As the global financial landscape hurtles toward an era dominated by artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and tokenized assets, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is convening its fifth annual Innovation Summit from September 9-11, 2025. Held at the BIS Tower in Basel with virtual access for a broader audience, this year’s theme, “Future-proofing Central Banks,” underscores a pivotal moment for monetary authorities worldwide. With over 300 in-person attendees expected—building on last year’s 3,500 online participants—the event positions the BIS as the linchpin in fostering collaborative resilience amid technological disruption.
The BIS, often dubbed the “central bank for central banks,” plays an indispensable role in this narrative. Established in 1930 to facilitate reparations post-World War I, it has evolved into a guardian of global financial stability, coordinating policy among 63 member central banks that represent 95% of world GDP. Through its Innovation Hub—launched in 2019—the BIS experiments with cutting-edge technologies like distributed ledger technology (DLT) and AI, piloting projects that bridge public and private sectors. In an industry where regulatory silos can stifle innovation, the BIS’s neutral stance enables cross-border experiments, such as Project mBridge for wholesale CBDCs, which could revolutionize capital flows and reduce settlement risks.
Day 1 kicks off with a welcome lunch and poster exhibition showcasing Innovation Hub initiatives, setting a collaborative tone. Opening remarks by Andréa M. Maechler, BIS Deputy General Manager and Acting Head of the Innovation Hub, precede a keynote by Deutsche Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel on future-proofing central banks. A high-level fireside chat follows, featuring Swiss National Bank’s Martin Schlegel, Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Eddie Yue, and Maechler, delving into strategies for integrating tech innovation with sustainability and inclusion.
The agenda escalates with a panel on cross-border collaboration for financial stability, moderated implicitly through panellists like Sveriges Riksbank’s Aino Bunge and BIS’s Gaston Gelos. Discussions will highlight partnerships tackling global challenges, from oversight enhancements to knowledge-sharing. A “Connecting the Dots” session on fighting financial crimes spotlights projects like Aurora (privacy-preserving data sharing), Hertha (behavioral insights for AML), and Mandala (ecosystem approaches), with future glimpses into Polaris and Raven. Moderated by Bank of England’s Sarah Breeden, speakers include Hub heads from Singapore, London, and Toronto.
The day wraps with a fireside chat by Banque de France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau on maturing innovative models, emphasizing viability over mere feasibility.
Day 2 opens with BIS General Manager Pablo Hernández de Cos’s keynote, followed by a panel on AI in central banking. Panellists, including South African Reserve Bank’s Rashad Cassim and BIS’s Hyun Song Shin, will explore AI’s role in monetary policy, compliance, and supervision—real-world applications that could enhance risk management amid volatile markets.
Fireside chats address human capital in an AI era, with Harvard’s Joseph B. Fuller and National Bank of Belgium’s Tim Hermans, and ethical AI with UC Berkeley’s Dawn Song. Another “Connecting the Dots” on AI and big data features projects like Spectrum (monetary policy AI), Neo (supervision tools), and Insight (regtech). Afternoon sessions include ECB’s Claudia M. Buch on horizon scanning, a fireside on BIS projects in action with Deutsche Bundesbank’s Fritzi Köhler-Geib and Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Kenneth Gay, and connections on public sector tokenization (Genesis, Pine, Promissa) and cybersecurity (FuSSE, Leap Phase 2, Polaris).
A panel on cross-border payments rounds out the day, addressing frictions in a fragmented system where remittances cost 6.5% on average, per World Bank data.
Day 3 (inferred from partial agenda) likely extends these themes with technical roundtables on interoperability, agentic AI, and confidential computing, featuring experts like Swift’s Thomas Zschach and Deutsche Bank’s Rachel Whelan.
In my view, this summit arrives at a crossroads for the financial industry. Central banks, traditionally risk-averse stewards of stability, must now embrace agility or risk obsolescence. The 2008 crisis exposed vulnerabilities in capital markets; today, fintech disruptions—from DeFi to stablecoins—threaten similar upheavals. Regulation lags: while the EU’s MiCA framework advances crypto oversight, global inconsistencies breed arbitrage. The BIS’s role is crucial here, advocating harmonized standards that prevent “regulatory races to the bottom” while fueling innovation.
Capital markets stand to gain immensely. Tokenization could unlock $5 trillion in illiquid assets by 2030, per Boston Consulting Group, streamlining settlements and boosting efficiency. Yet, without robust cybersecurity—as highlighted in Polaris—systemic risks loom, especially from quantum threats to encryption.
AI’s integration promises efficiency but demands ethical guardrails. Central banks’ adoption could refine inflation forecasting, yet biases in algorithms risk exacerbating inequalities. The summit’s focus on human capital is apt: reskilling workforces for AI-augmented roles will define productivity in a sector where talent shortages already hinder progress.
Ultimately, the BIS Innovation Summit isn’t just talk—it’s a blueprint for action. By uniting regulators, academics, and industry, it fosters the collaboration needed for resilient markets. As geopolitical tensions and climate risks intensify, future-proofing isn’t optional; it’s imperative for sustaining trust in the financial system.
For more details about the BIS Innovation Summit 2025, visit the link here.
