The Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR) is a global nonprofit, non-membership organisation founded in 2019 and headquartered in the United States. AIR is dedicated to ensuring that the digital transformation of finance is matched by an equivalent transformation of financial regulation, equipping regulators to meet their mandate to make the financial sector resilient, inclusive, and fair. For over seven years, AIR has shaped the global conversation on regulatory modernisation, building a foundation of research, advocacy, and convenings — and has since shifted focus toward real-world implementation, ensuring oversight is technology-enabled, data-driven, and future-proof.

AIR’s mission is to ignite, accelerate, and scale technology innovation in finance and financial regulation. By connecting regulation, finance, technology, and society, AIR drives global innovation and collaboration to overcome the financial system’s legacy shortcomings and prepare it for rapid technology change. Its core focus areas include: modernising financial regulation (RegTech/SupTech); combating financial crime such as money laundering and human trafficking; advancing financial health, equity, and inclusion; and tackling discriminatory and predatory financial practices. AIR also works on emerging topics such as stablecoins, digital assets, open banking, AI in finance, and gender-disaggregated data for inclusive regulation.

AIR is a US-incorporated nonprofit, non-membership organisation led by Co-Founder and CEO Jo Ann Barefoot, a former Deputy Comptroller of the Currency and Senior Fellow Emerita at the Harvard Kennedy School. The organisation is governed by a Board of Directors and supported by an Advisory Council, Technology Council, and Global Council comprising senior figures from financial regulatory bodies, academia, fintech, and financial services worldwide. Staff operate across the United States and internationally, including in London, and bring deep backgrounds from institutions such as the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative.

AIR’s flagship programmes include TechSprints — intensive, collaborative regulatory hackathons that bring together technologists, financial institutions, and regulators to develop practical solutions to supervisory challenges. AIR also produces research white papers and publications on topics ranging from stablecoins in Africa to digital finance and illicit financial flows; hosts the globally distributed Barefoot Innovation podcast featuring conversations with leading innovators in finance and regulation; convenes events and speaking programmes; and delivers focused initiatives such as the Gender-Disaggregated Data for Inclusive Regulation programme. AIR also provides consulting and technology education services for regulators in emerging markets.