Hey, fintech fam! 💜
It was a quiet weekend, right? Or was it? If you’re anything like me—perpetually tethered to the internet (yes, it’s technically my job)—then you might have noticed a few seismic shifts that are important to think about.
Over the weekend, TikTok got banned… then un-banned. Meanwhile, we saw the ultimate vibe change with the inauguration of a new president, who, oh yeah, launched a memecoin ahead of the big day.
Meanwhile, world leaders gathered in Davos for the World Economic Forum, and—to keep things interesting—snow blanketed my New York City backyard.
January is not dull!
I spent the weekend reflecting on how these events intersect—and what they mean for you, my friends, and colleagues in fintech. This moment holds valuable lessons that could lay the groundwork for our success ahead.
As a fintech optimist and unapologetic advocate for all the good this industry can do, I’m always bullish on our potential. Looking ahead, I’m more convinced than ever that our success hinges on being fully informed and, most importantly, supporting each other.
So, let’s unpack this weekend’s chaos and find the light at the end together.
IMPACT
The Attention Economy: How Trump, TikTok, and the Power of Narrative Impact Fintech
I will use a Wicked GIF when applicable.
Over the weekend, two events — President Trump’s $9 billion crypto memecoin launch and the less-than-24-hour TikTok ban — crystallized a crucial lesson: Wealth and influence are no longer built solely on tangible assets, intellectual property, or even cash flow.
The most valuable commodity today is attention.
We live in the Attention Economy, a new paradigm in which value is no longer measured by traditional business success metrics but by the number of eyeballs commanded and the fervor with which a person, company, or product can hold our collective focus.
For those of us in fintech, building capital-intensive startups where users form the lifeblood of our businesses, this is not just a theoretical shift. It’s the reality upon which we must operate and thrive.
At its core, fintech has always been about using technology to solve real-world financial problems. But now, attention has become the new currency, and this truth is becoming clearer by the day.
Take Robinhood, for instance. The app’s promise of “democratizing finance” captured the attention of millions, propelling it to unimaginable heights.
But it wasn’t just the product—it was the story.
The narrative of accessibility, the hope of empowering the everyday person, drove its meteoric rise. In fintech, the story is often as critical as the product. A compelling narrative has become a potent currency, sometimes more valuable than even the best financial model.
But this attention, while lucrative, can also backfire. Robinhood’s attention-driven success eventually revealed the company’s darker side. Multiple lawsuits alleged that the company manipulated users through gamification techniques, highlighting the volatility of a business model that trades on attention rather than financial fundamentals.
This dynamic was laid bare over the weekend when Trump, ever the master of spectacle, used a memecoin to generate billions. The process, as Kyla Scanlon succinctly described it, goes like this:
Hype: A coin is launched amidst buzz and excitement.
FOMO: A rush of participants driven by fear of missing out.
Rug Pull: The creators exit, crashing the coin’s value and leaving investors holding nothing but the narrative.
On one level, this speculative model is effective—quick, daring, and, yes, profitable for some. But it also casts a shadow over fintech, particularly cryptocurrencies, which have earned a reputation for volatility and deception.
Still, at least we have their attention.
But here’s the critical point: Narrative is the ultimate power.
We’ve seen this before. In my book Fintech Feminists, I discuss how, as a former fintech reporter, I covered the GameStop Stock saga of 2020, demonstrating how collective attention can move markets.
That attention spurred more than 10 million Americans to open new brokerage accounts during the pandemic. With abundant leisure time and disposable cash, many turned to the stock market, lacking formal investment education. Instead, they turned to social platforms like TikTok for guidance.
And so, the Attention Economy met fintech.
The impact of this moment was twofold:
Pros: More people—especially women—became interested in investing and financial literacy, fostering the rise of women-led fintech platforms like Alinea Invest, CreditRich, and Goalsetter (to name just a few!), which emphasized financial education.
Cons: It exposed America’s longstanding financial literacy crisis. The rapid rise of meme-based currencies and stocks underscored that, too often, the average person doesn’t understand the economic forces at play.
This brings us to a more sobering observation: When the attention economy is used to generate personal wealth—at the scale we saw with Trump—it undercuts the legitimacy of a sector struggling to reach its original promise: financial inclusion, freedom, and economic empowerment for all.
The very technologies (read: blockchain) that were conceived to break the monopoly of centralized power are now being leveraged to fuel personal gain rather than their true potential.
If we don’t address this, fintech runs the risk of becoming just another iteration of traditional finance: exclusionary and at odds with its original mission.
Which collides with an upcoming cycle of deregulation, one that history repeats time and again:
The Current Administration Advocates for Deregulation (all in the name of fostering innovation, of course!)
Financial Institutions “Innovate” (yet the core issues—debt, savings, and retirement crises—remain stubbornly unresolved)
A Crisis or Collapse Follows (whether it’s subprime mortgages or the sudden implosion of FTX, the pattern is all too predictable)
Consumers Bear the Brunt (saddled with financial instability and a glaring lack of literacy to rebuild from the wreckage)
Institutions Receive a Token Slap on the Wrist (but don’t worry, no one’s actually held accountable)
The cycle is depressingly predictable.
And while I’d love to believe this isn’t the inevitable outcome (maybe it won’t be! Maybe everything will turn out great, and I’d be genuinely thrilled to hear that perspective—please, help me hold onto my optimism!)
But here’s the truth: billionaire wealth has surged by more than $2 trillion in just one year, while poverty levels have stubbornly remained stagnant for decades.
And the consequences are real: wealth inequality grows as markets become increasingly disconnected from the average consumer, leaving entire communities behind.
In this landscape, fintech must reclaim its promise.
It must offer a true alternative to traditional finance—a system where risk is managed, wealth is more equitably distributed, and innovation serves a greater good.
This is where women in fintech come in.
Leveraging Attention for Good
In many ways, the Attention Economy is also a Narrative Economy. Whoever controls the story controls the wealth.
Too often, the narratives of wealth creation are dominated by the ultra-wealthy—those who profit from speculation, hype, and short-term gains. But women in fintech have the power to change this story.
We’re building fintech startups that empower people and profits.
We’re creating platforms that prioritize financial literacy, inclusivity, and accessibility.
From blockchain projects that bring secure financial tools to underserved communities to investment platforms that democratize capital, we are reshaping the future.
By speaking up and showing up, women can change the conversation.
We are no longer just participants in fintech. We define it.
We challenge the conventional wisdom that wealth must be created at the expense of equality or social responsibility. We can tell a new story—one in which wealth is built by the people, not just for the elite.
This narrative is more important than ever. As the Attention Age continues to evolve, women in fintech must ensure that the systems we build foster long-term prosperity for everyone, not just the few.
To do so, we must understand the mechanics of the Attention Economy:
Capture Attention: Leverage the power of your narrative to attract your audience. Use tools like social media or newsletters to share widely.
Convert Attention into Value: Attention is not just a fleeting moment of fame; it’s the currency of modern markets. Use it to build platforms, products, and financial tools.
Shift the Narrative: Women in fintech can own the story. We can shape how wealth creation is perceived and, in doing so, control how value is distributed.
Speculation, grift, and short-term hype have their place, but they are distractions. The wealth of tomorrow won’t be built on fleeting gains. It will be built on systems that empower, uplift, and scale.
Women are uniquely poised to lead this shift—not by chasing the next shiny object, but by focusing on who we’re building for, and why.
The future of wealth creation lies not in short-term profits, but in collective economic opportunity—where financial success is accessible to everyone, not just the ultra-wealthy.
Looking Ahead
Fintech has the power to change the world. That’s not hyperbole. Ellevest Founder Sallie Krawcheck called our industry the “lifeblood” of our economy, and she’s right.
But that change won’t happen if we’re seduced by speed, scale, and the rush of speculation. We must focus on inclusivity, accountability, and sustainability to lead the next wave of wealth creation.
In the end, attention is power. But it is fleeting and fragile. To capitalize on it, fintech leaders must learn how to sustain it—not just by building products people talk about but by building products people rely on.
And in this game, only the most thoughtful, intentional, and authentic narratives will endure.
I believe that in this game, women hold the key.
When we step up, we control the narrative and, with it, the future of wealth creation.
The stakes have never been higher.
NEW YORK FINTECH WEEK
Ready to lead the charge in fintech? Don’t miss the chance to be part of the conversation at the second-annual Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit, headlining New York Fintech Week on April 23.
Early bird tickets are available now—grab yours before they’re gone and join the powerful women shaping the future of fintech!
P.S. I have bigger announcements about the venue and our opening keynote speaker. Stay tuned!
WTF ELSE?
State of play: accessibility in fintech
Nubank considers legal domicile shift as Trump policies favor fintech
Indian fintech Paytm targets profitability within two quarters
Trump scraps Biden’s sweeping AI order in regulatory reset
How to help small businesses thrive in the digital economy
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I WANT IT, I GOT IT
📰 Today’s Read: Throwback to my Forbes article: Can Cryptocurrency Still Deliver On Financial Inclusion?
🍿 Today’s Watch: Over the weekend, I watched "Maria," the story of opera singer Maria Callas, starring Angelina Jolie. The film was gorgeous and sad. A look inside the complex lives of iconic women always captures my attention.
🌍 Today’s Listen: More of a learn-and-watch, but loving this interview from the Daily Show: Brooke Harrington talks about the “Broligarchy” of Tech Billionaires
FINTUNES
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That’s all for now! See you Thursday!
Love,
Nicole 💜
