Industry leaders and regulators have highlighted that the next phase of digital finance will be defined by building systemic trust rather than just expanding technological access. At the launch of the Trust Architecture in Platform-Led Finance report, experts argued that while financial inclusion has grown, confidence remains a critical challenge. The discussions, which featured representatives from various financial and regulatory bodies, emphasised that trust is an operational and institutional necessity, requiring robust identity verification, effective consumer protection, and greater collaboration between banks and fintechs to ensure the long-term stability of digital financial ecosystems. To operationalize these findings, the Bridgforte Centre has established the Trust Lab to track and measure trust infrastructure across African markets.