
Speakers at Biz2X Frontiers of Digital Finance Conference Kick Off 2025 and Predict What's Next in Fintech and Business Finance
FDF assembled a 'Who's Who' of digital finance experts who delved into major issues, such as potential changes in regulation in the new Trump administration, increased use of AI in lending, and the rise of alternative lenders. Speakers from over 25 organizations were represented, in an invite-only audience of more than 200 delegates. Among the A-List speakers were:
Former Congressman Patrick McHenry, who served as Chair of the House Financial Services Committee for the past two years. His keynote address, The Future of Fintech Regulation, drew upon his more than two-decades in Congress. The session was moderated by Charlie Gasparino of Fox Business News.
USAA President & CEO Wayne Peacock spoke about Leadership in Fintech in T he N ext D ecade. Under Peacock's visionary leadership, USAA has become a household name. At FDF, he shared insights from his expertise in mission-driven leadership to navigate the evolving financial services landscape.
Jim Esposito, President of Citadel Securities, led a discussion entitled Building the Future: Technology in Financial Markets in which he shared his insights for driving long-term growth and building global client and partner relationships.
Miami Mayor Francis X. Suarez examined Where Innovation Meets Opportunity – A Legal and Economic Vision, together with legendary litigator Marc Kasowitz from Kasowitz Benson Torres. They shared their perspectives on the legal and economic forces shaping today's business landscape, and Mayor Suarez explored how cities like Miami can become innovation hubs for the private sector.
BCG & Biz2X Launch New SMB Finance White Paper at FDF Miami
Biz2X partnered with Boston Consulting Group ( BCG), one of the world's top business consulting firms, to unveil a brand-new proprietary white paper entitled, The Forthcoming Revolution in Small Business Lending.
The study examines the rapidly changing dynamics of small business lending. Biz2X and BCG analyzed the reasons why banks — particularly the country's largest institutions — place limitations on lending to small and medium-sized businesses. BCG identifies a global small business funding gap that exceeds $5 trillion.
Biz2X and BCG conclude that SMB lending must be fundamentally altered through technology such as digital lending platforms to achieve lower risk, broader access to capital, and a significantly-improved digital experience for both borrowers and lenders. To download the full report, click here.
Looking Ahead to Future FDF Conferences
'FDF Miami 2025 was the highest-attended conference yet in our continuing series of these events. Our goal with FDF is to create a platform that drives the finance industry forward by bringing together the right people from all sides of industry and policy,' said Conference Chair and the CEO & Co-Founder of Biz2X, Rohit Arora.
Future editions of FDF in 2025 are being planned in Riyadh and Mumbai, along with a likely return to Miami, with dates to be announced. For more information about FDF sponsors, speakers, and to see exclusive content from FDF Miami and previous FDF events, visit frontiersofdigitalfinance.com.
About Frontiers of Digital Finance (FDF)
FDF is an invitation only, global conference series that assembles global experts in the field. These include top financial institutions, innovative startups, investors, policy makers, technologists, and other leaders to learn about trends in digital finance and build relationships with key executives in the fintech industry.
Attendees gain valuable insights from distinguished speakers and forge meaningful connections with key industry executives through curated networking events. Previous conferences have been held in some of the world's most dynamic financial hubs: Dubai, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, New York (at Columbia Business School) and Miami. Visit frontiersofdigitalfinance.com and LinkedIn for more information and highlights from the conferences.
About Biz2X
Biz2X® is the digital lending platform chosen by successful business lenders, with more than $10 billion funded globally to businesses through the company's innovative technology. The platform has been chosen for business lending at banks and financial institutions around the world. Lenders choose the platform because they want to transform their lending practices digitally. Biz2X makes this possible through best-in-class technology and AI-powered underwriting models. Biz2X LLC is a subsidiary of Biz2Credit. Visit Biz2X.com for more information.
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Fast Company
a few seconds ago
- Fast Company
After the Paramount merger, could UFC stage a July 4th fight at the White House?
Hours after Paramount and UFC announced a billion-dollar rights deal, Dana White said he had yet to hear from his friend, President Donald Trump, on his thoughts about the fight company's new streaming home. That was fine with White. The UFC CEO was set to travel to Washington on Aug. 28 to meet with Trump and his daughter, Ivanka, to catch up and discuss logistics on the proposed Fourth of July fight card next year at the White House. Trump said last month he wanted to stage a UFC match on the White House grounds with upwards of 20,000 spectators to celebrate 250 years of American independence. 'It's absolutely going to happen,' White told The Associated Press. 'Think about that, the 250th birthday of the United States of America, the UFC will be on the White House south lawn live on CBS.' The idea of cage fights at the White House would have seemed improbable when the Fertitta brothers purchased UFC for $2 million in 2001 and put White in charge of the fledging fight promotion. White helped steer the company into a $4 billion sale in 2016 and broadcast rights deals with Fox and ESPN before landing owner TKO Group's richest one yet — a seven-year deal with Paramount starting in 2026 worth an average of $1.1 billion a year, with all cards on its streaming platform Paramount+ and select numbered events also set to simulcast on CBS. ESPN, Amazon and Netflix and other traditional sports broadcast players seemed more in play for UFC rights — White had previously hinted fights could air across different platforms — but Paramount was a serious contender from the start of the negotiating window. The Paramount and UFC deal came just days after Skydance and Paramount officially closed their $8 billion merger — kicking off the reign of a new entertainment giant after a contentious endeavor to get the transaction over the finish line. White said he was impressed with the vision Skydance CEO David Ellison had for the the global MMA leader early in contract talks and how those plans should blossom now that Ellison is chairman and CEO of Paramount. 'When you talk about Paramount, you talk about David Ellison, they're brilliant businessmen, very aggressive, risk takers,' White said. 'They're right up my alley. These are the kind of guys that I like to be in business with.' The $1.1 billion deals marks a notable jump from the roughly $550 million that ESPN paid each year for UFC coverage today. But UFC's new home on Paramount will simplify offerings for fans — with all content set to be available on Paramount+ (which currently costs between $7.99 and $12.99 a month), rather than various pay-per-view fees. Paramount also said it intends to explore UFC rights outside the U.S. 'as they become available in the future.' UFC matchmakers were set to meet this week to shape what White said would be a loaded debut Paramount card. The UFC boss noted it was still too early to discuss a potential main event for the White House fight night. 'This is a 1-of-1 event,' White said. There are still some moving parts to UFC broadcasts and other television programming it has its hands in as the company moves into the Paramount era. White said there are still moving parts to the deal and that includes potentially finding new homes for 'The Ultimate Fighter,' 'Road To UFC,' and 'Dana White's Contender Series.' It's not necessarily a given the traditional 10 p.m. start time for what were the pay-per-view events would stand, especially on nights cards will also air on CBS. 'We haven't figured that out yet but we will,' White said. And what about the sometimes-contentious issue of fighter pay? Some established fighters have clauses in their contracts that they earn more money the higher the buyrate on their cards. Again, most of those issues are to-be-determined as UFC and Paramount settle in to the new deal — with $1.1 billion headed the fight company's way. 'It will affect fighter pay, big time,' White said. 'From deal-to-deal, fighter pay has grown, too. Every time we win, everybody wins.' Boxer Jake Paul wrote on social media the dying PPV model — which was overpriced for fights as UFC saw a decline in buys because of missing star power in many main events — should give the fighters an increased idea of their worth. 'Every fighter in the UFC now has a clear picture of what the revenue is…no more PPV excuses,' Paul wrote. 'Get your worth boys and girls.' White also scoffed at the idea that the traditional PPV model is dead. There are still UFC cards on pay-per-view the rest of the year through the end of the ESPN contract and White and Saudi Arabia have teamed to launch a new boxing venture that starts next year and could use a PPV home. White, though, is part of the promotional team for the Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford fight in September in Las Vegas that airs on Netflix. 'It's definitely not run it's course,' White said. 'There were guys out there who were interested in pay-per-view and there were guys out there that weren't. Wherever we ended up, that's what we're going to roll with.' White said UFC archival footage 'kills it' in repeat views and those classic bouts also needed a new home once the ESPN deal expires. Just when it seems there's little left for UFC to conquer, White says, there's always more. Why stop at becoming the biggest fight game in the world? Why not rewrite the pecking order in popularity and riches and go for No. 1 in all sports? 'You have the NFL, the NBA, the UFC, and soccer globally,' White said. 'We're coming. We're coming for all of them.'


The Hill
a few seconds ago
- The Hill
Trump's Trifecta: Leveraging tariffs and energy dominance for industrial renewal
President Trump's trade and energy policies are recalibrating the global economic order — and not by accident. Under his leadership, trade is no longer simply about moving goods. It is a tool of strategic policy — one that drives industrial revival, and shapes strategic, economic and national outcomes. Trump's approach is disruptive but methodical. Tariffs create negotiating power, leading to trade agreements that reduce deficits and rewire supply chains. When combined with U.S. energy exports and capital markets, this strategy doesn't just rebalance trade — it reinvigorates American industry. As a senior negotiator on the U.S.-China Phase I Trade Agreement in Treasury during Trump's first term, I saw firsthand that what critics dismissed as 'erratic', 'chaotic' and 'unpredictable' was, in fact, deeply strategic. President Trump's instincts, honed by decades of high-stakes dealmaking, informed a broader strategy. He approached policy like a grandmaster playing three-dimensional chess: every tariff, handshake and message was a calculated move to reassert American economic leadership. Just as in Trump's first term, this administration began by confronting structural imbalances. The 2024 U.S. goods trade deficit hit $1.2 trillion — its highest in history. In response, Trump used executive authority to impose reciprocal tariffs — not as an end in themselves, but as tools to bring others to the table. Starting in early 2025, Trump's targeted tariffs compelled negotiations to rebalance trade relationships and repatriate supply chains. Japan agreed to reduce average industrial tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent and pledged $550 billion in U.S.-bound investment. The European Union followed suit, agreeing to a framework that includes a baseline 15 percent tariff on industrial goods, expanded market access for U.S. energy, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, and a commitment to $420 billion in foreign direct investment into the U.S. And, most recently, the United States also reached a trade agreement with South Korea: Seoul will face a 15 percent duty, reduced from a threatened 25 percent, in exchange for a pledge to invest $350 billion in U.S.-owned projects and purchase $100 billion in American liquefied natural gas and energy products. Indonesia and the Philippines opened markets for U.S. agriculture and energy, while committing to major purchases, including 50 Boeing aircraft. Vietnam accepted 20 percent tariffs and tighter controls on transshipped Chinese goods. Negotiations continue with India, Taiwan and others. Together, these countries now account for $809 billion — or 67 percent — of the 2024 U.S. trade deficit. Once deals with India and Taiwan are finalized, that coverage will exceed three-quarters. A mere 5 percent improvement across these relationships could slash the annual deficit by up to $95 billion. Beyond deficit reduction, these agreements reset incentives. They punish transshipment, enhance transparency and support rules-of-origin provisions that favor North American manufacturing. The result? Companies are investing in new U.S. production — auto components, semiconductors, specialty steel and energy systems. And job creation follows capital. Analysts estimate that up to 1.5 million advanced manufacturing jobs could be brought back to American soil over five years — a far cry from Barack Obama's declaration that some U.S. manufacturing jobs were gone forever. Trade reform paves the way for yet another explosion in growth: deploying U.S. energy and capital into newly aligned partner markets. Programs like America Crece and Asia EDGE, flagship infrastructure growth initiatives during Trump's first term, demonstrated the power of this model. This programming identified and unlocked growth opportunities in our partner countries using American energy exports and American equipment, employing American workers, and financing through American capital markets. In Latin America alone, we identified over $300 billion in infrastructure projects with U.S. private capital in the lead. In Vietnam, we identified $8 billion in near-term energy exports and $50 billion in longer-horizon infrastructure investments. Before the Biden administration ended this programming, we executed on $2.5 billion in transactions in Panama, backed a $3.5 billion facility in Ecuador and laid the groundwork for more than $4 billion in liquefied natural gas-based investment flows into Vietnam. Japan and Taiwan are now adopting this U.S. liquefied natural gas-driven model. Their national priorities — liquefied natural gas security and grid modernization — create natural demand for U.S. energy exports and financing partnerships. Trade deals open the market; energy and infrastructure partnerships deliver the substance. Our capital markets are unmatched in size, efficiency and depth. Trump's tariff leverage opens doors. Energy exports and U.S. financing flow through them — fueling global infrastructure while anchoring demand for American industry. This energy multiplier also advances a core tenet of Trump's economic agenda: U.S. energy dominance. American liquefied natural gas, coal and refined products are now strategic assets — tools of both commercial strength and geopolitical influence. Trump's approach fuses trade, energy and finance into a cohesive doctrine. It turns deficits into investment. It transforms market access into industrial revival. And it leverages the full might of U.S. capital to strengthen allies abroad and jobs at home. If the goal is to bring back U.S. manufacturing, secure energy markets and make capital markets work for working Americans — this is the model. The chessboard is set. And America, once again, is playing to win. Mitchell A. Silk served as assistant secretary for International Markets at the U.S. Treasury during Trump's first term. He was the senior Treasury official on U.S.-China trade negotiations and helped design America Crece and Asia EDGE. He is the author of ' A Seat at the Table: An Inside Account of Trump's Global Economic Revolution,' to be published in September 2025.


Newsweek
a few seconds ago
- Newsweek
Student Visas to Be Upended Under Trump Admin Proposal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Department of Homeland Security rule proposal that would limit how long international students could remain in the United States has cleared a final White House review, a move that could lead to huge changes to the visa applications for international students. The regulation would replace the current practice under which F-1 and J-1 visa holders are authorized to remain for the full length of an academic program with fixed-term limits that could require renewals while students remained enrolled, creating potential procedural disruptions for campuses and visa applicants, according to Bloomberg Law. Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment. Why it Matters Higher education institutions and advocates have argued that limiting authorized duration would require students to reapply for status mid-program, potentially introducing processing delays, gaps in lawful status, and interruptions to work authorization tied to study. Advocates and university leaders previously told Newsweek that tightened student visa rules and other immigration changes have already prompted some prospective international students to choose institutions outside the United States, a trend that analysts said could reduce enrollment and revenue for U.S. colleges. NAFSA: Association of International Educators projects new international enrollment in the U.S. could fall 30 to 40 percent this fall, a potential $7 billion hit to the economy. With many foreign students paying full tuition, the drop could deal a sharp blow to college finances. Stock image of college students attending their graduation ceremony. Stock image of college students attending their graduation ceremony. Getty Images What To Know F-1 student and J-1 exchange visitor visa holders are allowed under current regulations to stay in the U.S. for the duration of an academic program or internship. If finalized, the new regulation would restrict their legal status to a fixed period of time before they are required to apply for renewal, potentially before the completion of their studies. The Department of Homeland Security submitted the rulemaking package (RIN: 1653-AA95) to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on June 27, which completed its review the following week. The proposal would limit how long F-1 and J-1 visa holders could remain authorized without seeking a renewal, replacing the current program length authorization, marking a major departure from decades of practice that allowed enrollment-tied stays. A prior version of the idea under the Trump administration sought two- or four-year limits by field of study and drew sharp criticism from educational groups for creating needless disruption to academic programs. That proposed rule was subsequently withdrawn by the Biden administration. The rule change will now be publicized in the Federal Register following OIRA clearance, which would trigger a public comment period before any final rule could be issued. A separate DHS proposal to change how H-1B visas are allocated also cleared White House review. That rule change would see the current random lottery for H-1B visas replaced with a "weighted selection process" that gives priority to registrants who meet or exceed certain criteria, such as wage or education level. The Trump administration has earlier taken steps that unsettled many international students, including the temporary revocation and later partial restoration of legal status for thousands of students and enhanced scrutiny of visa applicants' social media, moves that courts and advocates challenged. What People Are Saying Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services, told the Associated Press about international students bypassing American universities: "The American brand has taken a massive hit, and the U.K. is the one that is benefiting." What Happens Next The proposal will be published in the Federal Register next, which would open a formal public comment period and begin a multi‑step process before any final rule could take effect.