Web3, metadata storage, and digital assets are reshaping technology landscapes across global markets. Their potential to accelerate economic and social transformation post-pandemic, while geopolitics shift, remains vast. These themes were central to Mastercard Innovation Forum 2022, the flagship event hosted at Gran Teatro Príncipe Pío.
In comments about the event, Paloma Real, managing director of Mastercard Spain, described MIF as the yearly gathering designed to spark innovation and digital progress. The forum brings together professionals, customers, and collaborators with leading experts to illuminate the latest tech trends and translate insights into practice. This year the theme Together Tomorrow underscored that mission.
Presentation notes highlighted the presence of Paloma Real and Eimear Creaven, leaders from Mastercard in Europe, who framed the conversations around collaboration and forward thinking.
Job disruption: accelerated digitization and the rise of startups
Salim Ismail, author of Exponential Organizations and founder of Singularity University, Open ExO, and Exo Works, spoke about how disruption fuels new revenue opportunities. His message stressed that organizations leveraging the latest technology while aligning internal and external strengths can outpace competitors by substantial margins.
Digital transformation versus green transformation
Sustainability was a throughline of the event, with multiple discussions connecting Web3, innovation, and environmental impact. Satvik Sethi, NFT product manager and blockchain advocate on Mastercard’s global team, described how Web3 can drive positive environmental outcomes. In the Reli3f NFT initiative, donations were raised rapidly to support Ukrainian war victims, illustrating how digital assets can mobilize social good.
Notes accompanying the session credited the speaker as a leader in Singularity University initiatives and open innovation platforms, emphasizing practical applications for business and society.
Metaverse as a turning point
Cathy Hackl, a recognized futurist and thought leader on digital ecosystems, discussed real-world applications of the metaverse for companies and users. She noted that consumer demand for immersive experiences such as virtual concerts, shopping, and games will shape corporate strategies as the metaverse expands.
Spain’s economy in a post-pandemic world
Two years after the onset of the pandemic, Spain faced a unique economic landscape. 2022 signaled a return toward normal activity and a cautious recovery across services, travel, and hospitality. Insights from Mastercard’s economics researchers highlighted how tourism spending during major events can lift local economies and support a broader recovery.
Natalia Lechmanova, senior economist at the Mastercard Institute of Economics, explained that visitor spending spikes around Pride celebrations and Easter, generating meaningful economic momentum for Madrid and beyond.
Payments of the future and digital currencies
Industry experts including Stephen Ryan of CipherTrace, Juan Pablo Vivas of Citi, and Javier Pastor Moreno of Bit2me discussed the evolving landscape of digital currencies. They emphasized that regulated, safe, and accessible crypto payments can coexist with traditional financial systems, offering new avenues for consumer payments and revenue for banks, even as risks are managed.
Tourism focus: new business models
The Mastercard Tourism Innovation Center, headquartered in Madrid, was highlighted as a global hub for transforming travel ecosystems. HUB president Quim Martínez spoke about co-creating solutions that support sustainable, inclusive, and innovative tourism worldwide, with a focus on travel recovery in the post-pandemic era and broad economic reactivation.
About Mastercard
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments sector. Its mission is to connect and strengthen an inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere, by enabling safe, simple, smart, and accessible transactions. The company leverages secure networks, partnerships, and a customer-centric approach to help financial institutions, governments, and businesses grow. A culture grounded in decency guides decisions and actions, while a presence in more than 210 countries supports a pursuit of a more sustainable world where opportunities are widely accessible.