Fintech Forward Newsletter - Issue 21
23 July 2025
In this week’s newsletter, we take a look at the state of fintech growth in the UK. Having long been one of the world’s leading financial services hubs, the UK provided fertile ground for the seeding and growth of many fintechs that changed the industry forever. But as the industry matures, particularly in conjunction with the rise of products and services that are underpinned by AI, the competitiveness and growth potential of the UK market has come under scrutiny.
Thankfully, our stories this week highlight a number of promising signs, with the UK government taking steps to ensure the country’s fintech economy is able to continue thriving through unlocking finance for fintech startups. The government is also aiming to simplify compliance and accelerate fintech innovation by removing regulatory barriers that hinder the development of technologies like fraud detection and money management tools.
We also learn of new avenues of growth as Celent reveals that legacy wealth managers are facing competition from fintechs in capturing the Great Wealth Transfer and NextGen clients.
The government pledges to establish the UK as the global leader in fintech
The government will support fintechs with startup funding, streamlined regulation and improved access to finance via the £25.6 billion British Business Bank. A new talent initiative will boost skills through international recruitment, PhD funding and industry-led training programs.
Celent: AI, strategic partnerships, and fintech disruption in wealth management
Legacy wealth firms face rising competition from fintechs, with 57% of executives noting increased threats. B2C fintechs are moving upmarket, offering wealth management and private banking services. These platforms are democratizing access to services once reserved for the ultra-wealthy, targeting HNW, mass affluent, and broader investor segments.
UK establishes regulatory innovation office to support fintech growth
The UK has launched a new partnership between the Regulatory Innovation Office and the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum to simplify compliance and accelerate fintech innovation. Aimed at easing regulatory burdens for SMEs, the initiative supports the development of technologies like fraud detection and money management tools, reinforcing the UK's leadership in fintech.
Top Tip
Tips for scaling fintech businesses
Effective scaling means adopting compliance early, investing in scalable tech, prioritizing customer experience, building a strong team and forming strategic partnerships. Focusing on performance, reliability, security and usability from the start supports sustainable growth.
Event
FTT Fintech Festival
From navigating today's volatile macroeconomic and political landscape to the impact of AI, these industry leaders will share insights that set the scene for an ever-evolving industry. They will explore digital transformation in financial services across nine key topics, including AI, open finance and fraud.
Blog
From agentic commerce to lessons for fintech marketers
Agentic AI was a hot topic at this year’s Money 20/20. One of the most well-attended sessions of the conference was a talk titled, ‘Is the financial services world ready for agentic AI?’. The discussion drew such an audience that a significant number of delegates crowded round beyond the packed seating area to learn about the foreseeable applications of the technology, as well as its implications regarding payments infrastructure, security and other risks.
Report
Metia Insight Studies
Use data driven insight to inform and improve your customer experiences, engagement and relationship strategies. Our insight studies give you actionable insights and practical recommendations, all built using advanced data science techniques and expert analysis.