Latest opinions that Laurent Descout has shared on Finextra

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Laurent Descout

CEO

NEO Capital Markets

Member since

07 Mar 2019

Location

Barcelona

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Laurent's opinions

Money 20/20 Europe 2025: Key themes to look out for

Money20/20 is almost upon us! As the world’s largest event dedicated to the global money ecosystem, this year’s conference will see leaders across payments and financial services converge in Amsterdam to explore the latest trends and developments driving the future of money. This year’s event promises to be special, with speakers from trailblazing...

27 May 2025 /ai /payments

The CFO’s Role Has Never Been More Vital

In a year defined by economic shocks and geopolitical instability, from proposed tariffs to inflationary pressures, one executive stands increasingly at the centre of strategic decision-making: the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). No longer just a financial gatekeeper, today’s CFO is a central architect of business resilience, growth, and operational...

20 May 2025 /ai /payments Treasury Management

Fintech Trends Reshaping Treasury in 2025

Treasurers find themselves at the intersection of rapid fintech innovation and shifting economic conditions. The past year saw fintechs continue disrupting traditional financial services, advancing analytics, redefining risk management, and challenging long-held industry norms. Now, just a month into the new year, several key fintech trends are p...

13 February 2025 /ai /payments Fintech

Volatility bubbling shows why FX risk management remains a priority

In recent weeks, volatility has started bubbling up again with currency rates fluctuating bringing FX risk management back to the fore for many businesses. In April, Bloomberg’s gauge for hedging swings jumped to its highest since January, influenced by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and speculation that the Fed will have to hold monetar...

20 June 2024 /startups /markets Fintech

Why treasurers should prepare for stablecoins

Digital assets and crypto have become increasingly mainstream and have made many headlines, but not always for the right reasons. Aside from governance concerns, the biggest criticisms levelled at crypto from a B2B payments standpoint are volatility and the lack of an underlying asset. Bitcoin, the most prominent crypto coin, has fluctuated in val...

10 May 2024 /payments /crypto Treasury Management

The European Parliament votes for instant payments, what does this mean for corporates?

Earlier this month, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted to adopt a new set of rules that will ensure transferred funds arrive immediately in the bank accounts of retail customers and businesses across the EU. This follows the landmark provisional agreement reached by the Parliament and Council late last year and requires all payment s...

20 February 2024 /payments /startups The future of Payments in Europe

The top three cross-border payment pain points faced by SMEs

B2B cross-border payments are vital for facilitating trade between businesses in different countries. In 2022 B2B transactions exceeded $150 trillion and accounted for more than 96% of the overall cross-border payment volume. Thanks to digitalisation and the growth of eCommerce, three-fifths (58%) of SMEs say they are sending and receiving more c...

07 November 2023

Money 20/20 USA: What to expect at this year’s event

Money 20/20 is the world’s biggest, most influential gathering of the global money ecosystem, where visionaries, innovators, and leaders come together to discuss and explore the latest trends and developments in the financial world. This year’s event promises to be a special one and we’re looking forward to meeting fellow industry experts in Las Ve...

18 October 2023

Why real-time data remains a top priority for treasurers

Treasurers recognise the value of the vast quantities of data at their disposal, no more so when markets are more volatile. When data is appropriately used it enables better, smarter decisions and faster reactions to crises. A recent survey found that foreign exchange (FX), commodity prices and liquidity risk were all top risk management prioritie...

06 July 2023 /startups /markets Banking Strategy, Digital and Transformation

Big tech’s layoffs present an opportunity for startups

So far in 2023, big tech layoffs have amounted to 308,699. That's 1,966 people losing their job per day. In 2019, big tech went on a recruiting spree, hoovering up a significant portion of the talent in the market. Startups struggled to attract and retain the right talent as workers succumbed to the bright lights of big tech firms, which were off...

06 June 2023