Fintech Industry Trends

I am increasingly convinced that the RWA trend is the early stages of getting the traditional financial system onto blockchains in a way that we have not seen yet. Some of the world's largest financial institutions are already putting tokenized funds on-chain, and I think we are just at the very early stages of this trend. Chainlink already powers many of the top RWAs and the need for both data and cross-chain working in one system is even greater here than it initially was in DeFi. There will also be tokenization platforms, which integrate the highly secure and widely adopted Chainlink data and cross-chain standards to power various key aspects of RWA tokenization e.g. Fireblocks collaboration https://lnkd.in/eiedZY5q The trillions of dollars in value that will flow into the RWA format makes it something that I see as likely to surpass the market capitalization of cryptocurrencies. Our industry may sometime soon be defined by RWAs more than it is by cryptocurrencies, similarly to how the internet was at one point about email, but then went on to be defined by more uses of information technology e.g. ecommerce. The influx of value into the blockchain format/RWAs will also feed a boom in DeFi, where many of those assets will be placed to generate greater yield. Slides: https://lnkd.in/e8sWPTgq Video: https://lnkd.in/eCuvs46N

What happens when you stop marketing to a community and start building with them? Most remittance apps see users. Félix saw people. ▶︎ People paying high fees to send money across borders. ▶︎ People navigating clunky platforms built for someone else. ▶︎ People left out of the financial conversation entirely. For decades, Latino immigrants have been underserved, overcharged, and overlooked. Not because the tech didn’t exist, but because no one built with cultural understanding at the core. Félix approached Motto® with bold tech: blockchain, AI, instant payments. What they needed was a brand that earned trust. Because for immigrants, trust isn’t the foundation. One missed transfer isn’t just a glitch. It’s a missed school fee. An unpaid bill. A fractured promise. We dug in. And we found the insight that changed everything: They weren’t just looking for speed or savings. They were looking for someone who sees them. The rally cry became clear: Juntos We Succeed. Not a tagline, but an Idea Worth Rallying Around® Here’s what happened next: ■ 30% MoM growth ■ Mastercard + Intermex partnerships ■ $15.5M Series A → $75M Series B led by QED Investors ■ A brand rooted in cultural pride, not corporate jargon Most important? Hundreds of thousands of families now send money home as easily as sending a voice note. This is the strategy that turned a fintech startup into a financial companion.

Why Fintech Is More "FIN" than "TECH" When people hear "fintech," they often think of cutting-edge tech—AI, blockchain, real-time payments. But the reality? Fintech success is built just as much on financial regulations and strategic partnerships as it is on technology. 🔹 Regulations Define the Playing Field Finance is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world. A great product idea is meaningless if it doesn’t comply with KYC, AML, data privacy, and licensing requirements. The best fintechs aren’t just tech innovators—they’re regulatory experts who understand how to navigate compliance to enable innovation, not block it. 🔹 Partnerships Unlock Scale Very few fintechs succeed alone. Whether it's a startup leveraging a bank’s license, an embedded finance provider integrating with an e-commerce giant, or a payments company working with card networks, partnerships are the true growth engine of fintech. The right alliances open doors to infrastructure, trust, and market access that no tech stack alone can provide. 🔹 Technology Is Just the Enabler Yes, technology is critical. But without regulatory alignment and the right partnerships, even the most advanced tech will struggle to get off the ground. The real challenge isn’t building the tech—it’s building the right bridges between innovation, compliance, and collaboration. Fintech isn’t just about building better financial products—it’s about building within the system and with the right partners. Those who understand this will lead the future of financial services. #Fintech #Regulation #Partnerships #Innovation

Today I bring you a deep dive into one of the most pressing issues facing the financial industry: consumer fraud and identity verification. Long-time listeners have surely noticed that over the last couple of years, I’ve interviewed some of the top leaders in identity management and fraud-fighting, and over the next 20 minutes you’ll hear a summary of the most interesting takeaways from five of the most extraordinary industry leaders: - Blake Hall, CEO of ID.me - Nick Peddy, CTO of CLEAR - Soups Ranjan, CEO of Sardine - Trisha Kothari, CEO of Unit21 - Tommy Nicholas, CEO of Alloy In this Fintech Leaders episode, you'll learn about: - The current state of financial and identity fraud and the creative tactics used by fraudsters - Advancements in anti-fraud measures and identity verification - The delicate balance between security and user experience - Innovative products from each of these companies to prevent fraud… and a lot more!

Excited to share groundbreaking developments in the world of finance and technology that are reshaping our future: 🌐 Israel and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange make strides with a $2.2 billion government bond tokenization, setting a new standard for transparency and efficiency. 🏦 FDIC Vice Chairman Travis Hill sheds light on tokenization, highlighting its potential to revolutionize banking with 24/7 operations and improved efficiency. 🔓 A looming cybersecurity threat as the top four custodian banks begin tokenizing over $108 trillion in assets, signaling unprecedented risks. 🔒 Polymesh Association launches Polymesh Private, offering financial institutions a private blockchain solution tailored for regulatory compliance and innovation in asset tokenization. 💸 Figure Technologies secures $60M to disrupt the crypto exchange market with a decentralized platform, signaling a new era for digital finance. 🏢 BlackRock's partnership with Securitize to tokenize $100m in real estate assets marks a monumental shift towards digital investment platforms, blending traditional assets with blockchain technology.

Some fintech stories feel like spreadsheet theater. Clean rows, safe margins, and not a single pulse spike. Then there's Panacea Financial, a company that started inside the chaos of med school debt, 30-hour shifts, and institutional indifference. This isn't just another #digitalbank with pastel gradients and a chatbot. This is what happens when two doctors and a CFA stop waiting for Wall Street to "get it" and just build the thing themselves. On July 15, Panacea Financial announced a $37M boost to their Series B, extending the round to $62M. Once again, Valar Ventures LLC didn't just join the party, they threw it. When a firm that backed Wise, N26, and Xero doubles down, they're betting on substance. And Panacea Financial's got that in spades. Founded in November 2020 by Tyler Stafford, CFA (CEO), Michael Jerkins MD, M.Ed (President), and Ned Palmer, MD MPH (COO), this Little Rock-based crew didn't launch to disrupt, they launched because the system flat-out ignored an entire profession that controls 70% of America's $4.5T healthcare spend. 70% of $4.5t, and doctors are still begging banks for co-signers and credit lines like they're fresh out of undergrad. That's market failure. Panacea Financial built a vertically integrated digital fortress, fiSense, their proprietary platform, gets docs from login to funded in under three minutes. Their AI-powered credit decisioning engine doesn't just scan FICO scores, it understands #medschooldebt, #residencytimelines, and #practice ownership models. $2B+ in #loanapplications processed. $450M+ funded. GAAP profitable in 2023. Net charge-offs under 0.3%. 20+ national and state #medical, #dental, and #veterinary associations now rely on Panacea Financial to serve the financial backbone of their members. That's nearly 40% of practicing doctors in the U.S. It's not hype. It's execution. And it's why the team brought in Will McCandless (CFO) and Brandon Finazzo (SVP, Head of Practice Solutions) to scale the platform into the go-to financial operating system for healthcare pros nationwide. With the new capital, they're sharpening their edge, developing smarter tools, expanding advisory services, and pushing deeper into practice finance. Because when you're solving pain points that hit at the heart of both medicine and money, you're not just building a product. You're building trust in a profession that's been underserved by suits for decades. This isn't just a win for Panacea Financial. It's a signal. If you want to play in #verticalfintech, you better come with domain fluency, tech teeth, and a team that doesn't blink under pressure. Congrats to the entire Panacea Financial crew. You didn't just close a round, you opened the door to a category-defining future. #Startups #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #SeriesB #FinancialServices #FinancialTechnology #FinTech #HealthcareProviders #Technology #Innovation #TechEcosystem #StartupEcosystem If engineering peace of mind is what you crave, Vention is your zen.

AI is already disrupting finance as we know it—and I may not have a crystal ball, but I’m optimistic about the potential to change consumer fintech for the better ✨ Still, we need to be mindful that the road ahead is largely unpaved and challenges are inevitable. As fintech products work to incorporate AI, there are 3 bumps I’m most concerned about: 1️⃣ Lending could become more biased. Good on fintech companies for using expanded data analysis & ML to reduce biases associated with traditional credit scoring—and promote financial inclusion in the process. But if we’re not careful, bias could also be built INTO new credit scoring models. For example, using zip codes as a proxy for socioeconomic status can perpetuate racial and economic biases. This is not a new phenomenon, but it could be harder to unearth without transparency into the algorithms and training data itself. 2️⃣ Fraud could get worse before it gets better. Bad actors could exploit generative AI to impersonate people we trust and coax sensitive information (think: social security numbers) from loved ones using voice cloning. The Economist suggests this is already happening, citing an emotional testimony given at a US Senate subcommittee hearing last month 😱 Zelle is under government pressure to solve similar challenges with fraudulent transactions—and by implication, so are the banks they work with. With the FedNow launch in the last week, there is cause for hope. But I have a hunch fraud will likely get worse before it gets better—and we’re looking to identity verification apps for a solution. 3️⃣ We don’t know how the SEC will regulate this space. The SEC regulates the provision of investment advice in the US, and firms who offer such advice for compensation are traditionally required to register as “investment advisors.” But will fintech platforms that provide personalized investment advice be exempt from these regulatory requirements? How about other ChatGPT-like platforms where people may also go for financial advice? There’s a lot of room for interpretation. If you’re a fintech, the race to transform the industry using AI is happening—whether you’re in it or not. And if you want your product to come out ahead? Remember to hold space in your design for HUMAN behavior, preferences, and biases. After all: your users aren’t AI’s—they’re human beings 😉 Link in comments for our hot takes on AI disruption—including where we think the industry is headed and who we’re watching with bated breath 👇 #finance #ArtificialIntelligence

The way we pay is evolving fast. Consumers now expect payments to be instant, secure, seamless, and even sustainable. That means companies in the payments space can’t just keep up—they need to stay ahead. So, what’s currently shaping customer expectations? Here’s what’s on the radar: Instant Payments Are the New Normal We live in an on-demand world. Customers don’t want to wait for transactions to process—they expect real-time payments, 24/7. Whether it’s P2P transfers, payroll, or cross-border transactions, speed matters more than ever. Security & Fraud Prevention Are Non-Negotiable With digital payments growing, so do the risks. Consumers demand trust—which means biometric authentication, AI-driven fraud detection, and transparency in how their data is handled. One security slip? Customers will leave. Omnichannel Payments for Seamless Experiences Consumers jump between apps, websites, and in-store experiences—yet they expect one smooth journey. Businesses that integrate payments across all channels (mobile, web, social, in-store) will win big on customer loyalty. Customer-Centric Innovation Drives Loyalty The most successful payment providers listen to their users. Personalized payment options, AI-driven financial insights, and loyalty programs are making payments more than just transactions—they’re becoming experiences. The payments industry isn’t slowing down. Blockchain, AI, and machine learning will continue to transform how we pay. The companies that prioritize customer experience, security, and innovation will lead the way. #Payments #Fintech #CustomerExperience #Innovation #FutureofPayments

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 by Capgemini (Part 3) — Composable Cloud-based Payment Hub & Multi-rail Payment Strategy —— #5: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝: A composable cloud-based payment hub refers to a modular, cloud-native platform that allows businesses to rapidly integrate payment services from different providers to adjust to evolving market demands with a single centralized hub. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬: ► Banks & FinTechs — Ability to launch new products faster. ► Businesses — Seamless integration with a wide range of payment solutions. ► Consumers — Faster processing, more personalized services and payment choice. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: ► Microservices Architecture ► Cloud-Native Platforms ► APIs ► Advanced Security 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬: ► Businesses — Accelerating time-to-market for new payment products, personalized experiences, and cross-channel payment solutions. ► Consumers — Access to a variety of options such as mobile wallets, credit cards, and digital currencies. ► Financial Institutions — Simplified back-end operations. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬: 🔸 Stripe: Specializes in the "ease-to-integrate" payment solutions for businesses of all sizes. 🔸 Adyen: Cloud-based unified payments platform, built in-house. —— #6: Multi-rail Payment Strategy 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝: A multi-rail payment strategy involves utilizing multiple payment networks (rails), such as card networks, ACH, real-time payments, and cryptocurrencies, to enable businesses to select the best rail for a specific transaction. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬: ► Banks & Payment Providers — More control over costs & improved fraud detection ► Businesses — Flexibility to choose the right payment method based on cost, speed, and convenience. ► Consumers — Enhanced choice of Payment Method 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: ► Real-Time Payments ► Digital Currencies & Blockchain ► Integrated Payment Systems ► Cross-border Payment Capabilities 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬: ► Businesses — Global payments with lower fees, faster settlement times, and improved cross-border capabilities. ► Consumers — Real-time payments for peer-to-peer transactions, bill payments, and e-commerce purchases. ► Financial Institutions — A more resilient payment system, reducing reliance on any single payment network. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬: 🔸 Visa: Expanding beyond traditional card networks, Visa is integrating various payment methods including ACH, RTP, and digital wallets. 🔸 PayPal: Offering rails including ACH, credit cards, and digital currencies for both B2B and B2C. — 🚨 This is #3 out of a series of 5 posts — next up 🚨 7️⃣ — Operational Resilience 8️⃣ — Decentralized Identity Get ready, it is just the beginning! —— Source: Capgemini ► Sign up to The Payments Brews: https://lnkd.in/g5cDhnjC ► Marcel van Oost and Connecting the dots in payments...

What’s on the global payments #horizon in 2025? In 2024, I engaged with 150+ of our Deutsche Bank Corporate Bank financial institution clients, regulators, and policymakers through travel across 18+ countries; partnered with Partior, a leading payments innovator; sat on the BAFT (Bankers Association for Finance and Trade) Transaction Banking Global Leaders council; and worked with our expert Cash and Trade management team. In short, a front-row seat to the evolving demands shaping the payments horizon. Five 5️⃣ key trends FIs should anticipate in 2025: 1️⃣ Real-Time Everything Instant payments as the norm. FIs are investing in real-time infrastructure for both domestic and cross-border transactions. Blockchain solutions, direct connections to clearing networks, using your correspondent as on ramp to a clearing house, and expanded use of book transfer networks all enable instantaneous settlement with efficiency, transparency and traceability. #dbXpay 2️⃣ Turning Competitors to Partners Reducing transaction costs for our clients is a top priority in today’s margin-conscious environment. FIs are working together to play to each others strengths to leverage corridors and networks to build economies of scale and provide better pricing. 3️⃣ High Bar to Effectively Manage Financial Crime and Geopolitical Risks Rise in fraud, increased digital payments, and global destabilization have increased the complexity of managing FCR and sanctions risks. There’s a growing demand for technology to ease compliance demands and increase protection without compromising speed or customer experience. AI-driven tools, use of blockchain, and solid preventative #riskappetite drafting will help FIs stay ahead of risks. Partnering with an expert correspondent bank can support delivery of all. #dbXadvise 4️⃣ Capitalizing on FX Volatility Economic uncertainty has increased FX volatility, creating opportunities for clients to optimize currency positions. Heightened demand for integrated payments, liquidity management, and FX solutions that allow real-time currency exposure management. At Deutsche Bank, platforms like #FX4Cash and investments in #dbXconvert enable businesses to combine payment flows with FX execution, turning market movements into value-creation opportunities. 5️⃣ Global Interoperability Clients demand greater flex and flow outside business hours and regulators pushing for global payment harmonization. Blockchain’s inherent transparency sets a new standard, enabling real-time tracking and reconciliation at all hours. Additionally countries are aligning regulatory frameworks to foster cross-border interoperability. At Deutsche Bank, we are addressing these trends via our #dbX strategy, developing key partnerships, deploying our expert FCR team to support clients, expanding #FX capabilities, and combining technology with trusted expertise. Deutsche Bank is shaping the future of payments—one that is faster, smarter, and built to empower our clients. 🚀