Circes: Jordan Steadily Advances to Establish Itself as a Regional Center for Financial Technology and Innovation

Sharkas pointed out that the holding of the second edition of the festival in Jordan reflects its growing presence in the financial technology sector, and confirms the Kingdom's quest to be an active part in shaping the future of financial technology. He explained that the festival's slogan summarizes the Central Bank's approach that innovation does not need less regulation but smarter regulation, confirming that innovation and regulation together form a fundamental pillar for shaping the future of the financial sector.

Sharkas confirmed that the Central Bank is leading an advanced digital financial system that has contributed to expanding the use of electronic payment methods in the national economy, noting that the number of electronic payment transactions (via Click, E-Bills, and card purchase payments) exceeded 695 million transactions during 2025, amounting to more than 50 billion dinars, equivalent to about 118% of the gross domestic product.

On the regulatory side, Sharkas explained that the Central Bank continued to develop tools that allow for the testing of innovation and its absorption within a clear regulatory environment, including digital financial identity, electronic verification of customer identity (eKYC), open financial services, regulatory technology (RegTech), and virtual assets. He pointed out that the regulatory laboratory (JO REGBOX) provided a practical space for testing new models, understanding their risks, and measuring their effects, before developing the appropriate regulatory response, noting that 12 innovative products were tested within 12 companies in the fields of financial services and insurance, open financial services, and virtual assets.

Sharkas confirmed that these efforts come within the framework of a broader digital transformation witnessed by the Kingdom, which includes developing digital infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, expanding digital government services, developing digital identity, and investing in artificial intelligence and advanced computing.

The Jordan FinTech Festival 2026 is being held on September 23 and 24, in cooperation between the Central Bank of Jordan, the Jordan Bankers Association, and the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), with the participation of a group of decision-makers, specialists, innovators, and investors in the financial technology sector from Jordan, the region, and the world.