Fintech

From the Insights & Research team at Finnosummit, we analyzed the outlook for 2026 by cross-referencing QED Investors’ theses with the study “The Ecosystem Powering E-commerce in LATAM” by Endeavor and Mercado Pago.

We are witnessing a structural reset of the Fintech ecosystem, where financial innovation is no longer a differentiator and has become critical infrastructure for the real economy.

Here are the key takeaways from our analysis.

2026: The year of normalization and scale

The Fintech ecosystem in Latin America has moved beyond the disruption phase. We are now entering a period defined by normalization, operational discipline, and real scaling.

This is no longer just about weathering macroeconomic or electoral cycles in markets such as Brazil or Colombia, but about understanding how public policy translates into concrete regulatory action.

In Mexico, the CNBV is advancing the normalization of the Fintech Law. In Brazil, the maturity of Pix—used by 91% of the adult population—is eroding the relevance of physical cards. According to QED, 2026 will be the moment of truth for real-time payment rails (RTPs) such as DiMo in Mexico and Bre-B in Colombia, which must prove their ability to displace cash, particularly in informal sectors.

“Fintech no longer competes with banks; it competes with friction. And whoever controls the infrastructure that removes that friction will define the next decade of growth in Latin America.”
— Andrés Fontao, CEO of Finnosummit

The growth triad: Retail, Logistics, and the Fintech engine

The Endeavor and Mercado Pago report shows that marketplaces are only the surface. The real value lies in the financial infrastructure layers that support them.

Retail & E-commerce

With a base of 67 million active users in Mexico, competition in e-commerce has evolved. The differentiator is no longer product assortment, but the ability to reduce friction across the payment and financing journey.

Mercado Pago is a representative case of this shift: today, 56% of its revenue comes from its Fintech vertical, not from commerce itself—confirming the strategic weight of financial infrastructure within the ecosystem.

Logistics & Fulfillment

This sector concentrates an average investment of USD $45.6 million per company, underscoring that e-commerce success depends less on the front end and more on financial and operational efficiency behind the click.

Health and Services

The ability to embed credit at the point of payment is accelerating the adoption of models such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) in historically underserved sectors. Globally, BNPL is projected to reach USD $450 billion this year.

“Companies that eliminate payment friction and adapt solutions to local financial realities can rapidly expand their addressable market.”
— Endeavor Analysis

For Fintechs: “agent-ready” infrastructure and Open Finance

For Fintechs, the opportunity in 2026 is both technical and strategic. We are seeing a shift toward models driven by data-enabled cross-selling, capital efficiency, and applied artificial intelligence.

Open Finance: Platforms such as Belvo are closing the customer loop by integrating banking, tax (SAT), and employment (IMSS) data, enabling a true 360° view of the user.

Capital efficiency: While marketplaces show increasing fragmentation, credit and payments Fintechs are concentrating average investments of USD $55 million per company.

Pragmatic AI: Beyond chatbots, AI is now optimizing intelligent payment routing and predictive fraud detection, directly impacting margins and profitability.

This conversation is already happening on Conexión Fintech, the podcast co-produced by Finnosummit and Mastercard, where global leaders from Mastercard, Microsoft AI, and Skyfire analyze how AI is transforming digital commerce and the financial infrastructure that enables it.

In the third episode, we explore the rise of Agentic Commerce, a model in which intelligent agents anticipate needs, discover products, and execute purchases autonomously—fundamentally redefining the relationship between brands, payments, and consumers.

👉 Register and secure your spot at Conexión Fintech on February 12 at 10:00 a.m. CT.

The new competitive landscape: banks, incumbents, and regulated Fintechs

QED Investors issues a clear warning: traditional incumbents are closing the technology gap. Institutions such as Itaú, Bradesco, BBVA, and CitiBanamex have gone on the offensive with large-scale transformations, core banking modernization, and open API strategies.

However, the competitive landscape is no longer limited to traditional banks versus startups.

Large Fintech players are now emerging with licenses and regulatory approval that allow them to operate de facto as banks—combining technological agility with regulatory capacity. This new hybrid incumbent is reshaping competition and increasing pressure across the entire ecosystem.

In this context, the key question for Fintechs—and banks alike—is unavoidable:
Which categories are still truly defensible?

The answer lies less in size and more in specialization: focus on specific niches, execution speed, technological depth, and the ability to integrate AI and data before they become industry standards.

Industrial convergence is designed at FINNOSUMMIT 2026

The future does not belong to isolated platforms, but to integrated ecosystems.

If you are a leader in innovation in:

• Retail or Health: discover how to implement invisible payments and alternative credit to democratize access to your services.

• Logistics: connect with the tech enablers building the financial infrastructure that links platforms, providers, and cash flows.

• Fintechs or incumbents: this is the stage to design alliances that combine agility with corporate scale.

FINNOSUMMIT 2026 is not just an anniversary edition.
It is the point where financial innovation truly integrates into the real economy.

Are you ready to lead the convergence?
👉 Register for FINNOSUMMIT 2026 and secure your place at the most historic edition to date.