20 Australia, announced for early 2028. The Las Vegas show has become bigger and bolder, with a much stronger focus on the product.

The way attendees connect has changed too. In the early years, people found one another. The event then introduced an app, and it now offers Smart Meets. The foundation, Davies stressed, has stayed the same: an event built by the industry, for the industry, around strong content, outstanding speakers, people connecting and doing business, and the partners the team works with.

For payment executives and consultants, this shows that even as tools for discovery and networking become more sophisticated, the core value still lies in bringing the right people together.

Partnerships and the meeting of DeFi and TradFi

Tracey Davies described partnership as one of the defining features of the industry. Across the week’s announcements, she saw a clear pattern of DeFi, meaning financial services built on blockchain networks, coming together with TradFi, or traditional finance.

Asked what had surprised her most since 2016, she said the pace of change has accelerated over the decade, but that this did not surprise her, because the industry treats change as opportunity. She added that she would not bet against the banks, since some of the oldest are among the most innovative. The event also now attracts many more credit unions than it did in 2016.

For merchants and PSPs, this suggests that progress is likely to come through collaboration between established institutions and new entrants rather than through any single player.

Human connection in a world of agents

Tracey Davies acknowledged a bias toward live events, but argued that in a world of AI, social media, and devices that keep people on their phones, the need for human connection is wired deep in our DNA. She recalled that Money20/20 was one of the first events back after COVID and had one of its biggest shows, even with attendees wearing masks.

Events remain healthy, she said, as long as they stay relevant, and organisers cannot afford complacency. This year the team piloted MoneyAgent, an agent attendees can use to navigate 600 speakers, the event’s largest roster to date. Davies called it physical and digital coming together, and said she looks forward to hearing how customers testing it now want it developed.

For merchants and PSPs considering agentic tools, the approach is instructive: pilot in a contained setting, listen closely to users, and let feedback shape what comes next.