Edited by Fabrizio Vedana

The future of finance is digital. Consumers and businesses are increasingly accessing financial services in this way, and thanks to new technologies, they are participating in innovative markets: existing business models are changing. Digital finance has helped citizens and businesses cope with the unprecedented situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, online identity verification has allowed consumers to open accounts and use various financial services remotely. A growing share of payments at points of sale are now made digitally and without physical contact, and online purchases (e-commerce) have seen a sharp increase. Financial technology (FinTech) solutions have helped expand and accelerate access to loans, including those funded by the government in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Ensuring the secure and reliable operation of digital infrastructures has also become more important, given the increased access to online financial services and the fact that financial sector employees themselves are working remotely. If there were any doubts about this, it is now clear: digital finance has much to offer, and European businesses and citizens are ready to seize this opportunity. As part of its recovery strategy, Europe must make the most of it to help repair the social and economic damage caused by the pandemic. Digital technologies will be essential to revitalizing and modernizing the European economy across all sectors. They will enable Europe's advancement as a global digital player. At the same time, users of financial services must be protected from the risks posed by increased use of digital finance. Supporting the digital transition in the EU has been declared a priority for the European Commission. The European financial sector can build on numerous innovative projects across Member States and on its leading role in areas such as digital payment technologies. Digital finance will contribute to the overall digital transformation of our economy and society. This will bring significant benefits to both consumers and businesses. It will therefore become increasingly important to understand the world of FinTech, as well as that of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), currently popular especially in the art world but which could soon find fertile ground in other sectors or be used for purposes that may even be illicit.