Crystal Ball 2025: FinTech & Payments C-Suite Share Game-Changing Predictions
Comment from Aaron Holmes, CEO of Kani Payments: A New Era for Reconciliation in Payments
“The reconciliation software market, set to grow from USD 1.72 billion in 2023 to USD 6.49 billion by 2032, underscores a profound shift towards accuracy and efficiency in finance. This growth isn’t just about technology adoption—it’s a response to the mounting complexity of financial operations.
The problem is particularly acute in the payments industry, where businesses today face challenges rooted in fragmented systems, manual workflows, and an overwhelming need to scale. For example, Kani’s recent industry survey revealed that 56% of the UK payments industry still relies on spreadsheets to reconcile data—tools that, while familiar, are ill-suited for today’s demands. The result? An astonishing 700 hours are spent on data preparation annually, and 82% of businesses struggle to meet reporting deadlines. Such complexity hinders innovation, tying teams up in routine tasks rather than strategic growth.
The real opportunity of 2025 lies in rethinking reconciliation as more than a back-office necessity. The next wave of solutions will focus on end-to-end process modernisation, powered by AI and real-time data integration. However, success will go beyond adopting new tools, requiring consolidation of fragmented workflows and a cultural shift toward viewing reconciliation as a strategic enabler. By aligning technology with business needs, companies can transform reconciliation from a challenge into an opportunity, ensuring they’re ready to thrive in the fast-evolving payments ecosystem.”
Comment from Ryta Zasiekina, Founder, Concryt: Angel investing will take on new importance in 2025
“With fintech funding in flux, and an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop putting the brakes on fintech spending, I believe that 2025 will be a year where angel investors take become even more essential for the future growth of fintech. For European fintechs in particular, they will increasingly look to the region’s circa 40,000 angel investors to help them launch and scale.
Firstly, angel investors are more diverse, spanning a wider socioeconomic and career backgrounds than larger institutional investors. Angel investors are more likely to have hands-on, in-depth knowledge of the businesses and verticals requiring their expertise and backing. Many, like me, will also have founded fintechs of their own, so have first-hand experience of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
But it’s essential that national governments don’t introduce rules that could threaten investment. The UK government introduced, and then thankfully reversed, plans that would have reduced the number of people eligible to invest in start-ups. We need to encourage more women into fintech, not deter them through short-sighted legislation that could restrict funding when fintechs need it.
I believe we will see the growth of more angel investor networks, syndicates and co-investment funds over 2025, and that fintech and B2B SaaS sectors will continue to attract the most deals. However, there is undoubtedly more growth to come in the AI sector. Such is the level of my conviction in the importance of AI that I’m proud to be an angel investor in two innovative start-ups, both of which align with my mission to support fledgling businesses and my passion for emerging technologies.”
Comment from Edvards Margevics, Co-Partner, Concryt: Authentication and payment data protection technologies will come to the fore
“Many payment innovations – such as cryptocurrencies, blockchain-based payments, and P2P payment platforms – have made a significant impact on consumers and merchants alike. Mobile payments have evolved remarkably, with advancements fuelled by the global adoption of smartphones and consumer expectation for convenience and a seamless payment experience.
But these expectations have always been offset by concerns around security. In 2025, we can expect to see the growth of advanced security features like tokenisation, which gives consumers the peace of mind that the risk of fraud is low and their payment details are protected at every step of their payment journey.
Biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, and iris scanning, will become even more widely available, and easily embedded into more payment channels. This will not only enhance security, but provide an even more personalised payment journey, and drive worldwide mobile payment revenue, which is expected to hit $12.06 trillion by 2027.”
Comment from Azimkhon Askarov, Co-Partner, Concryt: The payment landscape will be reshaped by APMs
“In 2025, we’ll see even more mobile contactless adoption through digital wallets, wearable tech, and other APMs outside of the traditional payment form factors. Contactless adoption is set to accelerate on the back of Apple allowing access to the iPhone secure element and NFC chip to outside developers who can create their own tap-to-pay apps. This could also be the springboard for even more dazzling innovations in payments.
Open Banking will continue to gradually eat into payment card volumes, but nowhere near enough to make Visa and Mastercard quake in their boots. In 10 years’ time, it might be a different matter. Over 2025 in Europe, we’ll see the continued growth of mobile-based instant transfer apps like Blik in Poland and Bizum in Spain. The newly launched Wero wallet in the EU will definitely be one to watch. Europe has been trying to create its own version of Visa and Mastercard for decades, and after many false starts, Wero is already showing significant traction and could be the one that sticks.
The Asia-Pacific region will continue to show the rest of the world how digital wallets can be leveraged for maximum effect. APMs like WeChat Pay and Alipay will become even more widely accepted outside of their home markets. Unlike mature developed markets in Europe and North America, emerging countries will use digital wallets as a key driver of financial inclusion.”
Comment from Andrii Shevchuk, CTO and Co-Partner, Concryt: Payment gateways will be on the frontline against fraud
“Merchants will depend on their payment gateways to protect them from fraud and chargebacks more than ever in 2025. Tackling cyber criminals at the very first step is one thing, but key to merchant profitability will be combatting false declines to improve authorisations.
Fraud mutates and it becomes harder to identify bad actors from genuine customers, merchants need to do what they can to prevent fraudulent payments and accept genuine ones. Payments fail for a variety of reasons, ranging from incorrect card information to suspicion of fraud. While these declines can be helpful in filtering out fraudulent transactions, they can also have several significant impacts on a merchant’s business, both in the short and long term.
As commerce becomes increasingly borderless, payment gateways will become an even more integral part of the digital commerce landscape, and we can expect to see more efforts from acquirers, PSPs, ISVs and others to enhance their gateway offerings with the very latest fraud-fighting technology, including AI, real-time monitoring and geolocation or device identification. Payment gateways will become more than just transaction processors – they will evolve into even more multifaceted platforms that underpin global commerce.”
Comment from Thomas Gillan, CEO, BR-DGE: We’re seeing continued adoption of orchestration platforms, led by merchants, but with increasing pick-up by acquirers and PSPs, the acquiring landscape will see further unbundling
“In 2024, we witnessed a fundamental shift in the acceptance of payment orchestration at the enterprise merchant level. What started with early adopters has now evolved as these pioneers have become category leaders in verticals such as eCommerce, gaming and gambling. This momentum is extending into other industries like travel, particularly airline travel, driving significant growth. For the first time, payment providers and merchants are saying: “I don’t want everything, I just want this, and later, I might want that”. This flexibility is the promise of orchestration, and the API-first approach continues to embed itself deeper into the payment ecosystem.
In the acquiring landscape, the unbundling of services is accelerating, accompanied by a shift in mindset among acquirers. They’re moving away from commoditised acquiring models. Take Stripe, for example, a full-service PSP, where previously, using their fraud tool meant committing to their entire ecosystem. Now, they’re pivoting towards a Salesforce-like model, prioritising the creation of a payments marketplace over a singlular solution.
Historically, acquirers sought to own 100% of a merchants’ transaction volumes, often relying on lowball bids to secure them. This approach commoditised acquiring and sparked a race to the bottom on cost. Today, however, there’s a strategic shift: acquirers are focusing on accessing targeted flows within specific verticals. Payment orchestration layers provide the intelligence and technology interface to enable this level of precision.
We’ve seen the early signs of this shift throughout 2024, and it’s clear the trend will ramp up in 2025. Initially, we were somewhat skeptical about the scale of adoption, but demand from enterprise groups for choice and flexibility has proven that this shift is merchant-driven. Acquirers in turn, are softening their stance and increasingly embracing orchestration as a critical component of their stack.
The first step, the acceptance of orchestration, has been achieved. Now, discussions have moved beyond why to adopt orchestration, towards how to execute it strategically. While there’s still ground to cover, the path forward is becoming increasingly clear.”
Comment from Tom Eyre, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Loqbox: The cost of living means younger people are more financially savvy than ever – but more action is needed to promote financial literacy
“Today’s young people are becoming financially savvy earlier than ever, picking up skills like budgeting, saving, and even responsible investing through app-based financial management tools. Growing up in an economy framed by the cost-of-living crisis, it’s no wonder they feel the need to plan so far ahead. With property prices soaring by 173% since 1997, and 40% of young adults unable to afford even the most basic homes in their areas, these young savers are adapting to a tough financial reality. In the long term, it will take a collective effort from people, businesses, and the government to create stronger protections for renters and improve financial literacy. This early financial literacy can be empowering, helping Gen Alpha make informed decisions and, in some ways, build resilience as they navigate an uncertain economy.
In 2025, we can expect banks, digital challengers and payment providers to focus more of their efforts on serving younger demographics with highly personalised tools to help them achieve their financial and lifestyle goals, build their credit records, and form good savings habits.”
Comment from Gregor Mowat, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Loqbox: The UK’s “Credit Invisibles” need targeted help in building credit scores
“For those just embarking on adulthood, or those moving to the UK, not having a credit history can be a major barrier when trying to access financial products like a mortgage, even if they’ve been financially responsible elsewhere. It’s estimated that around 5 million people are “credit invisibles”, affecting newcomers to the UK and people who have lived here for years without ever building a traditional credit profile. This leaves them trapped in a cycle where they’re paying rent, often more than they would on a mortgage, but unable to access one due to a lack of visible credit history. It also prevents them from accessing loans or other financial products that could help them improve their financial situation.
Without better pathways to build credit – such as factoring rental payments into credit assessments – these individuals remain stuck, unable to break free from the limitations imposed by their lack of credit history. In 2025, we hope to see more inclusive and creative solutions that open up financial opportunities for everyone, not just a select few.”
Comment from Manpreet Haer, Co-Founder, PayFuture: Fintech will be the key to fostering financial inclusion and breaking down societal barriers
“In 2025, we will see fintech making a tangible and positive impact on improving financial inclusion. Globally, there are 1.4 billion unbanked peoplewho can’t access financial services, while around 345 million micro-enterprises are informal and struggle to get formal banking services. This is a financial literacy and exclusion gap that needs filling – fast.
Without financial inclusion, the world economy will stagnate, and underbanked populations will suffer – but fintech is the key to unlocking a new era of prosperity for all. Look at local community and microcredit cooperatives in rural Africa that help women to engage with financial services, the success of local payment methods in Africa, to national digital transformation programmes like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative. New technologies have helped emerging markets make great strides in closing the financial exclusion gap, which is getting smaller by the day, but much more needs to be done.
But this means that fintechs and other ecosystem players have a responsibility to understand what market they’re operating in, understand what customers need in those markets, and localise their solutions accordingly. That also means speaking in the local language, offering clear and transparent pricing, and forging reliable partnerships with the right providers to ensure people have a wide choice of payment methods available to them.”
Comment from Tom Lenihan, Director of Marketing, MuchBetter: 2024 – Elevating Contactless Convenience with Wearable Innovation
“2024 marked a turning point for contactless payments as wearable technology took centre stage, redefining convenience and style. This year saw innovative strides in wearable payment solutions, from sleek, fashion-forward rings to versatile smart bands, offering consumers a seamless way to pay on the go, whether at coffee shops, festivals, or during their commute. These devices, designed for simplicity and security, eliminated the need for wallets or smartphones, placing unparalleled convenience at customers’ fingertips.
The year’s highlights included the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring and the latest Oura Smart Ring, which brought attention to the multifunctional potential of wearables by combining payment capabilities with health-tracking features. While these devices pushed the boundaries of technology, their high costs and reliance on batteries underscored the need for more affordable and practical alternatives.
In response, we took a disruptive approach by offering free ceramic contactless payment rings, with a very clear focus on removing friction from payments; no cards, no wallet, no phone – no problem, all you need is a MuchBetter Ring. By making them free until the end of the year, we are making wearable payments accessible to everyone. This move not only democratised the technology but also transformed public perceptions of what payment solutions could be.
Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate a growing demand for smarter, more affordable wearable tech as early adopters advocate for widespread innovation. Businesses will increasingly recognise the shift toward integrated contactless solutions as a way to enhance customer experiences. At MuchBetter, we’re committed to driving this evolution, as we seek to deliver increasingly fiction-free payments – simpler, faster, seamless and uncluttered.
2024 was just the beginning, 2025 will take contactless convenience to exciting new heights.”
Image source: Freepik