After a year of regulatory triumphs, industry leaders are betting that 2026 could mark a major inflection point. Crypto firms are trading state licences for national charters, payments giants are rewiring their rails for blockchain settlement, and artificial intelligence agents are inching closer to autonomous payments. The fintech industry's ambitious vision for the future of finance still faces hurdles, with congressional haggling over the details of crypto regulation spilling into next year. Here's what executives, investors and policymakers expect in 2026.One of the clearest paths for fintech firms to boost margins next year is by cutting out the middlemen. "We'll move beyond assistants-AI agents will research, negotiate, and complete secure purchases on behalf of consumers."

Source: Economic Times January 01, 2026 03:33 UTC