TradingKey – The Federal Reserve is preparing to host its Payments Innovation Conference, with a focus on four key themes: artificial intelligence, stablecoins, tokenization, and DeFi.
On October 21 (ET), the Federal Reserve will convene a high-profile conference centered on AI, stablecoins, tokenization, and decentralized finance (DeFi). Representatives from Chainlink, Paxos, Circle, and Coinbase are expected to attend.
While the Fed occasionally diverges from President Trump on policy matters, this initiative aligns with his broader agenda — particularly around stablecoins. In 2025, Trump signed the GENIUS Act, aimed at reinforcing the dollar’s global dominance and boosting demand for U.S. Treasuries, a move widely seen as serving national interests.
Fed Governor Christopher Waller has openly embraced the “tech-driven revolution” led by AI and stablecoins, viewing it as a strategic lever to stimulate the U.S. economy.
Although the U.S. is actively developing frameworks for tokenization and stablecoins, policy support may lean toward domestic companies — a trend reflected in the conference’s participant list. For investors, this means narrowing exposure within the four key sectors to U.S.-aligned projects may offer the best chance to benefit from future policy tailwinds.
Currently, the Fed’s discussions remain in the early stages, with no formal policy yet in place. However, in pursuit of global leadership, the U.S. may accelerate legislative efforts, with concrete frameworks potentially emerging in 2026.