Exploring global FinTech markets: economic patterns, risk perspectives and strategic partnerships

Abstract This paper explores the intricate dynamics within the public FinTech landscape, focusing on economic structures, evolutionary trends, and partnership strategies. As FinTech becomes a significant force in transforming global financial services, understanding market dynamics, strategic partnerships, and risk management becomes crucial for stakeholders. We analyzed 131 publicly listed FinTech companies using a systematic document review and advanced analytical tools (S&P Capital IQ, Power BI, WordStat) to examine financial data, strategic partnerships, and risk assessments. Our findings reveal the dominance of the U.S. market, the importance of strategic partnerships—especially with technology firms and traditional banks—and the different growth patterns across regions. The research highlights the pivotal of collaborations and regulatory challenges in shaping the FinTech landscape. We identify significant risks through quantitative analyses, such as Altman Z-Scores and adjusted beta factors, to provide insights into market volatility and risk exposure. This study examines the drivers of FinTech development and their implications for market structures, partnerships, regulation, and risk management, offering insights for investors, companies, and academics. Despite focusing on publicly listed companies, the work emphasizes the need for ongoing research to capture variations across privately held and global FinTech markets.