Rethinking payments as a matter of sovereignty, security and strategic independence

As global uncertainty reshapes policy priorities, payments have moved from a technical function to a strategic concern for governments and central banks – a shift that framed discussions at OMFIF’s Future of payments forum in Frankfurt in December 2025.

Against this backdrop of geopolitical tensions and trade fragmentation, European policy-makers are rethinking their dependence on foreign-controlled digital and financial infrastructure. The forum brought together public and private sector leaders to examine how Europe can build more autonomous, resilient and future-ready payments systems to secure sovereignty.