Business

3 Major Trends That Will Impact the Events Industry in 2020

Published

6 years ago

February 28, 2020

As is the way with many industries, the events industry is rapidly advancing and evolving to meet the growing demands of consumers. In an industry that is already so dynamic, 2020 is predicted to bring an abundance of exciting developments to the world of events.

Event management teams and planners can prepare and adapt to what’s going to shake up the event industry by staying ahead of the trends. By keeping an eye on what’s predicted to come, you can be sure to plan and manage some unforgettable events this year.

Attendee Personalisation

Advancements in technology mean that consumers are continuing to expect more personalisation in their interactions during events. Personalisation is now going beyond digital marketing and seeping into event marketing and the nature of functions. While personalisation is not a new term, we are entering a new phase in which planners finding ways to respond to the needs of attendees.

Consumers are expecting more interactive experiences with each event. The key to delivering this experience is enhanced individual personalisation. Traditional event design is structured around the satisfaction of attendees. However, today, event organisers need to deliver on a customised experience by considering the person, professionally and personally, and understanding their preferences and personal value structure.

Tailoring for personal relevance and experience is now a crucial component of event design. In 2020, event managers who refuse to use collected data to deliver tailored and relevant experiences will fail to satisfy the demands of event attendees. According to Sydney event management company Polite, the biggest trend in 2020 will be towards delivering a personalised experience for all event attendees.

Sustainability

Sustainability is not a new trend; however, it looks like it’s only going to be further stressed this year. Rather than making sustainability an after-thought, event planners are going to need to weave eco-friendly behaviours into the design, planning, and execution of events.

Eco-friendly choices are already being offered in the world of events. Event organisers are making behavioural changes and adapting in what has traditionally been a relatively wasteful industry. Consumers are becoming more aware of sustainable practices and are demanding more from their events to implement such changes. As such, events need to be planned in a manner that will have a minimal environmental impact.

So, how do you make an event sustainable? There are plenty of opportunities to make impactful changes. From switching to digital advertisements and ticketing systems to replacing plastic cutlery and bottles with biodegradable alternatives, using seasonal and local produce for catering, and providing vegan and vegetarian menu options. Events typically are a huge source for landfill and waste, so planners need to consider ways to minimise footprint with each event.

Artificial Intelligence

Human-centred technology is quickly becoming an important asset to the planning and delivery of a successful event. In today’s exciting phase of digital innovation, technology is advancing to become more human-centric than ever. Tech is being designed with the ability to reach a deep understanding of people, the items they use, where they go, their activities, and the nature of their relationships. Technology has become second nature for so many of us that it is becoming difficult to imagine what life would be like without it. Every resource or tool is smart, optimised, and automated for efficiency.

So, what does this have to do with events in 2020? Consumers are still looking for that human touchpoint with the added abilities of advanced technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a solution that provides a connection between attendees and planners, while strategically relying on technology for event planning efficiency. Here are some ways that events can utilise AI:

Chatbots
Collecting Data on Attendees
Translation
Process Automation

Business

Inside the $4.3B Quarter: What’s Fueling Black Banx’s Record Revenues

Published

1 week ago

January 16, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Every quarter brings fresh headlines in fintech, but few make the kind of impact achieved by Black Banx in Q2 2025. The Toronto-based global digital banking group, founded by Michael Gastauer, reported an extraordinary USD 4.3 billion in revenue and a record USD 1.6 billion in pre-tax profit, while improving its cost-to-income ratio to 63%.

These results not only highlight the company’s operational efficiency but also mark a pivotal moment in its journey from challenger to global leader. The big question is: what’s fueling such impressive financial performance?

Customer Growth as the Core Driver

One of the clearest engines of revenue growth is Black Banx’s expanding customer base. By Q2 2025, the platform had reached 84 million clients worldwide, up from 69 million at the end of 2024. This 15 million net gain in six months demonstrates both the attractiveness of its services and the scalability of its model.

Unlike traditional banks, which rely heavily on branch expansion, Black Banx leverages digital-first onboarding that allows customers to open accounts within minutes using just a smartphone. This approach is especially effective in regions underserved by legacy institutions, where access to affordable financial tools is in high demand.

More customers don’t just mean higher transaction volumes—they generate a compounding effect where network size, brand trust, and service adoption reinforce one another.

Real-Time Payments and Cross-Border Solutions

A major contributor to Q2 revenues is the platform’s real-time payments infrastructure. Black Banx enables instant cross-border transfers across its 28 supported fiat currencies and multiple cryptocurrencies, helping both individuals and businesses bypass the traditional bottlenecks of international banking.

For freelancers, SMEs, and multinational clients, this means faster liquidity, reduced foreign exchange costs, and simplified global operations. The demand for real-time financial services is growing rapidly—Juniper Research projects global real-time payments turnover to hit USD 58 trillion by 2028—and Black Banx is strategically positioned to capture a significant share of this market.

Crypto Integration as a Revenue Stream

Another key revenue driver is crypto integration. While many traditional institutions remain hesitant, Black Banx embraced digital assets early and has built infrastructure to support Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the Lightning Network. In Q2 2025, 20% of all transactions on the platform were crypto-based, reflecting strong customer appetite for hybrid banking services that bridge fiat and digital assets.

Revenue comes not only from transaction fees but also from value-added services like crypto-to-fiat conversion, staking yields (4–12% APY), and blockchain-enabled payments. For customers in markets with unstable currencies, these services act as a financial lifeline, further expanding the platform’s relevance.

AI-Powered Efficiency and Risk Management

Record revenues would be less impressive if costs ballooned at the same rate. But Black Banx has proven adept at balancing growth with efficiency. Its cost-to-income ratio improved to 63% in Q2, down from 69% a year earlier, thanks to heavy reliance on AI-powered automation.

AI now drives fraud detection, compliance, and customer onboarding—areas where traditional banks often struggle with cost inefficiencies. By automating these processes, Black Banx can process millions of transactions securely while maintaining profitability at scale. This level of efficiency is rare in fintech, where high growth often comes at the expense of margins.

Regional Expansion and Untapped Markets

Geography also plays a role in fueling revenues. Much of the Q2 growth came from Africa, South Asia, and Latin America—regions where demand for mobile-first banking continues to soar. In 2024 alone, Black Banx reported a 32% increase in SME clients from the Middle East and Africa, signaling the strength of its positioning in underserved markets.

By extending services to populations previously excluded from formal banking—migrant workers, rural communities, and small businesses—Black Banx taps into vast pools of latent demand. The strategy proves that financial inclusion and profitability are not mutually exclusive but mutually reinforcing.

Diversified Revenue Streams

Another factor behind Q2’s record revenues is Black Banx’s diversified business model. Income is not tied to a single service but spread across multiple streams, including:

Transaction fees from cross-border transfers and payments.
Crypto trading and exchange services.
Premium account features for high-net-worth clients.
Corporate services for SMEs and international businesses.

This diversification insulates the company against volatility in any single segment, creating stable revenue growth even in shifting market conditions.

Michael Gastauer’s Strategic Blueprint

Behind these results is Michael Gastauer’s long-term strategy: scale aggressively but with efficiency, innovation, and inclusion at the core. His vision has always been to create a borderless financial ecosystem, and Q2 2025’s performance is evidence that this vision is not only achievable but sustainable.

By balancing mass-market accessibility with premium features, and by blending fiat with digital assets, Gastauer has positioned Black Banx as a category-defining player in global finance.

The Road Ahead: Toward 100 Million Clients

Looking forward, the company’s goal of reaching 100 million customers by the end of 2025 will likely be the next catalyst for revenue growth. More customers mean more transactions, more data insights, and more opportunities to refine and expand its service offering.

If current momentum holds, the USD 4.3 billion quarterly revenue milestone could be just the beginning of an even larger growth story. The challenge will be ensuring systems scale securely while maintaining trust in an environment where privacy and compliance are paramount.

A Record That Signals More to Come

Black Banx’s Q2 2025 performance—USD 4.3 billion in revenue, USD 1.6 billion in pre-tax profit, 84 million clients worldwide, and a lean 63% cost-to-income ratio—is more than a financial milestone. It is a signal of how the future of banking is being rewritten by platforms that are borderless, crypto-inclusive, and data-driven.

What fueled this record-breaking quarter is not one innovation but a combination of strategies—scalable onboarding, real-time payments, crypto integration, AI efficiency, and expansion into underserved regions. Together, they form a model that doesn’t just challenge traditional banking but actively builds the foundation for global dominance.

For Black Banx, the road ahead is clear: the $4.3 billion quarter is not an endpoint but a launchpad for even greater scale and profitability.