Future of Global Fintech Second Edition 2025

AI adoption across application areas AI is widely viewed as a transformative technology with far-reaching implications for both society and the economy. It follows that AI is rapidly reshaping the financial sector, changing how financial services are developed, delivered and experienced. As financial institutions increasingly adopt AI, it is essential to assess how the technology is being used and the potential effects of its deployment. To better assess AI adoption among fintechs and meet their business demands, this study examined use of AI across different application areas and domains. Being inherently technology- focused, fintechs are typically early adopters of AI. Survey findings indicated that 80% of fintechs had implemented or were in the process of implementing AI in at least one of the five application areas analysed. A deeper exploration revealed that fintechs were integrating AI across multiple application areas (Figure 25), with over a quarter of firms using it in all five areas studied. This finding indicates expansion into several business functions and highlights the growing importance of deploying such technology in business operations. AI adoption varied across regions and verticals. APAC led, with 33% of fintechs implementing AI across all five application areas. Regions that reported slower adoption rates included SSA, whichhad the highest share of fintechs yet to implement AI of any area (29%), and MENA (22%). Neither of these two regions reported plans to forgo AI entirely, however, suggesting they recognized its potential. Among verticals, digital payments and wealthtech led with the highest percentages of firms implementing AI across all five application areas (36% and 31%, respectively). In contrast, digital capital raising had the highest non-adoption rate at 40% (of which 28% reported no plans for implementation). This exceeded other verticals, such as digital lending (25%) and digital banking and savings (10%), which had not adopted AI in any application area. Fintechs’ adoption of AI by the number of application areas FIGURE 25 One application Two applications Three applications Four applications Five applications9%13%12%21%26% Survey findings indicated that 80% of fintechs had implemented or were in the process of implementing AI in at least one of the five application areas analysed. 37 The Future of Global Fintech: From Rapid Expansion to Sustainable Growth