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Sateesh Palagiri
Chief of Mobility Solutions
National Payments Corporation Of India (NPCI)
Sateesh Palagiri is the Chief of Mobility Solutions at NPCI, where he leads UPI platform delivery, enterprise fraud and risk management, and the international expansion of UPI and RuPay. With over 22 years of experience in banking and payments technology, he has been at the forefront of India's digital payments transformation.
A founding member of NPCI and one of the four patent holders of UPI, Sateesh played a key role in the design, development, and scaling of UPI, which has emerged as one of the world's largest real-time payment systems. He has also contributed significantly to the development of other landmark payment products including IMPS, AEPS, and RuPay.
In his current role, he focuses on building secure, scalable, and resilient payment infrastructure while advancing India's digital public infrastructure globally through strategic cross-border payment initiatives and partnerships.
Speaking at SFF 2026
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4:30–5:10pmWed 18 NovFutureMatters StageHall 5, Singapore EXPOPremium
Technology Rewiring
Inclusive Instant Payments: Building a Commercially Sustainable National Roadmap
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Jean Bosco IyacuChief Executive OfficerMojaloop Foundation
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Kosta PericDeputy Director, Inclusive Financial SystemsGates Foundation
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Sateesh PalagiriChief of Mobility SolutionsNational Payments Corporation Of India (NPCI)
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Sara BritesDeputy GovernorBanco Central de Timor-Leste
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Pat PatelChief Executive Officer, MEA, USA, LATAM & ForumsGlobal Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)Moderator
About this session
Instant payments can reach millions of the unbanked—but only if the economics work for everyone building the rails. Around the world, national real-time payment systems are proving that speed and inclusion can coexist, yet many struggle to balance universal access with commercial viability. Getting that balance right is now a defining test of payments strategy.
You will learn: how to design instant payment schemes that serve the underserved without eroding sustainability; which governance and pricing models drive long-term adoption; and what lessons successful national roadmaps offer to markets still building theirs. Miss this session, and you risk designing a system that scales in usage but never in value. -
