Riyadh to Host the 24 Fintech Conference in September

The conference will take place from September 3 to 5 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center
The conference will take place from September 3 to 5 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center
TT

Riyadh to Host the 24 Fintech Conference in September

The conference will take place from September 3 to 5 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center
The conference will take place from September 3 to 5 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center

Riyadh will host next month the 24 Fintech Conference, the first edition of the international conference specialized in the financial technology sector.

The conference will take place from September 3 to 5 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center, hosted by the Financial Sector Development Program, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the Capital Market Authority, and the Insurance Authority.

The conference is organized by Fintech Saudi and Tahaluf, a joint project between the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, Informa PLC, and the Events Investment Fund.

The 24 Fintech Conference is set to focus on supporting the thriving financial technology community and review a number of specialized topics to develop the global banking and financial services sector, which includes AI, machine learning in financial operations, integrated finance, the development of open banking services, and green finance, to inspire regulators, policymakers, investors, technology experts, entrepreneurs and academics to advance cooperation in the financial technology sector.

The 24 Fintech Conference aims to make a mark in the financial technology sector. It designates a space to support startups and investors under the "FinTech Innovation Center," which includes the best 80 modern and innovative startups and more than 200 investors.

The conference integrates with Saudi Arabia's orientations to enhance the prosperity of the entrepreneurship system and support startups and its efforts to become one of the booming financial technology centers in the Middle East and North Africa region, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in developing the sector.



Bitcoin Soars Past $109,000 Ahead of Possible Early Action on Crypto by Trump

FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
TT

Bitcoin Soars Past $109,000 Ahead of Possible Early Action on Crypto by Trump

FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sparks strike representation of cryptocurrency Bitcoin in this illustration taken November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The price of bitcoin surged to over $109,000 early Monday, just hours ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, as a pumped up cryptocurrency industry bets he'll take action soon after returning to the White House.
Once a skeptic who said a few years ago that bitcoin “seems like a scam,” Trump has embraced digital currencies with a convert’s zeal. He's launched a new cryptocurrency venture and vowed on the campaign trail to take steps early in his presidency to make the US into the “crypto capital” of the world.
His promises including creating a US crypto stockpile, enacting industry-friendly regulation and event appointing a crypto “czar” for his administration.
“You’re going to be very happy with me,” Trump told crypto-enthusiasts at a bitcoin conference last summer.
Bitcoin is the world’s most popular cryptocurrency and was created in 2009 as a kind of electronic cash uncontrolled by banks or governments. It and newer forms of cryptocurrencies have moved from the financial fringes to the mainstream in wild fits and starts.
The highly volatile nature of cryptocurrencies as well as their use by criminals, scammers and rogue nations, has attracted plenty of critics, who say the digital currencies have limited utility and often are just Ponzi schemes, The Associated Press reported.
But crypto has so far defied naysayers and survived multiple prolonged price drops in its short lifespan. Wealthy players in the crypto industry, which felt unfairly targeted by the Biden administration, spent heavily to help Trump win last November’s election. Bitcoin has surged in price since Trump's victory, topping $100,000 for the first time last month before briefly sliding down to about $90,000. On Friday, it rose about 5%. It jumped more than $9,000 early Monday, according to CoinDesk.
Two years ago, bitcoin was trading at about $20,000.
Trump’s picks for key cabinet and regulatory positions are stocked with crypto supporters, including his choice to lead the Treasury and Commerce departments and the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Key industry players held a first ever "Crypto Ball” on Friday to celebrate the first “crypto president." The event was sold out, with tickets costing several thousand dollars.