Digital Finance

Digital Currencies Academy

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EARLY BIRD (-10%) until 9 July 2026

Dates

12/10/2026 - 14/10/2026

Location

Florence, Italy

Registration deadline

24/09/2026

Level

Intermediate

Approach

Qualitative

Delivery mode

Residential

Digital payments are transforming our monetary and financial systems. Over the last decade, new technologies such as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), instant payments and API-based payment aggregation have introduced a radically new way of thinking about enabling monetary and financial transactions. At the same time, new start-ups and traditional banks increasingly compete by offering new payment services and methods to their customers. Even central banks have realised that they need to rethink their role at the apex of the monetary system and have started to introduce fully digital representations of their existing official currencies, both on the wholesale and the retail level.

The academy provides a thorough deep dive into the topic of digital payments. It starts from the technological foundations, covers the economics behind new key developments in payments and critically assesses the evolving regulation of the modern payments space. Participants will engage in interactive lectures, conduct case studies and discuss with experts, policymakers and industry representatives the defining trends in this area. More specifically, the academy will cover a diverse range of topics such as cryptocurrencies, tokenized money (e.g. centralized stablecoins), new ledgers that facilitate cross-border payments, payment integration through new intermediaries, instant payment rails, and central bank money as a settlement asset and a retail payments instrument (such as the Digital Euro). The course will focus mostly – but not exclusively – on an EU context and combine insights from various perspectives such as economics, law, regulation and corporate business cases.

Understand the basic drivers of modern payments technology
Get exposed to key technologies facilitating modern payments applications
Evaluate business models for providing payment instruments and services
Assess the role of central banks in the payments space
Familiarise yourself with the emerging regulatory framework for stablecoins
Understand the economic trade-offs for stablecoins and tokenized deposits
Learn about new and innovative solutions for cross-border payments

The course is targeted to profiles with experience in the field of payments. Since the course will start from primitives and basic concepts, the course is also accessible to participants that only have a basic understanding of the modern payments landscape (for example through previous introductory training at the EUI).

Profiles in EU institutions, NCAs, central banks and public institutions interested in gaining a deeper understanding of trends and issues in digital payments
Emerging academic scholars in the area of finance, fintech and payments
Private sector practitioners (e.g., from the financial sector, consultancies, law firms, financial journalists) interested in the topic

Details about the programme will be available soon.

Course Director

Thorsten V. Koeppl

Part-time Professor - Florence School of Banking and Finance

Queen’s University

View Thorsten V. Koeppl profile

Teaching Associate

Jonathan Fernández

Research Associate

Florence School of Banking and Finance (FBF)

View Jonathan Fernández profile

FULL FEES, applicable from 10 July 2026 onwards:

€ 1000 – Academics
€ 2150 – Public sector
€ 2350 – Private sector

*Please note that the payment must be settled one week before the start of the course.

The fee includes tuition, access to all course materials and pedagogic activities, coffee and lunch breaks and social activities, as well as a certificate of attendance after the course has been completed. The fee does not include travel and accommodation expenses or other local transportation costs (taxis, private cars).

Please submit a certificate attesting your status of Professor, PhD Student or Research Associate to fbf@eui.eu before registering. FBF secretariat will provide you with a code to register. Seats for academics are limited.

EARLY BIRD (-10%), applicable until 9 July 2026, 23.59:

€ 900 – Academics
€ 1935 – Public sector
€ 2115 – Private sector

GROUP DISCOUNT (-15%), for minimum 3 participants from the same institution:

The below group discount applies to 3 or more participants who register for the same course from the same institution. Those wishing to take advantage of the group discount must write an email to fbf@eui.eu, stating the full names of the proposed participants.

€ 850 – Group discount academic
€ 1827.50 – Group discount public sector
€ 1997.50 – Group discount private sector

CANCELLATION POLICY

Paid registration fee is non-refundable. However, registrant substitution may be made up to 15 days before the start date of the course by contacting fbf@eui.eu.

You can find all relevant information about the course venue at this link, including logistical details, the venue address, and a range of accommodation options to suit different needs.

Practical Information

For any questions, please contact us at fbf@eui.eu and/or noemi.epote@eui.eu.

Digital Currencies Academy

Course Director

Teaching Associate

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