Fintech
Exploring the Emerging World of Green FinTech
The fintech industry is undergoing a significant transformation, integrating sustainability into its core operations. This shift, known as green fintech, is revolutionizing the way financial services address environmental challenges.
In this article, we will explore the emerging trends, technologies and innovations that are driving this change, highlighting the key players in the green fintech market.
Sustainable Fintech Trends
Fintech companies are increasingly creating offerings that emphasize environmental sustainability. These include green loans, green bonds, and investment platforms focused on eco-friendly initiatives. According to a recent market research report by
Global Market EstimatesThe global green financial technology market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.4% between 2024 and 2029.
Green Loans and Sustainable Finance – Financial services firms are now designing loan products that encourage companies to prioritize sustainability. These green loans often come with perks like reduced interest rates for investments in energy-efficient technologies and sustainable practices. Notable examples include
HSBC Green Hub, Lloyds Clean Growth Financing InitiativeAND Barclays Green Loan Programme.
Payments and digital signatures – The adoption of digital payments and electronic signatures significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional banking practices. By minimizing the need for paper checks and statements, digital solutions are making banking more eco-friendly.
Green Investments – Global investment in green initiatives has skyrocketed, with total funding reaching $495 billion in 2022. Digital platforms and fintech companies are key in facilitating these investments, making it easier for investors to support eco-friendly projects.
Carbon Tracking and Offsetting – Consumers are increasingly demanding tools to track the carbon footprint of their purchases. Recent findings from
Tinkerbell indicate that 40% of individuals in the UK want their banks to provide resources to monitor their environmental impact, but only 24% of financial institutions currently offer such capabilities. This data highlights an opportunity for the financial sector to support tools that help customers manage and mitigate their carbon emissions.
Mobile Payment Solutions for Carbon Offsetting – Mobile payment solutions now offer ways to offset carbon emissions from financial transactions by contributing to renewable energy projects and reforestation initiatives. These services are gaining popularity for their role in supporting environmental sustainability.
Zero Carbon Payment Processing Methods – Payment processors are adopting carbon neutral methods to offset their environmental impact. Companies like
Switch2Zero are pioneering solutions that support renewable energy projects and promote energy-efficient technologies.
Innovative payment solutions:
- Contactless payments for sustainable transport – Contactless payments have revolutionized transactions, especially in public transportation, reducing the need for cash and paper tickets. This technology simplifies payments and contributes to a more sustainable payment ecosystem.
- Digital Wallets – Digital wallets reduce the need for physical credit and debit cards, thereby reducing plastic waste. By promoting electronic transactions, digital wallets play a crucial role in creating a sustainable financial environment.
- Open Bank – Open banking, driven by regulations such as the EU PSD2, improves transparency and competition in the financial sector. This interconnected ecosystem enables more efficient financial services, promoting sustainability and customer control over finances.
- AI-Powered Sustainable Investment Analytics – Artificial intelligence enables sophisticated analysis of sustainable investments, providing deep insights into the environmental and social impacts of investment decisions. This helps investors make informed choices that align with their sustainability goals.
- Green Finance Embedded – Going green is no longer just a buzzword for businesses; it has evolved into a distinct concept that is increasingly gaining attention. In 2021, the green finance market value rose to $540.6 billion from just $5.2 billion in 2012, demonstrating exponential growth in the market. Embedded finance is becoming more popular, offering discounted rates or favorable terms for purchasing eco-friendly products.
- Embracing the Future of Payments with Virtual Cards – Virtual cards are gaining significant popularity, with Juniper Research predicting a substantial increase in their use. The total volume of virtual card transactions is expected to rise from 36 billion in 2023 to 175 billion by 2028, reflecting a remarkable growth rate of 386% in five years. Virtual prepaid cards offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic cards and promote sustainable financial practices.
How FinTech Companies Benefit from ESG and Ethical Finance:
- Attract Investment – Fintechs that adhere to ESG standards are more likely to attract investment from socially responsible investors and funds dedicated to sustainable development. This opens up new capital flows, providing fintechs with the financial resources needed to innovate and expand.
- Improve reputation – Implementing ESG practices helps fintech companies build a strong reputation for ethical and sustainable business practices. This can lead to increased customer loyalty, as consumers become more aware of the ethical implications of their financial decisions.
- Operational efficiency – ESG initiatives often lead to operational improvements, such as increased energy efficiency and reduced waste, resulting in cost savings.
- Regulatory Compliance – As governments around the world introduce more stringent regulations on sustainability and corporate governance, fintechs that proactively adopt ESG practices are better positioned to comply with these regulations.
- Risk management – Integrating ESG factors into corporate strategies helps fintech companies identify and mitigate risks associated with environmental and social issues.
- Market differentiation – In a crowded marketplace, ESG can serve as a key differentiator for fintech companies. By offering products and services that align with ethical and sustainable values, fintechs can attract customers who prioritize ESG in their financial decisions.
Key Players in Green Fintech
1. Carbon Footprint Monitoring: Keewe
Keewe Green Payments The feature allows customers to assess the carbon footprint of their international transactions, with the aim of reducing the costs and environmental impact of SMEs engaged in international trade.
2. Partnership between Cogo and Personetics
Cogo and Personetici are collaborating to provide banks with tools to help customers monitor and manage their carbon emissions, integrating sustainability into digital banking solutions.
Environmental Investments: Iceberg Data Lab (IDL)
3. Iceberg Data Lab introduced “Barbatus,” the world’s first ESG AI assistant, designed to simplify ESG data analysis and reporting, improving clients’ understanding of the environmental impact of their investments.
4. Ethical Consumerism: Karma Wallet
Karma Wallets DoneGood acquisition integrates ethical consumerism with financial services. The Karma Wallet Card supports sustainable actions by contributing to environmental and social causes with every transaction.
5. Green Financing: CarbonChain
Carbon chain provides carbon accounting solutions to help industries leverage green financing opportunities by quantifying the carbon footprint of trade finance portfolios.
6. Emissions data: climate choice
Choice of climate offers a climate intelligence platform that provides audit-ready risk and emissions data, helping companies and suppliers in their decarbonization efforts.
7. Recycled cards: Allpay cards
Allpay Cards has partnered with SPICA to produce high-performance recycled PVC materials, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability in paper manufacturing.
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Green Technologies to Watch
Green financial technology uses advanced technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data to create financial products and services that improve environmental sustainability, reduce carbon emissions, and stimulate investment in green projects.
Blockchain supports decentralized platforms for green investments, artificial intelligence optimizes energy use and identifies sustainable investment opportunities, while big data provides insights into companies’ sustainability performance.
The Outlook for Green Financial Technology
Despite challenges such as regulatory complexity, standardization of ESG metrics and greenwashing risks, the outlook for green fintech is promising. Growing regulatory support and
financial software development services suggest substantial expansion. The evolution of the sector depends on continuous innovation, which drives the development of new financial offerings that support the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon economy.
Final Word: The Future is Green
The transition from traditional fintech to green fintech is not just a trend, but a necessary evolution to address global environmental challenges. As fintech companies continue to innovate and integrate sustainability into their operations, they are paving the way for a greener and more sustainable financial sector.
The promising growth of the green fintech market highlights the sector’s potential to generate significant environmental and economic benefits, making it an essential component of the modern financial landscape.
Fintech
US Agencies Request Information on Bank-Fintech Dealings
Federal banking regulators have issued a statement reminding banks of the potential risks associated with third-party arrangements to provide bank deposit products and services.
The agencies support responsible innovation and banks that engage in these arrangements in a safe and fair manner and in compliance with applicable law. While these arrangements may offer benefits, supervisory experience has identified a number of safety and soundness, compliance, and consumer concerns with the management of these arrangements. The statement details potential risks and provides examples of effective risk management practices for these arrangements. Additionally, the statement reminds banks of existing legal requirements, guidance, and related resources and provides insights that the agencies have gained through their oversight. The statement does not establish new supervisory expectations.
Separately, the agencies requested additional information on a broad range of arrangements between banks and fintechs, including for deposit, payment, and lending products and services. The agencies are seeking input on the nature and implications of arrangements between banks and fintechs and effective risk management practices.
The agencies are considering whether to take additional steps to ensure that banks effectively manage the risks associated with these different types of arrangements.
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Fintech
What changes in financial regulation have impacted the development of financial technology?
Exploring the complex landscape of global financial regulation, we gather insights from leading fintech leaders, including CEOs and finance experts. From the game-changing impact of PSD2 to the significant role of GDPR in data security, explore the four key regulatory changes that have reshaped fintech development, answering the question: “What changes in financial regulation have impacted fintech development?”
- PSD2 revolutionizes access to financial technology
- GDPR Improves Fintech Data Privacy
- Regulatory Sandboxes Drive Fintech Innovation
- GDPR Impacts Fintech Data Security
PSD2 revolutionizes access to financial technology
When it comes to regulatory impact on fintech development, nothing comes close to PSD2. This EU regulation has created a new level playing field for market players of all sizes, from fintech startups to established banks. It has had a ripple effect on other markets around the world, inspiring similar regulatory frameworks and driving global innovation in fintech.
The Payment Services Directive (PSD2), the EU law in force since 2018, has revolutionized the fintech industry by requiring banks to provide third-party payment providers (TPPs) with access to payment services and customer account information via open APIs. This has democratized access to financial data, fostering the development of personalized financial instruments and seamless payment solutions. Advanced security measures such as Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) have increased consumer trust, pushing both fintech companies and traditional banks to innovate and collaborate more effectively, resulting in a dynamic and consumer-friendly financial ecosystem.
The impact of PSD2 has extended beyond the EU, inspiring similar regulations around the world. Countries such as the UK, Australia and Canada have launched their own open banking initiatives, spurred by the benefits seen in the EU. PSD2 has highlighted the benefits of open banking, also prompting US financial institutions and fintech companies to explore similar initiatives voluntarily.
This has led to a global wave of fintech innovation, with financial institutions and fintech companies offering more integrated, personalized and secure services. The EU’s leadership in open banking through PSD2 has set a global standard, promoting regulatory harmonization and fostering an interconnected and innovative global financial ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the EU’s PSD3 proposals and Financial Data Access (FIDA) regulations promise to further advance open banking. PSD3 aims to refine and build on PSD2, with a focus on improving transaction security, fraud prevention, and integration between banks and TPPs. FIDA will expand data sharing beyond payment accounts to include areas such as insurance and investments, paving the way for more comprehensive financial products and services.
These developments are set to further enhance connectivity, efficiency and innovation in financial services, cementing open banking as a key component of the global financial infrastructure.
General Manager, Technology and Product Consultant Fintech, Insurtech, Miquido
GDPR Improves Fintech Data Privacy
Privacy and data protection have been taken to another level by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), forcing fintech companies to tighten their data management. In compliance with the GDPR, organizations must ensure that personal data is processed fairly, transparently, and securely.
This has led to increased innovation in fintech towards technologies such as encryption and anonymization for data protection. GDPR was described as a top priority in the data protection strategies of 92% of US-based companies surveyed by PwC.
Financial Expert, Sterlinx Global
Regulatory Sandboxes Drive Fintech Innovation
Since the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) pioneered sandbox regulatory frameworks in 2016 to enable fintech startups to explore new products and services, similar frameworks have been introduced in other countries.
This has reduced the “crippling effect on innovation” caused by a “one size fits all” regulatory approach, which would also require machines to be built to complete regulatory compliance before any testing. Successful applications within sandboxes give regulators the confidence to move forward and address gaps in laws, regulations, or supervisory approaches. This has led to widespread adoption of new technologies and business models and helped channel private sector dynamism, while keeping consumers protected and imposing appropriate regulatory requirements.
Co-founder, UK Linkology
GDPR Impacts Fintech Data Security
A big change in financial regulations that has had a real impact on fintech is the 2018 EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). I have seen how GDPR has pushed us to focus more on user privacy and data security.
GDPR means we have to handle personal data much more carefully. At Leverage, we have had to step up our game to meet these new rules. We have improved our data encryption and started doing regular security audits. It was a little tricky at first, but it has made our systems much more secure.
For example, we’ve added features that give users more control over their data, like simple consent tools and clear privacy notices. These changes have helped us comply with GDPR and made our customers feel more confident in how we handle their information.
I believe that GDPR has made fintech companies, including us at Leverage, more transparent and secure. It has helped build trust with our users, showing them that we take data protection seriously.
CEO & Co-Founder, Leverage Planning
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Fintech
M2P Fintech About to Raise $80M
Application Programming Interface (API) Infrastructure Platform M2P Financial Technology has reached the final round to raise $80 million, at a valuation of $900 million.
Specifically, M2P Fintech, formerly known as Yap, is closing a new funding round involving new and existing investors, according to entrackr.com. The India-based company, which last raised funding two and a half years ago, previously secured $56 million in a round led by Insight Partners, earning a post-money valuation of $650 million.
A source indicated that M2P Fintech is ready to raise $80 million in this new funding round, led by a new investor. Existing backers, including Insight Partners, are also expected to participate. The new funding is expected to go toward enhancing the company’s technology infrastructure and driving growth in domestic and international markets.
What does M2P Fintech do?
M2P Fintech’s API platform enables businesses to provide branded financial services through partnerships with fintech companies while maintaining regulatory compliance. In addition to its operations in India, the company is active in Nepal, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Bahrain, Egypt, and many other countries.
Another source revealed that M2P Fintech’s valuation in this funding round is expected to be between USD 880 million and USD 900 million (post-money). The company has reportedly received a term sheet and the deal is expected to be publicly announced soon. The Tiger Global-backed company has acquired six companies to date, including Goals101, Syntizen, and BSG ITSOFT, to enhance its service offerings.
According to TheKredible, Beenext is the company’s largest shareholder with over 13% ownership, while the co-founders collectively own 34% of the company. Although M2P Fintech has yet to release its FY24 financials, it has reported a significant increase in operating revenue. However, this growth has also been accompanied by a substantial increase in losses.
Fintech
Scottish financial technology firm Aveni secures £11m to expand AI offering
By Gloria Methri
Today
- To come
- Aveni Assistance
- Aveni Detection
Artificial intelligence Financial Technology Aveni has announced one of the largest Series A investments in a Scottish company this year, amounting to £11 million. The investment is led by Puma Private Equity with participation from Par Equity, Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide.
Aveni combines AI expertise with extensive financial services experience to create large language models (LLMs) and AI products designed specifically for the financial services industry. It is trusted by some of the UK’s leading financial services firms. It has seen significant business growth over the past two years through its conformity and productivity solutions, Aveni Detect and Aveni Assist.
This investment will enable Aveni to build on the success of its existing products, further consolidate its presence in the sector and introduce advanced technologies through FinLLM, a large-scale language model specifically for financial services.
FinLLM is being developed in partnership with new investors Lloyds Banking Group and Nationwide. It is a large, industry-aligned language model that aims to set the standard for transparent, responsible and ethical adoption of generative AI in UK financial services.
Following the investment, the team developing the FinLLM will be based at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, in a state-of-the-art facility.
Joseph Twigg, CEO of Aveniexplained, “The financial services industry doesn’t need AI models that can quote Shakespeare; it needs AI models that deliver transparency, trust, and most importantly, fairness. The way to achieve this is to develop small, highly tuned language models, trained on financial services data, and reviewed by financial services experts for specific financial services use cases. Generative AI is the most significant technological evolution of our generation, and we are in the early stages of adoption. This represents a significant opportunity for Aveni and our partners. The goal with FinLLM is to set a new standard for the controlled, responsible, and ethical adoption of generative AI, outperforming all other generic models in our select financial services use cases.”
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