Four parallel perspectives will shape the MERGE Madrid 2026 debate: Qivalis’s euro-denominated stablecoin initiative across 15 European countries; Santander’s plan to issue digital money backed by reserves on public blockchains; Trade Republic’s integration of digital assets into retail financial services; and Western Union’s USDPT stablecoin linked to its Digital Asset Network for global remittances.

The event features an Institutional Summit at the Madrid Stock Exchange on October 27, followed by the main conference at Cibeles Palace with more than 3,000 attendees and 250 international speakers.

Qivalis involves 37 financial institutions and aims for faster, cheaper, 24/7 payments and regulated digital asset settlement, with a launch planned for the second half of 2026 pending authorization.

The program will cover regulation, custody, tokenization, capital markets, Bitcoin, AI in finance, and new blockchain infrastructures, reinforcing MERGE as a bridge between traditional banking and digital assets in Europe and Latin America.

MERGE Madrid 2026 will host high-level discussions on the future of stablecoins, with participants including Santander, BBVA, Trade Republic, and Western Union.

Santander’s project envisions one-to-one reserve-backed digital money linked to G7 currencies and seeks to establish common standards for secure, regulated digital money operations.

Trade Republic will discuss how retail investors can access crypto-assets through regulated, user-friendly platforms as part of everyday financial services.

The agenda anticipates discussions on issuer models, reserve protections, user guarantees, coexistence with bank deposits and the digital euro, and pathways to real adoption.

The event runs from October 27 to 29 in Madrid, aiming to explore how digital money infrastructure will transform payments, international transfers, investment, and asset settlement.

Western Union’s USDPT is a dollar-denominated stablecoin issued by Anchorage Digital Bank on Solana, designed to enable 24/7 transfers and currency conversion across its network.

MiCA regulation is highlighted as a framework enabling European issuance and commercialization of crypto-assets, while dollar-pegged stablecoins spur debate on monetary sovereignty and Europe’s own payment infrastructures.

Confirmed speakers include leaders from Banco Santander and BBVA, as well as representatives from Trade Republic, Western Union, Qivalis, Mastercard, Ripple, and other institutions.