Despite the overall decline, Q4 2024 showed promising signs, with investment rebounding to $25.9 billion.
“It's been a rough year for nearly everyone in the ecosystem,” said Karim Haji, Global Head of Financial Services at KPMG International.
Global
fintech investment plummeted to $95.6 billion across 4,639 deals in 2024,
marking its lowest level since 2017, as investors grappled with persistent
macroeconomic challenges and geopolitical tensions, according to KPMG's latest
Pulse of Fintech report.
Global Fintech Investment
Hits Seven-Year Low as Market Uncertainty Prevails
The
investment landscape showed a clear downward trajectory throughout the year,
with total funding declining from $51.7 billion in the first half to $43.9
billion in the second half. However, a notable uptick in the final quarter,
where investment rose to $25.9 billion from $18 billion in Q3, suggests early
signs of market stabilization.
Karim Haji, the Global Head of Financial Services at KPMG
“It's
been a rough year for nearly everyone in the ecosystem,” said Karim Haji,
Global Head of Financial Services at KPMG International. “With only a
handful of exceptions, no one wanted to pull the trigger on the largest deals—which have long been a mainstay in fintech investment.”
The results
confirm
an earlier 2023 KPMG report, which indicated that investments had dropped
to $113.7 billion, already considered the worst figure since 2017. However,
2024 has unfortunately managed to surpass that record.
Regional Dynamics and
Sector Performance
The
Americas continued to dominate the global fintech landscape, capturing $63.8
billion across 2,267 deals, with the United States accounting for $50.7 billion
of that total. The EMEA region secured $20.3 billion across 1,465 deals, while
APAC recorded $11.4 billion across 896 transactions.
In Europe,
the UK continues to dominate. As
Roberto Napolitano, Chief Marketing Officer at Innovate Finance, stated,
“The UK received more fintech funding than all of Europe combined.”
He shared his insights on the future of the fintech industry during FMLS:24 in
a conversation with Finance Magnates' Jonathan Fine.
“The UK is
still leading in terms of capital investment in fintech after the US,”
Napolitano added. “Although it's still very positive now, looking into 2025,
maybe this picture will change slightly. But we don't know yet.”
This is
also confirmed by data
from a Dealroom and HSBC report published nearly a year ago, which showed
that fintech was the most funded sector in the UK. Notably, Monzo secured £340
million, while Flagstone raised £108 million.
The KPMG report
shows that the payments sector emerged as the most resilient segment,
attracting $31 billion in investment, followed by digital assets and currencies
at $9.1 billion and regtech at $7.4 billion. This distribution reflects ongoing
investor confidence in established payment technologies while showing increased
interest in emerging sectors.
Emerging Trends and Future
Outlook
Looking
ahead to 2025, several key trends are shaping the fintech investment landscape:
Artificial Intelligence Integration: The sector is witnessing growing
interest in AI-enabled solutions, particularly in regtech and cybersecurity
applications.
Digital Assets Evolution: Market infrastructure, digital
tokenization, and stablecoins are positioned for potential investment growth.
Payment Innovation: The payments sector is expected to maintain
its leadership position, driven by B2B solutions and cross-border payment
technologies.
Anton Ruddenklau, Lead of Global Innovation and Fintech at KPMG International
“If
what we've seen in the broader investment space is any indication, AI could be
a sleeping giant for fintech investment,” noted Anton Ruddenklau, Lead of
Global Innovation and Fintech at KPMG International. “However, right now,
it's still very early days.”
“There’s definitely a
lot of interest in AI, generative AI, agentic AI and automation, but there’s a
lot of caution too. Over the next year, AI-focused regtechs will likely see the
most traction among investors as financial services companies look for better
ways to respond to the increasingly complex regulatory environment,” he
added.
Market Recovery Signals
Despite the
overall decline, several positive indicators suggest a potential recovery in
2025. The increase in Q4 investment activity, combined with declining interest
rates in various jurisdictions and the resolution of key political
uncertainties, points to improving market conditions.
M&A
activity showed particular resilience in the final quarter, with deal values
nearly doubling from $7.4 billion to $14.2 billion quarter-over-quarter.
Venture capital investment also demonstrated strength, rising from $9.7 billion
to $11.2 billion in the same period.
Moreover, a separate BCG
report revealed that despite a 70% financing shortfall, fintech companies managed
to increase their income by 14% between 2021 and 2023. If cryptocurrency
projects were excluded from the equation, the compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) would be 21%.
As the
market enters 2025, investors appear cautiously optimistic, with many watching
for signals from the new U.S. administration and monitoring the impact of
interest rate decisions on investment activity. The evolution of AI
applications in financial services and the continued development of digital
asset infrastructure are expected to be key drivers of growth in the coming
year.
Global
fintech investment plummeted to $95.6 billion across 4,639 deals in 2024,
marking its lowest level since 2017, as investors grappled with persistent
macroeconomic challenges and geopolitical tensions, according to KPMG's latest
Pulse of Fintech report.
Global Fintech Investment
Hits Seven-Year Low as Market Uncertainty Prevails
The
investment landscape showed a clear downward trajectory throughout the year,
with total funding declining from $51.7 billion in the first half to $43.9
billion in the second half. However, a notable uptick in the final quarter,
where investment rose to $25.9 billion from $18 billion in Q3, suggests early
signs of market stabilization.
Karim Haji, the Global Head of Financial Services at KPMG
“It's
been a rough year for nearly everyone in the ecosystem,” said Karim Haji,
Global Head of Financial Services at KPMG International. “With only a
handful of exceptions, no one wanted to pull the trigger on the largest deals—which have long been a mainstay in fintech investment.”
The results
confirm
an earlier 2023 KPMG report, which indicated that investments had dropped
to $113.7 billion, already considered the worst figure since 2017. However,
2024 has unfortunately managed to surpass that record.
Regional Dynamics and
Sector Performance
The
Americas continued to dominate the global fintech landscape, capturing $63.8
billion across 2,267 deals, with the United States accounting for $50.7 billion
of that total. The EMEA region secured $20.3 billion across 1,465 deals, while
APAC recorded $11.4 billion across 896 transactions.
In Europe,
the UK continues to dominate. As
Roberto Napolitano, Chief Marketing Officer at Innovate Finance, stated,
“The UK received more fintech funding than all of Europe combined.”
He shared his insights on the future of the fintech industry during FMLS:24 in
a conversation with Finance Magnates' Jonathan Fine.
“The UK is
still leading in terms of capital investment in fintech after the US,”
Napolitano added. “Although it's still very positive now, looking into 2025,
maybe this picture will change slightly. But we don't know yet.”
This is
also confirmed by data
from a Dealroom and HSBC report published nearly a year ago, which showed
that fintech was the most funded sector in the UK. Notably, Monzo secured £340
million, while Flagstone raised £108 million.
The KPMG report
shows that the payments sector emerged as the most resilient segment,
attracting $31 billion in investment, followed by digital assets and currencies
at $9.1 billion and regtech at $7.4 billion. This distribution reflects ongoing
investor confidence in established payment technologies while showing increased
interest in emerging sectors.
Emerging Trends and Future
Outlook
Looking
ahead to 2025, several key trends are shaping the fintech investment landscape:
Artificial Intelligence Integration: The sector is witnessing growing
interest in AI-enabled solutions, particularly in regtech and cybersecurity
applications.
Digital Assets Evolution: Market infrastructure, digital
tokenization, and stablecoins are positioned for potential investment growth.
Payment Innovation: The payments sector is expected to maintain
its leadership position, driven by B2B solutions and cross-border payment
technologies.
Anton Ruddenklau, Lead of Global Innovation and Fintech at KPMG International
“If
what we've seen in the broader investment space is any indication, AI could be
a sleeping giant for fintech investment,” noted Anton Ruddenklau, Lead of
Global Innovation and Fintech at KPMG International. “However, right now,
it's still very early days.”
“There’s definitely a
lot of interest in AI, generative AI, agentic AI and automation, but there’s a
lot of caution too. Over the next year, AI-focused regtechs will likely see the
most traction among investors as financial services companies look for better
ways to respond to the increasingly complex regulatory environment,” he
added.
Market Recovery Signals
Despite the
overall decline, several positive indicators suggest a potential recovery in
2025. The increase in Q4 investment activity, combined with declining interest
rates in various jurisdictions and the resolution of key political
uncertainties, points to improving market conditions.
M&A
activity showed particular resilience in the final quarter, with deal values
nearly doubling from $7.4 billion to $14.2 billion quarter-over-quarter.
Venture capital investment also demonstrated strength, rising from $9.7 billion
to $11.2 billion in the same period.
Moreover, a separate BCG
report revealed that despite a 70% financing shortfall, fintech companies managed
to increase their income by 14% between 2021 and 2023. If cryptocurrency
projects were excluded from the equation, the compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) would be 21%.
As the
market enters 2025, investors appear cautiously optimistic, with many watching
for signals from the new U.S. administration and monitoring the impact of
interest rate decisions on investment activity. The evolution of AI
applications in financial services and the continued development of digital
asset infrastructure are expected to be key drivers of growth in the coming
year.
Damian's adventure with financial markets began at the Cracow University of Economics, where he obtained his MA in finance and accounting. Starting from the retail trader perspective, he collaborated with brokerage houses and financial portals in Poland as an independent editor and content manager. His adventure with Finance Magnates began in 2016, where he is working as a business intelligence analyst.
Singapore Goes Nearly Cashless, Now Eyes Cross-Border Payments, Stablecoins and FX
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
