Number of fintechs worldwide 2008-2024, by region

The global fintech landscape in 2024 continued to be dominated by North America, home to more than 12,000 financial technology companies, showing modest growth from 2023. Europe maintained its position as the second-largest fintech hub with over 9,200 companies, while the Asia-Pacific region hosted 6,365 fintechs. Though the sector experienced steady expansion from 2008 to 2024, the pace of new fintech formations noticeably slowed after 2021. In 2024, the United States reinforced its leadership in the industry by hosting approximately five times as many fintech unicorns as the second-ranked United Kingdom.

Fintech investment landscape

Investment into the fintech sector grew sharply between 2010 and 2021, with global investment value reaching an all-time high in 2021. After 2021, however, investment activity slowed down considerably. While the early slowdown may have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the continued moderation in investment likely signals that the fintech sector is entering a more mature phase. This maturation is characterized by market consolidation, increased focus on profitability over growth, and more selective investment in proven business models rather than speculative ventures.

Leading fintech companies

Services provided by fintech companies have become deeply integrated into daily life, transforming how people manage money, make payments, and access financial services. While fintech companies operate globally, the United States and China have emerged as dominant hubs, together hosting eight of the world's ten largest fintech companies in 2024. However, innovation in the sector extends beyond these markets, as demonstrated by Stripe, an Irish payment processing platform that claimed the position of most valuable fintech unicorn in 2024.