The five fintech trends that stood out in 2025 were wider use of AI, growing stablecoin markets, the expansion of open finance, more investment in financial software and B2B workflows, and a sharper focus on sustainable growth. This is a synthesis of themes in regulator, central-bank and industry reporting—not an official ranking. The developments below use reporting published through October 2026 to put the 2025 picture in context.
1. AI is becoming a cross-cutting fintech capability
AI is appearing across financial product development, customer services and internal operations, rather than in just one type of fintech product. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) lists AI among the main technologies used by firms applying to its innovation services. McKinsey describes AI as an accelerant for product development, customer segments and operating costs.
Compliance and fraud work are prominent use cases
KPMG identifies applications in regulatory interpretation, compliance reporting, know-your-customer and anti-money-laundering checks, and fraud detection. These are reported areas of deployment and interest, not proof that every firm has adopted AI or that it reliably improves results across the industry. KPMG’s observation that AI tools are already in production is an industry perspective, not an independently measured adoption rate.
What consumers should look for
AI may make financial services more efficient, but the label alone does not establish that a product is safer, cheaper or more accurate. For consumers, the practical questions are whether decisions can be explained, how personal data is handled, and how to challenge an error or reach a person when an automated process gets something wrong.
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2. Stablecoins are growing, but payment use remains a smaller part of activity
Stablecoins—digital tokens designed to maintain a value linked to an asset such as a currency—have attracted more market activity and regulatory attention. Market capitalization, however, is not the same measure as payments made by customers.
Market capitalization and transaction volume tell different stories
The Federal Reserve reported that stablecoin market capitalization reached $317 billion on April 6, 2026, more than 50% higher than in early 2025. That figure describes the value of tokens in the market at a point in time; it does not show how much was spent on goods or services.
McKinsey’s 2026 report, discussing 2025 activity, put annual stablecoin transaction volume at $35 trillion. It estimated that about $390 billion of that represented end-user payments such as supplier payments or remittances; the remainder was trading, arbitrage and other crypto-native activity. Transaction volume and market capitalization have different definitions and periods, so they should not be treated as directly comparable measures of adoption.
Where payment use may make sense
Potential applications include cross-border payments and remittances, business treasury, supply-chain finance and programmable payments. These are use cases, not evidence that stablecoins are already widely used for everyday purchases. The FCA’s stablecoin sprint found that the case is clearer in some cross-border and emerging-market corridors. It is less clear where existing correspondent banking is already fast and inexpensive. Merchants may value quicker settlement or lower payment-scheme costs, but those benefits need to be weighed against consumer incentives, liability, accounting treatment, anti-money-laundering controls and smart-contract security.
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Regulation is developing on different timelines
In the United States, the GENIUS Act was signed into law on July 18, 2025, establishing a federal stablecoin framework, according to the Federal Reserve and White House. In the United Kingdom, the FCA published final cryptoasset regime policy statements, including on stablecoin issuance, on June 30, 2026. The FCA said its gateway was scheduled to open September 30, 2026, with the regime due to start October 25, 2027. Those were stated dates, not confirmation here that the gateway opened or that implementation details have not changed.
3. Open banking and open finance are linking data access with payments
Open banking enables customers, with appropriate permission, to share financial data with authorized providers; open finance extends the idea to a wider range of financial products and data. Both are active regulatory and market directions, particularly in the UK and Europe.
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The FCA lists open banking and open finance among technologies used by innovation applicants. KPMG’s EMEA outlook points to the expansion of UK open banking and open finance so financial data can also support payments. This does not establish uniform availability across Europe—or a global adoption rate. Rules, eligible data, providers and payment options vary by jurisdiction.
For a customer, the useful distinction is between permission to access data and permission to initiate a payment. Before connecting an account, check what information the service requests, what action it can take, how to revoke access, and who is responsible if a transaction is incorrect or unauthorized.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →4. Fintech infrastructure and B2B workflows are drawing attention
Some fintech growth is aimed at improving the systems businesses use behind the scenes, not at launching another consumer-facing app. McKinsey highlights “horizontal” fintech software firms that digitize financial-services companies from within. KPMG’s H1 2025 outlook points to payments firms moving into banking and core banking infrastructure, and to fintechs targeting B2B payments and “office of the CFO” functions.
What these tools can cover
Examples include payments operations, transaction reconciliation, treasury management and finance workflows. Software that connects these tasks may reduce manual work or the number of intermediaries a business needs, but that is a potential benefit, not a guaranteed outcome for any provider or customer.
For consumers, infrastructure matters indirectly: it can affect how quickly a provider processes payments, handles account records or resolves operational problems. A business-facing fintech’s growth or funding does not by itself demonstrate that its service is reliable or that savings will be passed on to customers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Funding and growth are becoming more selective
Fintech remains a substantial industry, but recent figures suggest that investment is concentrating in fewer, larger and more mature firms. In its April 2026 report on 2025 activity, the FCA estimated that global fintech investment exceeded $130 billion across more than 4,500 deals. Its analysis placed the UK second to the United States, with 445 deals and $15 billion in disclosed investment in 2025.
The FCA’s landscape analysis used PitchBook data and its own analysis, applied a targeted definition of fintech, and excluded debt financing. The FCA said PitchBook analysts had not reviewed the data and exclusions. These figures therefore describe the FCA’s selected investment measure, not every form of fintech financing.
Revenue growth does not settle the profitability question
McKinsey estimated fintech revenue at about $650 billion in 2025, roughly 21% higher year over year, compared with 6% annual growth in the broader financial-services industry. These are McKinsey estimates, not audited industry totals. Its outlook describes the sector’s next phase as a test of scalability, profitability, operational maturity and regulatory maturity.
For customers, selective funding can mean that some providers have resources to build and expand while others face pressure to cut costs, change direction or exit. When choosing a financial service, consider the provider’s safeguards, customer support, fees and available protections—not just its growth story or investors.
How to assess a fintech trend before relying on it
A large market figure or promising technology is not enough to show that a service will work well for a particular customer. When evaluating a fintech product or claim, ask:
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Quick Recap
- Where does it operate? Identify the country, applicable rules and whether the service is actually available to you.
- What activity does the figure measure? Separate market value, transaction volume, end-user payments, investment and revenue.
- What problem does it solve for you? Compare cost, speed, convenience and consumer or merchant value with the existing alternative.
- Who is accountable? Check how permissions, errors, complaints, refunds and liability are handled.
- Can the service operate safely at scale? Consider security, liquidity, interoperability, customer support and the provider’s operational and revenue model.
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