EBANX CEO Says Payments’ Next Rival May Not Be a Payments Company

João Del Valle, CEO of EBANX, argues that the next major competitor to payments companies may not be another payments firm, but rather a company utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). Thirty years ago, Intel CEO Andy Grove warned that strategic threats could come from unexpected places, a concept Del Valle says is particularly relevant in the rapidly evolving payments industry.

AI is fundamentally changing the cost, speed, and organizational requirements of building a company, posing new challenges for traditional payments firms. Del Valle explains that AI-native firms could pressure EBANX to act faster, while also protecting assets such as customer relationships and geographic presence. He predicts that AI could make it easier for new companies to enter the market and achieve product-market fit more quickly than before.

While the specific form of the future payments platform remains uncertain, Del Valle emphasizes the importance of having a strong foundation and closely watching organizational changes, such as the emergence of "company brains" and "personal executive brains." He stresses the need for executives to disrupt hierarchies, stay close to operational details, and understand AI technology themselves.

Del Valle believes that workforce reskilling will be crucial as companies invest in AI capabilities, and cautions that neglecting existing operations while pursuing AI could leave a business unable to finance the transformation.