Background

We invite you to submit your original research contributions to the 12th P2P Financial Systems International Workshop (P2PFISY 2026), hosted on the 9–10 June 2026 by the National Bank of Kazakhstan in Astana.

The P2P Financial Systems Workshop (P2PFISY) is a cutting-edge international event that dates back to 2015, when it was kicked off at the Deutsche Bundesbank by Dr Paolo Tasca. It is an international workshop bringing together industry leaders, regulators, policymakers and scholars interested in Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and decentralised financial systems to share research insights, policy analyses and practical experiences. 

P2PFISY is widely regarded as a premier forum on the future of finance and is attended by top academics, central bankers and innovators. Over the years, it has been supported and hosted by prestigious institutions, including the Federal Reserve, the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Italy, the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Canada, De Nederlandsche Bank and the Central Bank of Uruguay.

P2PFISY 2026 takes place at a defining moment for digital finance in Central Asia. Kazakhstan has built one of the world's most advanced digital finance ecosystems: the Digital Tenge — its central bank digital currency — is live and integrated into national budget financing and public procurement; its regulated crypto market recorded $6.8 billion in transactions in the first nine months of 2025; and the country recently launched Central Asia's first regulated spot Bitcoin ETF.

Workshop Objective and Themes

The workshop organisers invite authors from academia, public institutions (including central banks), special interest groups and the private sector to submit policy-oriented, theoretical and/or empirical papers. P2PFISY 2026 will focus on the evolving landscape of decentralised digital technologies and data-driven financial innovation, as well as their implications for financial stability, market structure, regulation, inclusion and consumer protection. 

Submitted papers should represent original contributions and clearly focus on decentralised and emerging digital technologies, broadly related to the themes outlined below, including but not limited to:

1. Artificial Intelligence in Financial Systems

• AI-driven financial services and market infrastructures
• Generative AI in financial decision-making and risk management
• Algorithmic transparency, explainability and accountability
• AI governance, ethics and regulatory challenges

2. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and Digital Public Infrastructure

• Design, architectur, and deployment of CBDCs
• Monetary policy transmission and financial stability implications
• Privacy, programmability and interoperability
• CBDCs in emerging and developing economies

3. Stablecoins and Digital Payment Systems

• Stablecoin design models and risk assessment
• Regulatory and supervisory approaches
• Cross-border payments and settlement efficiency
• Interoperability with traditional financial systems

4. Tokenisation and Real-World Assets (RWA)

• Tokenisation of real estate, financial instruments and infrastructure
• Legal and regulatory frameworks for tokenised assets
• Liquidity, market design and investor protection
• Cross-border issuance and settlement challenges

5. Financial Inclusion and Digital Financial Literacy

• Blockchain-based financial services for underserved populations
• Digital identity and access to finance
• Role of decentralised finance (DeFi) in inclusion
• Education, literacy and user protection in digital finance

6. Consumer Protection, Data Governance and Trust

• Consumer risks in decentralised and AI-driven systems
• Data ownership, consent and transparency
• Fraud prevention, cybersecurity and system resilience
• Legal accountability in decentralised environments

This year's workshop will provide a platform for regulators, academics and practitioners to engage with the accelerating shift toward digital and decentralised financial systems. The event aims to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing transformation and to explore potential future developments, dynamics and risks in order to support an integrated, innovative and resilient financial landscape around the world.

Accepted authors will have the opportunity to present their work at the workshop either in person or online, contributing to critical conversations shaping the future of digital finance.

To encourage diverse participation, Exponential Science is willing to offer financial support to the authors of selected abstracts wishing to attend the workshop in person. Further details will be communicated after the review process.

Guidelines

Each submission should include either a full paper with an ordinary abstract or an extended abstract, as well as the name and email address of a nominated author who intends to present the paper at the workshop. Extended abstracts should be approximately 1,000 words. Submission of a full paper is welcome and encouraged, but not required. All submissions must be in English. Submissions should be uploaded in PDF format through the EasyChair P2PFISY 2026 Call For Papers. All submissions will be reviewed by the Scientific Committee of the P2P Financial Systems Workshop. There is no mandatory template. Authors may use any standard academic format or journal template of their choice.

Selection process and workshop participation

Submitted abstracts will undergo single-blind review performed by the Scientific Committee with the goal to select contributions according to their quality, policy relevance and potential level of interest, while ensuring an overall balance of topics, stakeholder interests and approaches. By submitting their abstracts (and full papers, if applicable), authors also agree to revise them based on the reviewers’ comments and discussion at the conference, and to allow them to be published on the conference website. There will be no formal proceedings, and authors are free to submit their work elsewhere without implications of dual submission.

Important Dates

• Abstract/Paper submissions open: 27th January 2026
• Abstract/Paper submission deadline: 28th April, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance/Rejection: 18th May, 2026
• Workshop dates: 9–10 June 2026 — National Bank of Kazakhstan, Mangilik El Avenue 64, Esil District, Astana