Rahul Bhargava

Rahul Bhargava is a globally recognized business leader with over 22 years of experience driving innovation and collaboration in the financial services and payments industry. His expertise lies in successfully helping both public and private sector organisations globally in navigating the complex landscape of next generation payments and banking systems, evolving digital currencies like Stablecoins, CBDCs & wallets, incorporating tokenisation and digital assets, designing the next generation of compliance and KYC/AML services using AI and real-time application, standards harmonisation with ISO 20022 and open banking plus the application of emerging technologies like genAI and AgenticAI to financial services. As a global strategy leader, business owner and community lead, Rahul has spearheaded key initiatives at SWIFT, the World Bank Group, WEF, Accenture, FIS, RBS, ICICI Bank, AI 2030, EPAA and other prominent organizations with global impact.

Rahul is a passionate leader driving impactful change in global financial services, retaining a deep understanding of the industry's key challenges and opportunities. He has been instrumental in developing and launching next-generation payment systems, fostering interoperability between traditional and emerging financial market infrastructures, and responsibly integrating cutting-edge technologies. His strategic relationship engagement with both public and private sectors is evident in his work on G20 initiatives, CBDC interoperability, regional payments integration, and driving evolution of domestic and cross-border payments, including instant payments interlinking and interoperability.

Recent areas of engagement for him with the global community include evolution of digital currencies, including CBDCs and stablecoins, instant payments fraud and AML controls, instant KYC and due diligence, responsible AI, quantum, open banking and open finance.

Rahul is a recognized global thought leader and mentor, actively shaping the future of finance through leading public-private dialogue, publishing thought leadership, driving collaboration and public policy advocacy via global think tanks. He has recently been certified by AI2030 as a “Responsible AI Leader”, and awarded "Ambassador of the Year" for 2024 by two leading think tanks - Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA) and AI 2030. His contribution to Fintech development has been acknowledged with an Industry Fellowship to the Global Fintech Institute (GFI)

He is a regular speaker and moderator across global industry forums, including Sibos, Money 2020, Central Bank Payments Conference, Global Payment Summit, Digital Currency Conference, BAFT, The Asian Banker, World Bank Global Payments Week, Token2049-Stablecoin Summit, Global Fintech Festival (India), various GFTN Forums including recently in Japan, Thailand and the Singapore Fintech Festival.

He currently leads a multifaceted global advisory portfolio, advising international organizations, financial institutions, and technology companies on the evolving landscape of payments and financial services. Highlights include providing subject matter expertise to the World Bank Group's technical assistance programs, closely aligned with the G20's agenda for global payments. Rahul partners and advises public sector entities, market infrastructures, banks, fintechs, and paytechs, offering strategic direction as they navigate the complexities of digital transformation in payments, wider financial services and technology.

Rahul can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulbhargava/