Organisation | Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR)
Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR)
A US-based global nonprofit advancing the digital transformation of financial regulation to build a more resilient, fair, and inclusive financial system through technology, research, and collaboration.
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OVERVIEW
Overview
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.
Mission and focus areas
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.
Structure and governance
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.
Programs and offerings
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.
MISSION STATEMENT
AIR’s vision & mission
AIR envisions a financial system that is fully fair, innovative and highly resilient. Enabled by a modern regulatory infrastructure, this financial system leverages responsible technology and is prepared for the challenges of the digital age.
AIR ignites, accelerates and scales technology innovation in finance and financial regulation to make this bold vision real.
ORGANISATION TYPE
Issue Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2019
LOCATION
United States
RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY ALLIANCE FOR INNOVATIVE REGULATION (AIR)
Stablecoins in Africa: Translating global principles into local regulatory practice
1 May 2026
This paper is the African Chapter of GDF's Global Stablecoin Regulatory Playbook. It examines how global stablecoin regulatory principles can be applied across Africa's diverse markets, addressing reserve management, consumer protection, AML/CFT compliance, and cross-border coordination, while accounting for local financial infrastructure, dollarisation risks, and varying supervisory capacity.