Megan Ryan is a payments professional specializing in digital innovations and emerging technologies. For five years, until 2026, she worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as a payments policy specialist. At the Federal Reserve she focused on examining how technological advancements are reshaping the way individuals and businesses move money, with attention to the policy implications of these innovations. Her publications have covered the evolution of cryptocurrency and stablecoins, the impact of quantum computing on payments, offline digital payment capabilities, digital identity feasibility, and financial inclusion. She is passionate about understanding the gap between technological possibility and practical implementation, ensuring that payment innovation serves the broader goals of efficiency, security, and accessibility of the financial system. She has a Masters in public policy from Northwestern University and a Bachelors in Marine and Conservation Biology from Seattle University.