In today’s rapidly evolving payments landscape, the lines between the digital and physical worlds of money are becoming increasingly blurred. Nacha’s Payments Innovation Alliance Navigating Through Digital Payments Project Team is delving into this intersection—exploring value flows, who’s involved, and what it means for the broader financial ecosystem. The group is working to define asset and currency movement in the digital world, identify key participants and their roles, and map the access and exit points where funds flow. From gaming payments to digital assets, the team is investigating emerging use cases while evaluating the associated risks—including fraud, legal, and regulatory considerations. Through this work, the project team aims to illuminate how these innovations are reshaping both end-user experiences and the future of financial services.

What Has the Team Done So Far?

The project team has been working over the last few years to put out information and resources related to this dynamic place in payments. According to Mark Dixon, AAP, AFPP, APRP, CTP, NCP Senior Consultant at Nacha Consulting and project team leader, “Our project team is proud of the work we have done so far. We know there is more to do, but we have laid out an excellent foundation on which we can build to provide tremendous value to the payments industry.” 

The list of the deliverables already available to the industry includes:

• A Closer Look at Digital Assets.
• Diving into the Fundamentals of Cryptocurrency as a Form of Digital Payment.
• Understanding Stablecoins: The Steady Side of Crypto.  

In addition, the group conducted a survey about cryptocurrency early in 2025 and continued with a “Man on the Street” impromptu interview series getting candid feedback from payment professionals at Nacha’s Smarter Faster Payments 2025 and everyday people. The team has also contributed to multiple Alliance meeting sessions and has put out Buzzcast podcast episodes.

The project team is in the process of creating a consumer education piece focused on helping financial institution customers and members better understand cryptocurrency. “I am very excited about this piece, which I think will serve as an excellent resource and tool for financial institutions looking to educate their customers on this important topic,” said Sharon Hallmark, AAP, APRP, Director, Payments Education at Epcor and project team leader. This resource is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2026.

Industry Insights

From the survey and the “Man on the Street” interviews, the project team gained several insights into what people and financial institutions really think about cryptocurrency. From comments that “all crypto is crime” to “crypto is the future,” the feedback ran the gamut. However, some common themes arose including:

• While mixed in degree, many people do broadly know what cryptocurrency is.
• People don’t generally understand exactly how cryptocurrency works, including blockchain and distributed ledger technology.
• Financial institutions may not be fully ready for the implications of their customers and members using cryptocurrency, including how to track and monitor.
• Additional regulatory oversight is needed to help this industry mature and provide confidence to financial institutions and people alike.  

"I was really surprised by the number of people that got parts right. I would have thought everyday folks wouldn’t understand crypto and that the baseline was very low,” Hallmark remarked on her surprise over the results of the survey and “Man on the Street” interviews. 

Looking Ahead

As we enter 2026, the Alliance’s Navigating Through Digital Payments Project Team is preparing to launch a series of new resources, conversations, and insights designed to inform, educate, and inspire our community. From the latest Buzzcast episodes to upcoming deliverables on cryptocurrency use cases, the project team continues to explore how technology, regulation, and end-user behavior are transforming the nature of payments including the convergence into digital payments.

“I am especially excited to tackle topics related to stablecoin, fraud and risk, tokenized deposits, comprehensive payables, and even the metaverse with a focus on the impact of technology and regulation in the digital payment space,” Dixon remarked on his excitement for the upcoming project team’s work.

Stay tuned for the release of upcoming resources and join us as we continue to navigate the opportunities and challenges shaping the next generation of digital payments.

Click to learn more about the Payments Innovation Alliance and how it is helping to bring together diverse, global stakeholders to outline future payments trends and help its members remain competitive.