AI is setting new benchmarks in the global fintech sector, significantly enhancing how companies interact with customers and streamline operations. This surge in AI-driven innovation not only improves service delivery but also pushes the boundaries of what technology can achieve in financial services. In a saturated market, AI and blockchain provide crucial differentiation, allowing companies to stand out by offering solutions that are secure, transparent and uniquely efficient.

However, the rapid adoption of these technologies also introduces complex regulatory challenges. Companies looking to get ahead must navigate these carefully to ensure ongoing compliance and maintain consumer trust, balancing innovation with stringent regulatory standards. As AI continues to rapidly evolve, it is imperative that industries strike the right balance. Insights from global forums like this year's Money 20/20 reinforce the need to adapt swiftly yet carefully, ensuring that fintech remains both innovative and compliant.

AI and blockchain: Current trends in fintech

 Developments in AI have allowed fintechs to seamlessly integrate the technology into their overall operations and help them to create more personalised and safer experiences for their users. One area that has made leaps with AI is fraud detection. As scams become more sophisticated, specialised systems have been designed to provide companies with more robust data. Having more robust data means that banks and fintechs can conduct detailed real-time analysis which better identifies fraudulent transactions on credit and debit cards as well as digital transactions. As an example, earlier this year, Revolut launched an AI-powered feature to protect customers from card scams. Through sophisticated machine learning, this AI feature can determine if there is a high likelihood that the customer is making a card payment as part of a scam. If detected as a scam, the payment gets declined. 

Another area in which AI plays a crucial role is improving customer experience. Through advanced algorithms and machine learning, AI can analyse customer data and offer more tailored financial solutions. For example, fintech companies are starting to utilise AI to create chatbots which are highly efficient and can handle multiple menial tasks simultaneously such as resetting passwords. This is freeing up time for the customer service team to deal with more complex enquiries. 

Chatbots are also improving data analysis and reporting. Fintech chatbots are becoming better at turning raw data into actionable insights, analysing customers’ spending habits to provide individual budgeting advice. From a business standpoint, chatbots are able to generate a profit and loss report for business owners, saving them hours of manual labour. 

Blockchain is another technology where new developments are being deployed to bolster security within fintech operations. Traditionally, banks have served as crucial intermediaries within the financial system, responsible for safeguarding funds and managing individuals' transactions. The drawback, however, is that banks are frequent targets for fraud. Blockchain provides the possibility of enabling banking functions without third-party involvement, offering a secure and transparent transaction record, ensuring that each transaction is easily verifiable via a decentralised transaction database.  

However, as AI and blockchain technologies enhance and secure fintech services, they also introduce regulatory challenges.

Strategic approaches to a changing regulatory environment

The rapid uptake of AI and blockchain technologies has led to increased scrutiny from regulators, with businesses in the UK and EU encountering significant regulatory challenges.

In order to stay up-to-date with the ever-changing regulatory landscape, one of the key steps fintechs need to take is to recognise the unique regulatory requirements of each market in which they operate. In some geographies this may benefit from forming strategic relationships. By collaborating with other financial institutions and regulatory bodies, fintech companies can ensure compliance and encourage growth. For instance, by collaborating with partners like Flyfish,  companies can address a wide range of financial needs, such as payroll management, expense handling and cryptocurrency transactions, providing comprehensive solutions to various financial challenges from a unified financial platform while adhering to regulatory rules.

Another key way to ensure that changes in the  regulatory landscape are noted is through training. This requires the fostering of a culture of compliance within the organisation, encouraging employees to report any potential issues and emphasising ethical conduct as an important principle of operations.

Future gazing 

Looking ahead to 2024/2025, businesses should anticipate a dynamic landscape where start-ups embrace fresh ideas and distinctive offerings. AI and blockchain play a crucial role in streamlining processes, personalising user experiences and providing valuable insights to clients, ultimately enhancing users’ financial management experience. This shift towards personalisation and AI is shaping the future of the industry and as the fintech landscape evolves, companies that proactively adopt and integrate these new technologies will be well-positioned to thrive in the competitive landscape.