Fintech outlook and year in review

Fintech providers are under mounting pressure to deliver AI-driven experiences that move the needle on customer outcomes. Yet many are leaving value on the table due to misaligned business and pricing models. As M&A and IPO activity pick up, the central question for leaders is no longer whether to invest in generative AI, but how to harness this generational shift in technology to position their organizations for meaningful growth. In the following sections we reflect on the lessons from an eventful 2025 and distill the key themes shaping how fintechs will compete, and win, in 2026.

Reflections on an eventful 2025

The race to integrate AI into offerings was well under way in 2025, as companies grappled with what products to make, how to price them, and what it would mean for their existing business models. Mounting investor scrutiny on profitability pushed firms to assess AI-enabled propositions with clearer unit economics, scalable pricing, and a credible path to…