Reference articles explaining how finance beyond traditional banks works — reviewed and updated as rules change.
Industry GuideFintech regulation depends on the activity, the legal entity and the customer’s location—not simply where an app is built. This guide compares licensing, customer-money protection and cross-border access in the EU, UK, US, Switzerland, UAE and Singapore.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideAI helps financial firms detect fraud, assess credit, process documents and support customers. This guide explains how these systems work, where they can fail, and how oversight and regulation differ across major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideFinancial infrastructure is the machinery that records ownership, moves money and manages financial obligations. This guide explains how its main components work, how banks and non-bank providers connect to them, and what to check across major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideFintech valuation starts with understanding how a business earns money, who carries the financial risk and how much capital it needs. This guide explains the main valuation methods, the metrics that matter across business models, and how regulation, funding and shareholder rights affect the result.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideFintech companies earn revenue from payments, subscriptions, lending, foreign exchange, investments and financial infrastructure. This guide explains who pays, how the money flows, which costs matter and how regulation shapes each business model.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideCross-border payments are evolving through better data, connected domestic payment systems and new settlement assets. This guide explains how those changes work, what they can improve and why regulation, liquidity and recipient access still matter.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideNon-bank lenders provide credit without operating as conventional deposit-taking banks. This guide explains where their money comes from, how loans are assessed and serviced, what borrowers pay, and how regulation differs across major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideStablecoins can move value across borders outside conventional banking hours, but they do not remove foreign exchange, compliance or cash-out costs. This guide explains how stablecoin payments work, where they can help and what businesses should check before using them.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideA virtual asset service provider licence or registration governs specific cryptoasset activities—not every product a business offers. This guide explains the regulatory perimeter, key jurisdictional differences, application requirements and practical checks for customers and operators.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideAn electronic money institution issues e-money, a payment service provider performs payment functions, and a bank can accept deposits within its permissions. This guide explains how the models differ, what happens to customer funds and how to check regulatory status across major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
Industry GuidePayment institutions move money without operating as conventional deposit-taking banks. This guide explains their licences, payment flows, safeguarding arrangements, revenue models and the regulatory differences across six major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideA practical guide to choosing a banking, payment or e-money model, understanding licensing across six jurisdictions, and building the controls, technology and economics needed for launch.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideStarting a fintech requires more than an app and a banking partner. This guide explains how to define your product, map regulated activities, choose an operating model, build financial controls and prepare for launch across major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideBanking-as-a-Service lets businesses embed accounts, cards and payments into their own products through regulated financial partners. This guide explains how the model works, who holds customer money, how responsibilities are divided and what to check across major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideDigital banking combines an app or website with the regulated institutions, ledgers and payment systems that hold and move money. This guide explains the mechanics, the differences between banks and non-bank providers, and what to check before opening an account.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideA neobank is a digital-first financial service, but it is not necessarily a licensed bank. This guide explains how neobanks operate, where customer money is held, how they earn revenue and what to check across major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
Industry GuideParabanking describes financial services provided outside traditional banks, from payment wallets and money transfers to marketplace lending and digital money. This guide explains how these services work, how customer protections differ, and what to check before using a provider.
· 8 min read
ExplainerPrivate credit is lending negotiated outside public debt markets, often through investment funds rather than banks. This guide explains how loans are funded, how investors receive returns, where the risks sit and how regulation differs across major financial centres.
· 8 min read
ExplainerEmbedded finance puts payments, lending, accounts or insurance inside a non-financial service. This guide explains how it works, who provides the regulated product, how customer money is protected and what to check across major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
ComparisonTraditional banks and neobanks can offer similar everyday services, but their licences, account structures and customer protections may differ. This guide explains how to compare them by legal status, access to money, costs, lending and support across major jurisdictions.
· 8 min read
