Brian Higgins is first vice-president–digital, payments & innovation for First Financial Bank, a $8.7 billion-assets community bank headquartered in Cincinnati serving Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. He is a frequent contributor to www.bankingexchange.com. Since joining First Financial Bank in September 2012 Higgins has leveraged 20 years of financial services experience to bring a fresh perspective on the challenges faced by community banks. Previously Higgins worked for Vantiv Payment Solutions and Fidelity Investments, serving in a variety of roles in business leadership (Operations, Product, and Marketing) and strategic planning. Contact him at [email protected]
As digital assets move into the mainstream, banks, fintechs, and payment providers are focused on a new challenge: how to build and scale products that deliver real business value.
In this session, Cross River and Fireblocks will explore how leading organizations are bringing digital asset products to market, the infrastructure decisions that shape growth and speed-to-market, and the lessons learned from teams building at scale today. From wallet architecture and custody models to vendor strategy and regulatory considerations, we'll discuss the foundational choices that can accelerate innovation — or create friction down the road.
Whether you're evaluating a new offering or scaling an existing program, you'll leave with a practical framework for understanding how digital asset infrastructure impacts business outcomes.
