TechCrunch Disrupt 2026’s new Smart Money Stage explores fintech, payments, AI, and everything between

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will feature a new Smart Money Stage dedicated to how money is changing beyond cash and traditional bank accounts. The programming will explore fintech, payments, AI, and related areas shaping financial services.

The new stage reflects how financial technology has become a core startup and investor theme rather than a niche category. Its focus on AI-driven finance points to growing interest in automation, personalization, and infrastructure changes across payments and banking.