LIVE: Fed Reserve hosts first-ever crypto conference

Core Insights - The U.S. Federal Reserve is hosting a conference on payments innovation on October 21, 2025, which will include discussions on cryptocurrencies for the first time [1] - The event will feature economists, technologists, and policymakers, indicating the Fed's increasing engagement with the crypto industry [2] - Topics of discussion will include bridging traditional finance with digital assets, stablecoin use cases, AI in payments, and tokenized products [3] Group 1: Conference Overview - The conference aims to consider a broad range of perspectives on improving the payment system and fostering innovation [3] - Federal Reserve Governor Christopher J. Waller opened the event with remarks [3] Group 2: Industry Perspectives - DolarApp CEO Fernando Terrés emphasized the need for decentralized finance (DeFi) to evolve for mainstream adoption, comparing its current complexity to early internet access [4] - Terrés noted that widespread adoption will occur when blockchain technology is simplified for users, similar to how people use phones without understanding their inner workings [5] - He highlighted the integration of stablecoins into traditional finance by companies like PayPal as positive signs of usability shifts in crypto [5] Group 3: Stablecoin Discussions - A panel on stablecoin applications featured industry experts discussing emerging business models [6] - Panelists urged the Federal Reserve to modernize payment infrastructure and provide clear guidance on digital assets while addressing risks from AI-driven fraud [8] - Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, stressed the importance of making existing systems interoperable with stablecoins and tokenized deposits [8]