The FiLab is a research and teaching hub at Wesleyan dedicated to the study of money, banking, and payments in the era of digitization. Its primary goal is to advance research in these areas while creating structured opportunities for students to engage in research training and advising. Through faculty-led projects, student research assistantships, and collaborative seminars, the Lab fosters a vibrant community that explores both the foundations of banking and the challenges posed by digital transformation, financial stability, and emerging technologies such as decentralized finance (DeFi).
The digital transformation of the financial system has reshaped the landscape of monetary economics. From real-time payment platforms and mobile wallets to the unprecedented speed of deposit withdrawals during the 2023 banking turmoil, these developments highlight both the innovation and fragility of modern monetary infrastructure. Blockchain technology has also given rise to DeFi, which has the potential to transform how financial services are structured and delivered. These shifts challenge long-standing assumptions about money and banking, and the FiLab provides a dedicated space for exploring these questions at Wesleyan.