Panel Discussion: Free to the User, Costly to Run: The Economics of Zero-Fee Instant Payments

This session examines the economic realities underlying zero-fee instant payment models. While users experience these services as free, someone must bear the infrastructure, operational, and maintenance costs. The panel explores various funding mechanisms, their impact on market competition and participant diversity, and the sustainability challenges of maintaining real-time payment systems at a national scale. Discussions address the delicate balance between ensuring affordability for end users and maintaining long-term system viability and resilience.