TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Introduces Smart Money Stage on Fintech, Payments and AI

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will host a new "Smart Money" stage from October 13‑15 at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. The program brings together fintech, payments and artificial‑intelligence leaders to examine how stablecoins, instant‑payment networks and AI agents are reshaping the movement of money.

Key sessions include a discussion of stablecoins and instant payments with speakers Nikhil Chandhok (Circle), Rodney Robinson (TabaPay) and Lotti Siniscalco (Emergence), as well as a look at Robinhood’s evolution into a full‑stack financial platform presented by Abhishek Fatehpuria. Panels on AI, trust and verification feature executives from American Express, Plaid and QED Investors, exploring regulatory, privacy and fraud‑prevention challenges.

The stage aims to outline the regulatory and market forces that could define the next generation of global financial infrastructure.