Founders' Roundtable: What's in Store for Fintech in 2025?

Fintech is on the brink of a transformative year. In this Founders' Roundtable discussion, industry heavyweights reveal the forces set to define 2025—tighter regulations, embedded finance, social commerce, and a surge in crypto value. From market shifts to groundbreaking innovation, these insights paint a vivid picture of the future of finance.

This year's discussion was moderated by Ryan Woods, co-host of the Get Started Podcast and features the following fintech experts:

• Christine Parkhill, COO of Just Slots
• Tom Vaknin, CEO at pay.com
• Bálint Reti, Co-Founder and CCO of PastPay
• Nicolai Chamizo, Founder of Incore Invest
• Daniel Fogg, CEO of Rootstocklabs

Ryan Woods: "Thanks so much for joining us today. I know everyone is brimming with thoughts about what's in store for the fintech sector in 2025. So without further ado, let's kick off and I'll start with you Christine as I'm interested in your takes around what's going on in the iGaming industry."

Christine Parkhill: "Thank you, yes it's a really busy time for the sector. Moving into 2025, Brazil looks set to become a key focus in the iGaming world, with anticipated regulatory advancements opening the door to one of the largest untapped markets. Clearer legislation will likely pave the way for local and international operators, boosting investments and creating a highly competitive environment. This regulatory push is crucial as it solidifies market entry conditions, driving legitimacy and compliance, which could boost investor confidence and reshape competition in Brazil's lucrative iGaming market."

Ryan Woods: "That's an interesting point, and it highlights how regulations drive progress across markets. I wonder if the panel sees any other areas within fintech that you see being significantly impacted by upcoming regulations in 2025?"

Bálint Reti: "I would highlight PSD3, which is expected to take effect in 2025. Personally, I hope to see a stronger regulatory framework around transparency and security that will deeply impact B2B Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL). Businesses are demanding more secure, clear and reliable payment options, and I believe PSD3 will be the catalyst to push providers towards standardized practices that prioritize data protection and transparency. As PSD3 implementation begins, it will be important for B2B providers to build solutions that align with these emerging compliance mandates, offering secure and accountable credit options."

Ryan Woods: "This certainly feels like a defining moment for the fintech sector. Nicolai, as someone deeply involved with businesses across the industry, what are your thoughts on its current position, where it's headed over the next 12 months, and what excites you most about the future?"

Nicolai Chamizo: "As we approach 2025, the fintech landscape promises to be more dynamic, inclusive, and technologically advanced than ever before. Venture capital businesses, such as Incore Invest are beginning to focus more on areas like embedded finance solutions, which we believe will continue to disrupt industries by integrating financial services directly into non-financial platforms. From e-commerce and travel to healthcare and logistics, consumers will access banking, lending, and insurance seamlessly through the apps and services they use daily."

Ryan Woods: "Tom, you sit at the intersection of fintech and ecommerce, I wonder if you could provide readers with a little more context of the state of play in that particular realm ahead of 2025?

Tom Vaknin: "Of course. This year we saw the rapid growth of emerging ecommerce mediums. Looking ahead, in 2025 an emerging ecommerce medium likely to see significant expansion is social-commerce. While the practice of selling products on social media platforms directly isn't a novel concept, 2024's rapid growth of direct purchases without having to leave the app will shape a bountiful future for the platform in the coming year. 

Instagram and TikTok's native stores in particular saw incredibly strong progress in 2024, especially within the live sections of their platform - this is expected to continue into the new year and beyond. With close to 75 percent of users using TikTok as a primary shopping platform and over 50 percent of Instagram users visiting a company website after they were shared a promoted product, the power of these platforms is unbeatable and only increasing in relevance for Generation Z and Alpha. 

With the social-commerce industry expected to grow to over a trillion dollars by 2028, this trend is here to stay and is expected to become the default option for many of their ecommerce needs in 2025. Similarly to how chunks of the market favors ecommerce over all other sites and bricks and mortar stores, Generation Z and Alpha might soon develop a shorthand with social media platforms and use them as their default online shopping platform."

Ryan Woods: "I think that sounds like a reasonable assumption. Another huge area of discussion particularly since the US election has been the continued rise of cryptocurrency. Daniel, as someone who has been heavily involved in that space for some time I wonder how you see things progressing during the next year?"


Daniel Fogg: "Yes, you're right. Bitcoin has seen substantial growth over the past year, especially within the final two months of 2024. It now sits at number 8 on the highest market cap list - flying above silver, Meta and Tesla. That said, there is some uncertainty about how long this period might last. We already saw the momentum of bitcoin slow down at the end of November as it struggled to break past the $100k value mark, eventually doing so after a two-week back and forth within the $90k range. Also, historically, Bitcoin has seen a drop following presidential inaugurations, dipping around February time. 

Thankfully, if it does drop again, I don't expect it to be by much. The Trump administration has been very pro-cryptocurrency, and by the end of next year, I fully expect Bitcoin to be in a higher position than it currently is. Bitcoin is reaching a $1.7 billion market cap, indicating the dominance of big tech in the current market, and there isn't a future where that doesn't continue to grow over the next year; with regulatory changes being introduced and stronger support for digital currency from the US government."

Ryan Woods: "One thing's for certain—2025 is shaping up to be another dynamic year for the sector and its interconnected industries. Thank you all for taking the time to join us today and for sharing such valuable perspectives."

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