Payhound is heading to ICE Barcelona 2026, taking place from 19 to 21 January in Barcelona. ICE remains one of the most influential global events for the gaming industry, bringing together operators, affiliates, platform providers and payment companies to discuss how the industry is evolving in practice.
ICE has become a key meeting point for conversations around payments, and operational efficiency. As gaming businesses continue to scale internationally, payment infrastructure is no longer a background consideration. It plays a central role in player trust, affiliate relationships and the ability to operate seamlessly across borders.
Payhound’s presence at ICE 2026 reflects this shift. The company will be engaging with industry stakeholders at a time when crypto and stablecoin payments are moving from experimentation into structured and regulated adoption.
ICE consistently reflects the direction of the gaming industry. In recent years, one theme has become clear. Payments are now a strategic priority. Operators are expected to support global audiences while maintaining predictable settlement and payout timelines. Affiliates require reliable commission payments regardless of geography. Finance teams need visibility, consistency and control.
Traditional banking infrastructure often struggles to support these requirements, particularly for cross border payments. Delays, rejected transfers and complex reconciliation create friction across the ecosystem. This has led to growing interest in alternative payment rails that can deliver speed without sacrificing stability.
At ICE 2026, much of the focus will be on practical solutions that address these challenges directly. Crypto and stablecoins are increasingly viewed through this lens, not as speculative assets, but as tools for improving payment efficiency when supported by the right regulatory framework.
Payhound’s approach to crypto payments has always been shaped by real operational needs within gaming. From the beginning, the objective was to build payment flows that mirror the predictability of traditional finance while offering the global reach and availability of blockchain networks.
Stablecoins became a core part of this strategy. They allow businesses to move value globally without exposure to unnecessary volatility, while remaining compatible with existing accounting and settlement processes. For operators and affiliates, this creates a practical bridge between digital assets and fiat based operations.
As European regulation matured, MiCA represented a natural progression. Payhound aligned its governance, risk management and compliance frameworks to meet MiCA requirements.
Becoming MiCA licensed reinforces Payhound’s commitment to building long term, trusted payment infrastructure for the gaming industry.
For operators, MiCA brings clarity and consistency across the European market. It provides a defined framework for working with crypto and stablecoin payment providers, reducing uncertainty and fragmentation. Payhound enables operators to accept crypto and stablecoin payments while settling directly in fiat, supporting liquidity management and predictable cash flows.
Affiliates operate in an equally complex environment. Global affiliate networks often span multiple regions and banking systems. Traditional payout methods can be slow and costly. By using stablecoins for cross border affiliate payments, Payhound enables faster settlement, clearer reconciliation and reduced reliance on local banking infrastructure, all within a regulated framework.
These capabilities are particularly relevant at ICE, where operators and affiliates come together to discuss growth, efficiency and long term partnerships.
At ICE Barcelona 2026, Payhound will focus on real world cross border payment use cases. These include player payment flows, affiliate commissions, provider settlements and operational treasury movements.
Stablecoins allow funds to move globally without banking cut off times or correspondent delays. Combined with Payhound’s conversion and settlement infrastructure, businesses can offer modern payment options while maintaining financial control through fiat settlement.
For finance teams, this results in simpler reconciliation, consistent transaction references and improved visibility across payment activity. For affiliates and partners, it means faster and more reliable payouts regardless of location.
At Stand 5C14, Payhound will be engaging with operators, affiliates and partners to discuss how regulated crypto and stablecoin payments can strengthen payment infrastructure and support international expansion.
As the gaming industry continues to grow globally, Payhound remains focused on delivering payment systems that are fast, predictable and cross border by design, while operating within a MiCA licensed framework that provides confidence across Europe and beyond.
For more information, contact us at info@payhound.com or visit https://payhound.com/contact
Where can I find Payhound at ICE Barcelona? You can find the Payhound team at Stand 5C14. We recommend booking a meeting in advance to ensure dedicated time with our payment experts.
What specific payment problems does Payhound solve? We specialize in solving cross-border friction. This includes speeding up affiliate payouts, enabling instant player deposits/withdrawals via stablecoins, and simplifying treasury management for operators who want to avoid holding volatile crypto assets.
Is Payhound regulated? Yes. Payhound is committed to full regulatory compliance and operates under the MiCA framework, ensuring robust protection and transparency for all institutional partners.
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