Leading Fintech Influencers Globally in 2025
In the dynamic world of finance, a select group of visionary thinkers, entrepreneurs, and commentators are guiding the transformation of the Fintech sector. These influential figures are not just driving technological advancements, but also fostering innovation, financial literacy, and ethical practices.
One such leader is Mike Quindazzi, a Managing Director and U.S. Digital Alliances Leader at PwC. Known for his support of new technologies and his keynote speeches on global mega-trends, Quindazzi discusses the growth of the Artificial Intelligence software market and the impact of technologies like augmented reality (AR), robotics, and blockchain on business and society.
Vitalik Buterin, a key player in the Fintech sector, is another significant figure. He is renowned for his work on Ethereum and contributions to blockchain technology, decentralised applications (dApps), and decentralised finance (DeFi).
As of 2025, these individuals are active participants leading companies, providing advice to governments, and educating the general public about the future of finance.
Michael Kitces, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and the publisher of "Nerd's Eye View," is an expert on financial planning technology and advisor Fintech. In 2025, his research highlights the growing focus on collaborative planning, the ongoing use of virtual meetings, and the role of full-service planning software in making workflows more efficient.
Chris Gledhill, a Fintech expert and former Head of Innovation at Lloyds Banking Group, is known for his forward-thinking ideas on digital banking, the role of AI, blockchain, and biometrics, and the need for consumerization in enterprise technology.
Spiros Margaris, a venture capitalist and advisor to many "unicorn" Fintech companies, analyses how AI and Fintech are changing financial services. He focuses on automation, accessibility, and new product creation, and is a well-known speaker on the societal impact of AI in finance.
Brett King, the founder of Moven and host of "Breaking Banks," the world's number one Fintech podcast, advocates for "Bank 4.0"-banking in a world with AI and augmented reality. In 2025, he discusses the pressure traditional banks face from Fintech disruptors, Big Tech, and changing rules and regulations, and the rise of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and embedded finance.
Andreas Staub, through the lens of behavioural economics, provides a unique view of the Fintech world. He emphasises that the core of Fintech and Insurtech isn't just about technology; it's also about how people act, their culture, their mindsets, and how things change. In 2025, he stresses the importance of social preferences, trust, fairness, and reciprocity in the digital financial world. He argues that successful Fintechs add social value and that disruption often leads to cooperation, making human-centered approaches more sustainable than technology alone.
Antonio Grasso is a top global B2B influencer, focused on digital transformation, AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things (IoT). His main concern in 2025 is the ethical and social effects of Generative AI.
While a specific list of the top 10 fintech influencers for 2025 may be challenging to find, key insights and contributions in fintech often involve fostering innovation ecosystems, advocating for financial transparency and literacy, and embracing emerging technologies like AI and blockchain to enhance financial services.
Industry-specific publications or events focused on fintech innovation would provide a more precise list of fintech influencers. For instance, Jim Marous, a leading expert on digital banking trends and customer experience, co-publishes The Financial Brand and The Digital Banking Report. In 2025, he advocates for "cognitive banking," using customer data and AI for personalised and proactive financial advice.
Other potential influencers, while not strictly fintech influencers, include figures like Humphrey Yang, Graham Stephan, and Dave Ramsey, who are influential in personal finance and broader financial spaces, which often intersect with fintech. However, they are not specifically recognised as fintech influencers.
These visionary thinkers, entrepreneurs, and commentators shape the discourse and direction of the Fintech industry, driving its continued rapid evolution.
- Mike Quindazzi, Chris Gledhill, Spiros Margaris, Brett King, and Andreas Staub, apart from being active figures in the Fintech industry, also discuss the impact of emerging technologies like AI, AR, robotics, and blockchain on business and lifestyle.
- In addition to fintech, individuals like Humphrey Yang, Graham Stephan, and Dave Ramsey, while not specifically fintech influencers, significantly influence personal finance and broader financial spaces, which frequently intersect with fintech.
