Financial technology (Fintech) refers to new technology that aims to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services. At its core, fintech is used to assist companies, business owners, and consumers in better managing their financial operations, processes, and lives through the use of specialized software and algorithms that run on computers and, increasingly, smartphones. The term “fintech” is an abbreviation for “financial technology.”
When the term “fintech” first appeared in the twenty-first century, it was initially applied to the technology used in the back-end systems of established financial institutions. However, there has been a shift to more consumer-oriented services and, as a result, a more consumer-oriented definition since then. Fintech now encompasses a wide range of sectors and industries, including education, retail banking, fundraising and nonprofit, and investment management, to name a few.
Fintech also includes the creation and use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. While that sector of fintech receives the most attention, the real money is still in the traditional global banking industry, which has a multi-trillion-dollar market capitalization.
Understanding Financial Technology
In general, the term “financial technology” refers to any advancement in how people conduct business, from the invention of digital money to double-entry bookkeeping. However, financial technology has grown explosively since the Internet and mobile Internet/smartphone revolutions. Fintech, which originally referred to the application of computer technology to the back office of banks or trading firms, now refers to a wide range of technological interventions into personal and commercial finance.
Fintech now refers to a wide range of financial activities that can be completed without the assistance of a person, such as money transfers, check depositing with your smartphone, applying for credit without visiting a bank branch, raising funds for a business startup, or managing your investments. According to EY’s 2017 Fintech Adoption Index, one-third of consumers use at least two or more fintech services, and those consumers are becoming more aware of fintech in their daily lives.
Fintech in Action
The most talked-about (and funded) fintech startups all have one thing in common: they are designed to be a threat to, challenge, and eventually usurp entrenched traditional financial services providers by being more agile, serving an underserved segment of the population, or providing faster and/or better service.
Affirm, for example, aims to eliminate credit card companies from the online shopping experience by providing consumers with the ability to secure immediate, short-term loans for purchases. While interest rates can be high, Affirm claims to provide a way for consumers with poor or no credit to secure credit while also building their credit histories. Similarly, Better Mortgage aims to simplify the home mortgage process (and eliminate the need for traditional mortgage brokers) by providing users with a verified pre-approval letter within 24 hours of applying. GreenSky aims to connect home improvement borrowers with banks by assisting customers in avoiding entrenched lenders and saving money on interest by providing zero-interest promotional periods.
Platforms like Crypto Fiat Networx exchange (CFXNX) implement the use of blockchain in their fintech. What this platform does is convert cash to crypto and (or) crypto to cash using a casino concept from the 16th century. This platform is relatively new and its main target is the online gaming industry and the casino gaming industry. The platform is still seeking investors to aid in its development and expansion. So, if you are an investor and would like to join the CFXNX network, reach out to its CFO and one of the founders Thomas Bowen at tdb@cfxnx.com.
Conclusion
Fintech has transformed many industries, most notably banking, trading, insurance, and risk management. Fintech firms, which include startups, technology companies, and established financial institutions, use emerging technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and edge computing to improve the accessibility and efficiency of financial services.
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