Europe is actively rebuilding ownership of its payment rails and financial infrastructure, and 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year. The push to reduce dependence on non-European infrastructure and build viable alternatives that Europe controls is moving from ambition to reality. This September, Ximedes, in partnership with the Holland FinTech Association (HFA), is bringing together the people building that future.
Sovereignty is the throughline connecting this exclusive roundtable. Rather than viewing European Schemes, the Digital Euro, and Open Banking as separate initiatives, this event explores how they intersect to form a cohesive, independent European financial ecosystem.
Ivo Broeren, Country Relationship Management Lead for the Netherlands at EPI, will unpack the rollout of Wero. Wero stands as the flagship European alternative to US card schemes and PayPal. With iDEAL beginning its migration to the co-branded "iDEAL | Wero" in early 2026, the transition is highly relevant for the Dutch market.
Kirsten Hoornstra, Payment Consultant and Former Team Lead for the Digital Euro Pilot at the ECB, alongside Bas van Donselaar, Managing Partner at PaymentGenes, will provide a dual perspective on the digital euro. This session bridges the gap between what the central bank is building inside the pilot and what it means for market strategy and industry players.
Edy Bruinooge, Co-Founder & CCO of ibanXS, will discuss the infrastructure making these European alternatives viable. Open Banking provides the APIs and account-to-account rails necessary to power new payment methods. We will examine where Open Banking is currently delivering real value and where the promise remains unmet.
This roundtable features a curated mix of perspectives, including issuer and scheme leaders, central bank officials, market advisors, and infrastructure providers. The dialogue will focus on the concrete realities of building and implementing these systems, avoiding high-level abstractions in favor of actionable industry insights.
Join the Conversation
Date: 17 September 2026
Location: Meet Berlage, Oudebrugsteeg 9, Amsterdam