PaySpace Magazine Global spoke to Karolina Aleksandrova, Founder of ProMoney and organiser of the Baltic Payment Forum that took place on March 3, 2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
On March 2–3, Vilnius became an capital for the global payments industry. For the fourth year in a row, the Baltic Payment Forum brought together 300+ C-level executives and payment leaders from 34 countries across 3 continents.
1) You’ve been in the fintech event organising business for years. What is there about payment and the fintech community that you particularly love?
My professional roots are in the financial industry. I started my career in Privatbank and spent around 15 years in the financial sector, so financial services — and payments in particular — have always been close to me.
What I value most about the payments and fintech community is its combination of speed, intelligence and openness. It is a space where regulation, technology and customer expectations evolve very quickly, so people are constantly learning, adapting and exchanging ideas.
I also appreciate how international and interconnected this community is. It brings together regulators, banks, fintechs and technology providers, and that makes the conversation both practical and inspiring.
2) What was special about the Baltic Payment Forum 2026? What stood out to you most this year?
What stood out most this year was the high level of both the audience and the discussions. The Forum brought together decision-makers, regulators, central bank representatives, banks, payment institutions, fintechs and technology providers for very focused and relevant conversations.
I would also highlight the strong balance between strategic topics and practical challenges. The agenda covered regulation, innovation, customer experience, resilience and cooperation across the ecosystem.
Another important point was the atmosphere. There was a clear sense that the market is becoming more execution-focused. People were not only discussing future ideas, but also looking at what needs to be done now.
3) What were the main challenges and most exciting innovations in the payment sector discussed at the event?
One of the key challenges discussed at the Forum was how to balance innovation with security, resilience and customer trust. Another major topic was regulatory change and how institutions are preparing for new requirements and a more demanding operating environment.
On the innovation side, there was strong interest in the growing role of AI, the future of digital payment experiences and the importance of high-quality data. Customer experience was also a major focus, because the industry clearly sees that smooth and trusted payment journeys are becoming a real competitive advantage.
Overall, the discussions showed that innovation in payments today is not only about new products, but also about trust, readiness and cooperation.
4) Which trends can you single out that define the 2026 payment landscape?
I would highlight five key trends for 2026.
First, regulation is becoming a strategic business driver, not just a compliance topic. Institutions increasingly understand that the way they respond to regulatory change will influence competitiveness, customer trust and long-term positioning.
Second, speed and resilience are becoming equally important. The market expects faster, smoother payment experiences, but these must go hand in hand with strong operational readiness, fraud controls and system reliability.
Third, the conversation around AI in payments is becoming more practical. The industry is moving beyond general interest and focusing more on where AI can create real value, while also recognising the importance of governance, data quality and human oversight.
Fourth, customer experience is becoming a clear competitive advantage. It is no longer enough for a payment to simply work — it also needs to be intuitive, trusted and frictionless. That is why we gave special attention to customer experience at the Forum.
And finally, collaboration is becoming essential for scale. The future of payments will be shaped through closer cooperation between regulators, banks, payment institutions, fintechs and technology providers.
