Irene Arias Hofman is the CEO of IDB Lab, the innovation and venture laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group. Their purpose is to discover new ways to drive social inclusion, environmental action and productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB Lab leverages financing, knowledge, and connections to support early-stage entrepreneurship, foster the development of new technologies, activate innovative markets, and catalyze existing sectors.
Previously, Irene worked for 20 years at the IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, where she managed the Financial Institutions Group and the LAC region with its 16-billion dollar portfolio. Her focus has been on innovation and technology, venture capital, and organizational development.

IDB Lab is the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group. We find and support new ways to drive social inclusion, environmental action, and productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB Lab leverages financing, knowledge, and connections to support early-stage entrepreneurship, foster the development of new technologies, activate innovative markets, and catalyze existing sectors

A wave of technological innovation is reshaping the financial system across Latin America and the Caribbean. Emerging solutions—from blockchain infrastructure and tokenized payments to stablecoins, open finance, and real-time cross-border payment rails—are unlocking new pathways to inclusion. Central bank digital currencies like the Sand Dollar, combined with regulatory sandboxes and digital ID systems, are helping reach unbanked populations, MSMEs, and vulnerable groups. Yet, despite this momentum, challenges remain around adoption, interoperability, and legal certainty. Tackling these barriers is essential to ensure the region builds a more inclusive, efficient, and integrated digital financial ecosystem.