Citespace Visualization and Analysis of the Frontiers of Digital Finance Research in the Last Decade Abroad

ABSTRACT This study employs CiteSpace to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global digital finance research from 2015 to 2024, based on Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index publications. The analysis covers publication trends, collaboration networks, keyword evolution, and co‐citation patterns. The findings reveal China's dominant role in research output, driven by state‐led digitalization strategies and market innovations, contrasting with the market‐driven approaches prevalent in Western economies. The evolution of research themes demonstrates a significant shift from the initial focus on financial inclusion and access toward complex concerns such as mediating mechanisms, trust, competition, and green digital finance. The intellectual structure is highly interdisciplinary yet fragmented, with limited integration between fields such as environmental science and finance. Collaboration networks remain sparse, underscoring a need for deeper international and cross‐sectoral engagement. The study critically highlights the dual impact of digital finance—promoting sustainability while exacerbating risks like debt accumulation and systemic fragility—and calls for robust regulatory frameworks and ethical artificial intelligence governance. Policy implications emphasize the necessity of fostering global cooperation, enhancing regulatory technologies, and advancing interdisciplinary research to address the socio‐technical challenges of digital financial ecosystems.