Events · The Great Debate
Strong opinions,
loosely held.
The Great Debate is our anti-panel: an evening of bold opinions, lively discussion and some of fintech’s sharpest minds going head to head on the industry’s most divisive issues. It runs twice a year.
The format
Built as
the anti-panel.
01Two teamsGoing head to head.
02Three motions20 minutes each.
03No dress rehearsal
04Brutal truthsBold claims, unfiltered arguments.
Last time · Fintech Week London 2026
Will agents drive
our economy?
Our third edition took over fabric during Fintech Week London, following a standing-room-only showdown at Money20/20, with titans like Coinbase and Paymentology going head to head.
Debate 1“By 2035, your AI agent will strike a better deal than you ever could.”
Debate 2“By 2035, AI agents will conduct more transactions than humans.”
Debate 3“By 2035, brands will sell to machines, not people.”
The line-up
Who took
the stage.
Agent ProvocateurIan HorneAuthor, Why DeFi Matters / Let Fintech Grow
Team Blue
- Captain: Laura McCracken, CEO, The Board Alchemist
- Debater: Jovi Overo, Group CEO, ONE.io
- Debater: Jeff Parker, CEO, Paymentology
Team Pink
- Captain: Nathalie Oestmann, Partner, Mangosteen Advisory
- Debater: David Barton-Grimley, Head of New Bets, Cleo
- Debater: Océane Codjia, Head of EMEA Stablecoin Payments, Coinbase
Read the write-ups
More from
The Great Debate.
Insights · Jun 2026The Big Debate: Will Programmable Money Kill the Banks?Money2020 Europe doesn't usually end quietly. But even by its standards, the final session of this year's show curated by Fintech Fringe created quite the buzz with a jam-packed, standing room only good old fashioned debate.By Calypso HarlandFeaturing Ian Horne · Iana Dimitrova · Natalie Oestmann · Dr Ruth Wandhöfer · Laura McCracken
Insights · Mar 2026The Great Debate: Serious Fintech, Zero BoredomI’ve always wanted Fintech Fringe to be the place where passionate, provocative discussion actually happens. Not polite panels. Not surface-level agreement. Not rooms full of smart people nodding along to the safest possible version of the future.By Calypso HarlandFeaturing Ian Horne · Laura McCracken · Nathalie Oestmann · Alistair Brown · Ali Paterson · Lucy Heavens · David Barton-Grimley
Join us
Sharp debate. Big ideas.
Meaningful connections.
If that’s what you’re looking for, this is where it’s at.
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