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Hey, fintech fam! 💜

Another (long) week is almost in the books!

This week, I officially announced the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit as the headline event for New York Fintech Week—and guess what?

Only 20 early bird tickets are left (link below to grab yours before they’re gone!).

I also revealed that we’ll be hosting two stages during the event because, as I promised, we’re going bigger and more iconic than ever. Check out the details in our event section below.

Now, let’s dive into some news stories.

#TRENDING

What’s Up In Fintech

Every Thursday, I bring you the latest fintech news and trends, delivering the key insights that matter most to the industry—and you.

#1 Trump Fires CFPB Director Rohit Chopra 

Last Saturday, President Trump made a predictable move: He fired Rohit Chopra, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a role Chopra was supposed to hold through 2026. 

For some high-ranking lawmakers, this isn’t just a bureaucratic shuffle. This is a full-on attempt to “dismantle the agency entirely” that has served as a watchdog against predatory financial practices, Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) said in a statement. “I will continue to fight, as we have for more than 14 years, to defend the CFPB.”

In his resignation letter, Chopra didn’t mince words: 

“With so much power concentrated in the hands of a few, agencies like the CFPB have never been more critical.” 

He’s right. In a world where consumers are more vulnerable to predatory and fraudulent practices, the CFPB has been a lifeline. The agency has returned over $20 billion to consumers since its founding – protecting Americans from junk fees, medical debt, and predatory lending.

Chopra was responsible for pushing through the long-awaited open banking rule, which gives consumers more control over their personal financial data. 

He also led the charge in reducing overdraft fees for banks and credit unions with assets over $10 billion, helping to protect consumers from the punishing fees that disproportionately affect women and low-income individuals.

The CFPB reached a record $3.7 billion settlement with Wells Fargo over its infamous scandal under his leadership. 

The agency didn’t just talk about accountability; it made it happen. And yet, as of now, Trump’s administration seems hell-bent on reversing these gains.

Now, leaders in Congress, like Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), are sounding the alarm. For Warren, this is personal. 

“President Trump campaigned on capping credit card interest rates at 10% and lowering costs for Americans,” Warren said in a statement. “He needs a strong CFPB and a strong CFPB Director to do that. But if President Trump and Republicans decide to cower to Wall Street billionaires and destroy the agency, they will have a fight on their hands.”

And let’s be clear: this isn’t just a fight about regulations. It’s about protecting real people. People like us.

Why It Matters

It’s easy to get lost in the weeds of Washington drama, but here’s what we need to remember: 

Fintech as we know it was born out of the 2008 financial crisis, largely due to new regulations that forced big financial institutions to clean up their act. The CFPB was a key player in that, holding institutions accountable and creating a safer, fairer playing field.

But now, with a rising tide of deregulation, the question is: will fintech remain a champion for consumers, or will it follow the same pattern we’ve seen before? 

History has shown us that without strong oversight, innovation can be a double-edged sword.

Let’s look at the cycle:

1. The Administration Advocates for Deregulation (because, of course, innovation needs room to breathe!)

2. Financial Institutions “Innovate” (yet, the core issues—debt, savings, retirement—are still unresolved)

3. A Crisis or Collapse Follows (think subprime mortgages, think FTX)

4. Consumers Bear the Brunt (and, surprise, surprise, it’s often women and marginalized communities who feel it the hardest)

5. Institutions Get a Token Slap on the Wrist (but no real accountability)

It’s a predictable cycle—and frankly, it’s exhausting. Our fintech community can’t afford to let history repeat itself.

What we need is regulation that works for everyone. Regulation that doesn’t stifle innovation, but ensures that everyone has access to fair, affordable financial services. 

That means establishing regulatory sandboxes to test fintech products safely, creating technology-agnostic frameworks that allow innovation to thrive, and most importantly, prioritizing consumer protection.

The Path Forward: If fintech is going to lead in this new era, we need to create a landscape where the voices of those most affected by these decisions are heard. We must push for regulation that protects consumers and allows for technological progress.

#2 VCs Are Still Betting Big on Enterprise Fintech

Pitchbook just dropped its Q4 2024 Enterprise Fintech VC Trends report, and guess what? Despite the market cooling off since the peak years of 2021 and 2022, the enterprise fintech space is still booming. 

In Q4 alone, $5 billion was invested across 336 deals—showing that the sector is far from slowing down.

Even with the market’s ups and downs, an optimistic vibe hangs over the enterprise fintech scene. And why not? With a recovering IPO market and a surge in M&A activity, liquidity’s looking good again. 

Investors also feel confident about B2B fintech’s growth, thanks to its massive addressable markets, top-tier companies innovating in the space, and the accelerating impact of emerging technologies, especially AI.

Here’s the lowdown on the trends Pitchbook research is saying to keep an eye on:

1. AI Is Officially Table Stakes for Fintech

Oh, artificial intelligence: It is no longer just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have. AI quickly becomes integral to product offerings, especially in fintech’s most established sectors. 

We’re seeing it play a starring role in lending, regtech, and wealthtech, driving efficiencies and delivering more competitive pricing.

But it’s not just the traditional sectors that are benefiting. Even the back-office areas—like capital markets and the CFO stack—are getting a major AI upgrade. 

For example, Pitchbook notes startups like Setpoint, Nilus, and Rosie AI are leveraging AI to overhaul the inefficiencies in spaces once dominated by manual work. 

As the competition heats up, if your fintech isn’t integrating AI into its product, it might soon be left in the dust.

2. Agentic AI: The Next Frontier

You’ve heard of AI. But what about Agentic AI? This is the tech where AI agents are taking over tasks and processes previously done by humans. 

Whether in regtech, banking, or payments, these AI agents are starting to show up everywhere. Take Stripe, for example, which launched a software development kit allowing AI agents to transact with third parties.

It’s not just happening in payments either. Coinbase’s AgentKit lets AI agents interact with blockchain networks. Other key players like Bud, Skyfire, and Arva AI are also driving the charge on agentic AI, and they’re doing it fast.

3. Fraud Is the Elephant in the Room

Fraud isn’t just a nuisance anymore. It’s the problem that investors and operators are now looking to solve, especially as AI-driven scams get more sophisticated. 

As regulators increase scrutiny—just look at recent cases with Block and Zelle—we can expect the demand for advanced regtech solutions to explode. If you’re a fintech innovator, this is a massive opportunity to lead the charge on fraud prevention, or else risk falling behind.

4. Embedded Finance: Niche Markets Are the New Goldmine

Embedded finance isn’t just a buzzword anymore—it’s a $350 billion opportunity. Sure, payments have been the big player here, but now, verticals like lending, insurance, payroll, accounting, and tax are opening up new doors for growth.

Take AtoB and Coast. They’re using embedded finance to solve the unique pain points of the fleet industry, offering card issuing and expense management tools. 

Or check out Belfry, which is tapping into the physical security sector with its payroll and billing solutions. 

The key takeaway? There’s a ton of untapped potential in verticals you wouldn’t expect, and it’s up for grabs if you know where to look.

5. Cross-Border Payments Are Exploding, and Stablecoins Are Leading the Way

As the world gets more interconnected, cross-border payments are surging. In fact, we’re talking about a projected $320 trillion in cross-border flows by 2032, up from $195 trillion in 2024. That’s massive.

The big players in the payments space are already taking action. 

PayPal, Visa, and Stripe (which just scooped up Bridge for $1.1 billion) are doubling down on this market, and startups like BVNK and Rise are bringing new solutions to the table with stablecoins—a game-changer for international transactions due to their price stability and decentralized nature.

Last but not least: The IPO market’s picking up steam again. Companies like ServiceTitan and MobiKwik have already gone public, and now Chime and Klarna are following suit. Expect even more IPO activity over the next year or two, with major players like Stripe, Plaid, and Deel in the wings.

So what does this all mean? Despite some of the market’s headwinds, investors remain bullish on the enterprise fintech space. 

They’re excited about the potential of AI, the massive opportunity in cross-border payments, and the continued evolution of embedded finance. If you’re in this space, it’s time to get serious about these trends—or risk falling behind.

#3 The Fintech Security Summit: Addressing the Future of Digital Safety

A few months ago, the Founder & CEO of Anonybit, Frances Zelazny, came to me with an idea that instantly sparked something in me. She said, “No one has done this before.”

That was all I needed to hear.

Frances, a seasoned expert in fintech security, wanted to host a summit focused entirely on fraud, security, and digital safety—a concept that hit home for me. 

It aligns perfectly with the Fintech Is Femme mission: Ensuring that the digital systems we build are secure, inclusive, and resilient.

We all know the scary numbers—financial fraud costs banks and customers billions yearly. The statistics speak for themselves, but it’s more than just the data. Security isn’t just about protecting assets; it’s about unlocking the future of a safer, more inclusive fintech ecosystem.

As fraud and identity theft soar, fintechs cannot afford to overlook the intersection of security and accessibility.

On April 23, we’re hosting the first-ever Fintech Security Summit, collaborating with Frances and her company Anonybit. This summit will run alongside the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit during New York Fintech Week, making for a day packed with innovation, inspiration, and much-needed solutions to one of the most pressing issues in fintech.

Double the Impact. Two Stages. One Day.

It’s not just a conference. This is a movement. And here’s why:

Fintechs are losing $51 million annually to fraud. And just last year, fraud incidents shot up by 13%. It’s no longer just a headline. It’s a pervasive, real-world issue affecting every part of the fintech ecosystem.

We’re bringing together fintech trailblazers, risk experts, and innovators to explore the future of fintech security. Think high-energy keynotes, thought-provoking fireside chats, and deep dives into topics like:

• AI fraud detection

• Identity verification

• Digital wallets

But it’s not just about the sessions. We’ll also have ample time for networking with peers and experts passionate about building a safer digital world.

I couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Frances on this initiative. As someone personally affected by financial fraud, I’m deeply invested in ensuring we address this crisis. 

It’s one thing to talk about it—another to take action. This summit is our chance to tackle fraud head-on and create meaningful change for our communities.

🔒 Secure your ticket here or in the links below.

Want to sponsor or get involved? Email us: [email protected]

_{MARK YOUR CALENDARS}

Join us every Thursday to keep up with fintech events!

_{WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23}

[NEW YORK FINTECH WEEK] Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit 2025

​There are only 20 early bird tickets left for the biggest event during New York Fintech Week 2025! 🎤

If you missed it last year, here’s a quick recap of the magic that went down.

This year? We’re going BIG—doubling our size, impact, and presence. We’re bringing even more insight, innovation, and networking opportunities to the fintech community than ever before.

Grab yours before they’re gone!

_{WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23}

[NEW YORK FINTECH WEEK] Fintech Security Summit

​After years of connecting industry leaders and sparking critical conversations, Fintech Is Femme joins forces with Anonybit to host the first-ever Fintech Security Summit.

​Security is the key to unlocking the future of a safer, more inclusive fintech ecosystem.

​With fraud and identity theft on the rise, fintechs can’t afford to ignore the intersection of security and accessibility any longer.

​This Summit is designed to tackle that challenge head-on.

​Join us as we bring together fintech trailblazers, risk experts, and innovators to push boundaries, spark innovation, and lead the way in creating a fintech landscape that’s both secure and user-friendly. 

P.S. VIP ticket holders get access to BOTH the Fintech Is Femme Leadership & Security Summit. Talk about double the impact.

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That wraps up today’s edition—thanks for reading! Until next week, keep innovating and challenging the status quo. See you Tuesday!

Love,

Nicole 💜