THE SYNERGY BETWEEN BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND FINTECH IN REINVENTING GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEMS

The study examines how blockchain fintech synergy transforms the structure of global financial systems by converting disruption into institutional reform. It focuses on multi-country evidence from 42 economies across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America between 2020 and 2024. Using structural equation modeling on secondary datasets from the IMF Fintech Index, BIS, and World Bank FinReg data, the analysis demonstrates that decentralized transactions (β = 0.41), smart contracts (β = 0.29), and tokenized assets (β = 0.22) collectively enhance institutional efficiency and resilience. Regulatory adaptability showed a strong moderating effect (β = 0.12), proving that flexible policy frameworks accelerate technological diffusion and systemic stability. The findings reveal that blockchain innovation not only improves liquidity and transparency but also enables financial institutions to internalize disruption, turning technological change into reform. This research contributes to theory by extending The Innovator’s Dilemma through the addition of regulatory adaptability, thereby broadening its explanatory scope and offering a refined framework for understanding systemic innovation in global financial ecosystems. The study bridges the gap between micro-level innovation theory and macroeconomic transformation, showing that adaptive governance transforms disruption into sustainable financial equilibrium. It provides actionable insights for policymakers, regulators, and multinational financial institutions seeking to harness blockchain fintech convergence for inclusive and transparent economic growth.