In the Money: Can Emerging Tech Democratize Finance - Without Destabilizing It?

Blockchain, fintech, and even quantum computing are reshaping the foundations of the financial system—from payments and lending to asset ownership and credit scoring. These tools promise to broaden access, lower costs, and accelerate inclusion, especially in underserved markets. But they also raise new risks: currency fragmentation, regulatory arbitrage, and systemic volatility. As innovation races ahead of governance, can we build a digital financial architecture that is open, stable, and equitable?