Another Fintech Meetup is in the books, and if there’s one thing that stood out this year, it’s that the industry is evolving faster than ever. The conference showcased AI-driven automation, agentic commerce, embedded finance, regulatory uncertainties, and collaborative opportunities between fintechs and traditional banks.
At Middesk, we’re always looking for ways to help businesses navigate these changes—whether it’s making business verification seamless for banking platforms or helping marketplaces onboard more customers with confidence. Here’s our take on the biggest themes from Fintech Meetup 2025 and what they mean for the future of fintech.
1. AI is reshaping financial services, but trust is the missing ingredient
If generative AI was the hot topic in years past, this year was about making AI work in real-world financial applications. Lenders are using AI to accelerate underwriting, fintechs are leveraging it to streamline compliance, and AI-driven identity verification is being used to reduce fraud. Yet, one big challenge remains: trust.
Right now, AI in fintech is more like a well-intentioned but inexperienced intern than a seasoned mid-career professional. It’s good at automating tasks but still needs heavy oversight. And we are still seeing that the most successful AI applications are the ones that keep humans in the loop—whether it’s fraud detection systems that flag anomalies for manual review or underwriting models that use AI for data analysis while leaving final decisions to experienced professionals.
We see AI as a tool that should be used to make business verification smarter, not a replacement for critical risk decisions. AI-powered automation can help companies sift through business data faster, but we think nuanced decisions related to risk management and compliance should still involve human oversight to ensure accuracy and ethical considerations.
2. Embedded finance is evolving, but it’s not a silver bullet
Embedded finance was one of the hottest trends at the conference, with platforms integrating lending, payments, and banking into their ecosystems. Yet, the reality is more complicated. Some vertical SaaS companies are realizing that embedding financial products is harder than expected, especially when it comes to compliance, fraud prevention, and risk management.
There’s also the question of whether embedded finance is moving too fast for its own good. Regulators continue to raise concerns about platforms offering financial services without the same oversight as banks. Fintechs and their banking partners are still figuring out how to share risk while meeting evolving compliance standards. Organizations like the Coalition for Financial Ecosystem Standards are introducing industry standards for nonbanks participating in financial services to enhance trust and compliance across the ecosystem, but we still collectively have a long road ahead.Â
We’re seeing more fintechs and platforms looking for ways to balance automation with risk controls. Business verification is at the center of this challenge—lenders and payment platforms need to quickly assess businesses while ensuring compliance with KYC and KYB regulations. Companies that invest in smart risk management infrastructure today will be the ones that scale successfully and grow revenue tomorrow.
3. Agentic commerce is here, but it’s playing it safe (for now)
The idea of AI-powered agents handling transactions on behalf of consumers and businesses was a major theme at Fintech Meetup. While the concept is promising, most implementations today are heavily restricted. AI agents aren’t making big financial decisions autonomously just yet—they’re being closely monitored, with clear limits on what they can do.
Why? Because financial transactions require a high level of trust and accountability. It’s one thing for an AI to book your travel—it’s another for it to move money, make credit decisions, or verify the legitimacy of a business that will transact on behalf of your customers.
As AI agents take on more responsibilities in financial services, ensuring they have access to high-quality, real-time data will be critical. If businesses are trusting AI to make decisions, those decisions need to be based on accurate, up-to-date business identity information. AI-driven financial services won’t work without a strong foundation of trusted data.
4. The regulatory picture is unclear, but don’t wait for certainty
The most surprising regulatory moment of the conference? The CFPB had a booth on the expo floor—but no one was there to staff it. That empty table was a fitting metaphor for the regulatory uncertainty hanging over the fintech industry right now.
Lenders, payment companies, and embedded finance platforms are all facing shifting compliance requirements, but there’s little clarity on what regulators actually expect. Meanwhile, capital markets uncertainty is making investors and lenders more cautious, creating new challenges for fintechs trying to scale.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from working with financial institutions, it’s that compliance uncertainty doesn’t mean you can afford to wait. The best approach is to build a strong compliance foundation now, rather than scrambling when new regulations come into play. Business verification, risk assessment, and clear data governance will be key for fintechs looking to stay ahead of regulatory shifts and achieve revenue growth.Â
5. Fintechs and banks need each other more than ever
A few years ago, fintechs saw themselves as challengers to traditional banks. Today, the conversation is different. Fintechs and banks are increasingly working together, combining the agility of fintech with the regulatory experience and infrastructure of banks.
The challenge? Many banks are becoming more selective about the fintechs they work with. After the turbulence of the past few years, banking-as-a-service (BaaS) providers and sponsor banks are setting a higher risk management and compliance bar for their fintech partners.
Trust is the foundation of any fintech-bank partnership. That starts with having clear, verifiable data on the businesses you’re working with. Whether you’re a fintech building financial products or a bank partnering with fintechs, having a streamlined way to verify, onboard, and monitor business customers is key to making these relationships work for you in the long run.
Final thoughts
Fintech Meetup 2025 reinforced what we’ve long believed at Middesk: financial innovation moves fast, but trust is what moves everything forward. AI, embedded finance, and agentic commerce all have the potential to reshape financial services, but they’ll only succeed if businesses and consumers have confidence in the systems and vendors powering them.
That’s why we’re focused on helping fintechs, lenders, banks, and marketplaces build the trust infrastructure they need to grow. The companies that invest in smarter business verification, stronger compliance frameworks, and better risk management today will be the ones leading the industry tomorrow.
Want to talk more about how business verification fits into these fintech trends? Let’s connect.
