Build The Future of Open Payments

A 5 ECTS innovation lab where law and finance students design real-world solutions to global payment challenges using open payment technologies.

The Challenge

Right now, roughly 1.4. billion people worldwide don’t have access to basic financial services. Sending money across borders can cost up to 20% in fees. Gig workers wait days for micropayments. Refugees struggle to receive humanitarian aid securely.

The global payment system is being rebuilt right now.
The question is: will it work for everyone — or repeat the mistakes of the past?

What You Will Do

Understand the Technology Behind the Future of Money

Experience the Interledger Protocol (ILP) – the open-source technology enabling seamless, low-cost payments across different systems. ILP is to payments what email is to communication — an open protocol that allows different systems to connect. You will learn from the Interledger experts themselves!

Navigate The Regulatory Reality

Learn how regulations actually shape what is possible in fintech. Understand why some innovations succeed and others fail and how to design solutions that work both technically and legally. The skill everyone wants: the ability to think across disciplines. Tech companies need people who understand regulation. Law firms need people who understand technology. You will speak both languages.

Design Real Financial Inclusion Solutions

Work in interdisciplinary teams (law + finance students) to tackle actual problems. You can choose the exact problem yourself: from enabling micropayments for gig workers in developing economies to designing financial services for refugees without traditional documentation.

Present to People Who Matter

Pitch your solution at the Final Pitch Event to a panel of top industry professionals.

Selected teams will get the opportunity to present at the next Digital Future of Money event organized by the New Finance Research Group at THUAS. The top team may be nominated to present at the Interledger Summit.

What You Will Learn

Technical Skills:

How open payment systems and protocols actually work
The architecture and potential of the Interledger Protocol
Hands-on experience with ILP tools and applications

Regulatory Expertise:

European payment regulations (PSD3, MICA) and global frameworks
Multi-jurisdictional regulatory comparison and compliance strategies
AML/KYC requirements and how they impact innovation

Strategic Thinking:

Designing for financial inclusion and underserved communities
Building business models for payment innovations
Risk assessment and compliance strategy

Real-World Impact:

Understanding global financial exclusion challenges
Cross-border payment systems and their limitations
Use cases for open payments in solving real problems
How technology can (and can't) address inequality

Who Should Join

01

You're A Great Fit If You:

Study law, finance, business, blockchain, AI or related fields (Year 3, 3+)
Are curious about how technology is reshaping finance
Enjoy collaborating with people who think differently
Care about financial inclusion
Like complex problems with no single right answer

02

You Don't Need:

Coding experience (seriously—we want diverse perspectives)
Prior knowledge of payments or blockchain

03

What We Want:

Intellectual curiosity
Willingness to learn new things
Ability to work in teams
Commitment to the project

What You Walk Away With

By the end of the lab, you will have:

Portfolio-worthy project
Marketable expertise
Industry connections
Interdisciplinary skills
Conference opportunities

And possibly…
The start of something bigger.

Why This Matters for Your Career

Whether you want to work in a fintech startup, a central bank, a law firm, a regulatory authority or a consulting firm, understanding open payments and financial regulation gives you a strategic advantage.