Fintech

MAGNAVFINTECH FIFTEEN 2025’S VANGUARD OF INNOVATION In a financial world undergoing rapid digital transformation, the line between tradition and disruption continues to blur. The year 2025 has proven to be a pivotal point in the fintech landscape a moment when AI, blockchain, embedded finance, and neobanking aren’t just fringe concepts or startup jargon but fully integrated elements of global financial ecosystems. Behind this unprecedented evolution are the individuals reshaping finance not only through technology but through vision, strategy, and relentless execution. We call them the Fintech Fifteen a cohort of trailblazers whose influence, thought leadership, and impact are driving the future of financial services across borders and verticals. This carefully curated list of fifteen global influencers doesn’t simply include founders of unicorns or high-profile CEOs. It also embraces the authors, strategists, analysts, and advisors whose behind-the-scenes work is steering policy, regulation, and digital transformation inside some of the world’s most complex financial institutions. These individuals through newsletters, podcasts, public speaking, advisory roles, and direct leadership have built bridges between compliance and code, between Wall Street and Web3, and between financial inclusion and profitability. At a time when trust in traditional banking institutions is being re-evaluated, and technology adoption accelerates amidst increasing geopolitical and regulatory pressure, the role of these influencers becomes even more critical. They are not only interpreting seismic shifts but are actively shaping how governments, corporations, and consumers navigate them. Their work spans continents from Simon Taylor’s pioneering frameworks on AI regulation in the UK, to Olugbenga Agboola’s mission to empower African SMEs through Flutterwave, to Efi Pylarinou’s insights on the convergence of decentralization and institutional finance across Europe and the Middle East. Their influence is multidimensional. Some, like Nik Storonsky of Revolut and Guillaume Pousaz of Checkout.com, are scaling global fintech platforms with staggering speed and ambition. Others, like Ron Shevlin and Jason Mikula, have built reputations as the industry’s most respected critical voices, decoding the real versus the hype in an often overly optimistic sector. Figures such as Anne Boden and Theodora Lau remind us that fintech is not just about speed and scale, but about inclusion, human-centric design, and long-term impact. This list also captures the diversity of roles that shape fintech today. Whether it’s Leda Glyptis pushing cultural transformation inside legacy banks, Lex Sokolin architecting token economies for the decentralized future, or Brett King envisioning Banking 5.0 long before others saw it coming each of these names represents a different pillar of the fintech edifice being built in real-time. The Fintech Fifteen are not static figureheads but dynamic catalysts. They are thinkers who execute and doers who think. They embody a shift from finance that was once opaque and monolithic to one that is increasingly modular, programmable, and accessible. Their ability to merge technical sophistication with business acumen, public communication with policy influence, and entrepreneurial grit with institutional scale is what earns them their place on this list. In recognizing these fifteen individuals, we acknowledge the architects of tomorrow’s financial infrastructure. We celebrate their roles as not just influencers in the narrow sense of social media popularity, but as decision-makers, educators, builders, and reformers. They do not merely reflect the state of fintech, they are writing its next chapter. This is more than a list it’s a statement about where fintech is headed, and who is steering the ship. Welcome to the Fintech Fifteen of 2025 a definitive guide to the people who matter most in the world of financial innovation.

Simon Taylor Head of Strategy & Content at Sardine S imon Taylor is currently the Head of Strategy & Content at Sardine, an AI-driven payments and compliance platform focused on fraud and regulatory oversight in fintech. With over two decades of experience spanning blockchain research at Barclays to consultancy with 11FS, Simon has become one of fintech’s most respected voices through his writing, speaking, and strategic thought leadership.  His widely read Fintech Brainfood newsletter boasts a subscriber base exceeding 40,000, including financiers, CEOs, VCs, and policymakers, illustrating his deep influence in shaping industry perspectives. Taylor’s commentary consistently emphasizes the intersection of innovation, regulation, and practical adoption, particularly in emerging areas like AI agents in financial services. In early 2025, Sardine released a new white paper developed under Taylor’s guidance: the Agentic Oversight Framework, offering scalable best practices for deploying AI agent technology in regulated banking environments.  Simon is a frequent guest on major fintech podcasts where his communication style, clear, grounded, and forward-looking, allows practitioners to navigate complex topics such as AI governance, AML automation, and fraud prevention. His LinkedIn posts reveal his analytical mindset, with commentary on future-driving trends like “bank-to-pay” rails, stablecoins, and wallet-based rebundling of finance.  Taylor’s influence combines content creation, strategic thought leadership, and technological consulting, marking him as central to bridging fintech innovation with the practical demands of compliance and risk. He plays a pivotal role in translating complex AI developments into actionable frameworks for banks and fintech companies. With a finger on the pulse of regulation and emerging technology, Simon continues to guide both incumbents and startups toward more resilient and intelligent financial services.

Nik Storonsky Co-founder and CEO of Revolut  Nikolay “Nik” Storonsky, co-founder and CEO of Revolut, has been a dominant force in global fintech disruption. Since launching the company in 2015, his vision has taken Revolut from a prepaid currency card startup to Europe’s most valuable private fintech, boasting over 50 million customers, significant profitability, and a valuation around $45 billion.  Storonsky’s approach fuses aggressive expansion, product diversity, and market ambition. The company now offers crypto trading, wage advances, stockbroking, mortgages, and global ATM services, underlining his commitment to building a truly global financial app.  In 2025, Storonsky negotiated a high-stakes compensation scheme tied to a future $150 billion valuation, potentially granting him an additional 10% stake in Revolut if growth targets are hit. He recently consolidated control through ownership restructuring, now holding over 25% of the company both indirect and direct, affirming his influence and long-term commitment. Meanwhile, Revolut is pursuing full UK bank status, multiple international licenses, and preparing a likely IPO in either New York or London.  Storonsky’s leadership style is driven, detail-oriented, and fearless, a former derivatives trader who emphasizes execution, data, and efficiency in scaling Revolut rapidly across continents. His ability to grow both revenue and user base while diversifying into multiple financial verticals has made him one of the most influential fintech innovators worldwide

Guillaume Pousaz Founder and CEO of Checkout.com  Guillaume Pousaz is the Swiss-born founder and CEO of Checkout.com, the global payments infrastructure company launched in 2012. Pousaz has built Checkout.com into a fintech powerhouse, facilitating online transactions for major global companies such as Alibaba, Wise, Ikea, and Remitly, with revenue growth of 45% year-on-year and full-year profitability targeted for 2025.  A self-made billionaire with an estimated net worth in the billions, Pousaz is notable for funding Checkout.com heavily internally until its first external raise in 2019. Since then, he has led the company through multiple rounds of investment while expanding the business globally. Cutting-edge in innovation, Checkout.com is expanding into direct acquiring in new geographies like Canada and Brazil in 2025, moving from being a pure processor to owning deeper market infrastructure. Pousaz also leads with philanthropy through Pousaz Philanthropies, focusing on child safety and education, demonstrating how fintech leadership can extend into social impact. Under his leadership, Checkout.com is reshaping how merchant services operate, offering unified platforms that incorporate analytics, fraud detection, cross-border payments, and local acquiring.  Pousaz’s influence is felt not only through company performance but also in investor circles, where Checkout.com’s growth trajectory is a benchmark among fintech scale-ups.

Olugbenga Agboola Founder and CEO of Flutterwave Olugbenga “GB” Agboola is the Nigerian-born founder and CEO of Flutterwave, Africa’s homegrown payments unicorn. Since launching in 2016, Flutterwave has processed billions in cross-border and local payments, expanded into over 30 African countries, and achieved a multibillion-dollar valuation.  The company’s Send app is now live in almost every U.S. state, expanding its global footprint. Flutterwave’s prominence earned it inclusion in TIME’s Most Influential Companies list in 2025, showcasing its global impact and leadership in digital commerce infrastructure. Agboola’s recognition includes national awards and influence within the diaspora and global fintech ecosystem. His educational background includes studies at the University of Westminster and MIT Sloan, blending technical prowess with strategic foresight. Beyond Flutterwave, Agboola serves on global advisory boards including the U.S.–Africa Business Center and the Wall Street Journal CEO Council.  Agboola’s vision is rooted in building scalable infrastructure to empower Africa’s SMEs and global remittance flows. His leadership combines market intuition, platform building, and a clear emphasis on inclusion, placing him at the forefront of global fintech innovation and regional impact.

Brett King Fintech Futurist, Author, and Entrepreneur Brett King is a globally recognised fintech futurist, author, and entrepreneur. As co-founder of mobile banking pioneer Moven, he helped seed the mobile and neobanking revolution. King’s influence extends far beyond a single startup; he hosts the top fintech radio show and podcast, Breaking Banks, with tens of millions of listeners in over 180 countries, and regularly advises governments and regulators on fintech strategy.  In 2025, Brett King joined the Global Advisory Board for WebAccountPlus AI Innovation Ltd., teaming up with industry legends to chart next-generation financial infrastructure beyond Open Banking. He frequently shares insights on Banking 5.0 and how AI is reshaping finance—themes he also explores in global conferences and in his writing.  King remains a prolific contributor to industry media and a keynote speaker at major fintech summits. His work bridges future vision, policy influence, and technological innovation. He has authored several best-selling books including Bank 4.0 and The Rise of Technosocialism, offering deep insight into the social and technological transformations reshaping finance.  Brett King’s legacy is rooted not just in predictions, but in actively shaping the direction of fintech. His ability to synthesize macro-trends and communicate their implications for financial institutions makes him one of the most impactful voices in the industry today.

Anne Boden Founder of Starling Bank Anne Boden is a pioneer in the digital banking revolution and the founder of Starling Bank, one of the UK’s leading challenger banks. Her journey from traditional banking to fintech innovation embodies the transformative spirit of the sector. Before launching Starling in 2014, she held senior roles at some of the world’s largest financial institutions including Lloyds Bank, Standard Chartered, UBS, and ABN AMRO.  Anne was motivated to launch Starling Bank after observing the inefficiencies and outdated systems that plagued traditional banking. Starling emerged as a mobile-first bank focused on transparency, real-time data, and customer empowerment. Under her leadership, the bank became profitable, reached millions of customers, and launched innovative services for SMEs, personal banking, and embedded finance.  In 2023, Boden stepped down as CEO, marking the end of a groundbreaking tenure but continuing her involvement as a board member. Her book ‘Banking On It’ details the challenges of launching a digital bank in a heavily regulated, male-dominated industry and has become an essential read for fintech entrepreneurs.  Anne’s influence lies in demonstrating that it’s possible to build a bank from scratch with a vision for inclusion, speed, and tech-first service. As the first woman to found a UK bank, she’s an inspirational figure in fintech and beyond, often speaking at global forums and championing diversity and innovation in financial services.

Ron Shevlin Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors Ron Shevlin is one of the most respected voices in banking and fintech, known for his sharp insights, strategic commentary, and in-depth research. He is the Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors and a Senior Contributor to Forbes, where he writes the popular column ‘Fintech Snark Tank.’  With decades of experience advising banks and credit unions on digital strategy and innovation, Shevlin has developed a reputation for challenging hype and promoting practical approaches to fintech. His work spans topics like embedded finance, banking-as-a-service, neobank economics, and customer engagement strategies.  He is a regular keynote speaker at major financial services conferences and is considered a must-follow thought leader on social media. Ron is also the author of ‘Smarter Bank,’ a book that lays out the principles of customer-centric digital transformation in banking. He is known for blending wit with data-driven insights, helping executives and fintech founders navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape.  Shevlin’s impact on the industry lies not in building startups but in shaping the strategic thinking of those who do. His influence spans traditional banks, emerging fintechs, investors, and regulators, all of whom look to his analysis for clarity, critique, and direction. In a noisy space, Shevlin remains one of the clearest and most trusted voices

Efi Pylarinou Fintech & Blockchain Advisor Efi Pylarinou is a globally recognized fintech and blockchain advisor, with a unique background that blends Wall Street finance, academia, and digital innovation. Based in Switzerland, she is one of the most active independent voices in fintech commentary, regularly publishing articles, whitepapers, and multimedia content on digital finance, AI, and decentralized technologies.  Efi began her career in investment banking and quantitative finance before pivoting toward fintech. She has since become a leading analyst on wealthtech, regtech, and blockchain applications in finance. Her blog and YouTube channel feature regular deep dives into market trends, startup analysis, and emerging technologies, earning her a wide audience among practitioners, investors, and regulators.  As a keynote speaker and advisory board member, Efi is involved in shaping digital finance policies and strategies at both corporate and governmental levels. Her contributions extend beyond analysis, she actively mentors fintech startups and promotes ethical and inclusive technology development.  Pylarinou’s influence is particularly felt in Europe and the Middle East, where her work bridges the gap between technology and institutional finance. Her multidisciplinary perspective makes her an essential voice in a rapidly evolving ecosystem, helping stakeholders understand both the

DAVID BREAR THE CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF 11:FS David Brear is the co-founder and CEO of 11:FS, a digital consultancy that has helped define the modern fintech playbook. With a background that includes digital leadership roles at Lloyds Bank, Aviva, and Gartner, Brear has positioned himself at the center of financial innovation in the UK and globally.  At 11:FS, Brear leads a team that builds challenger bank platforms, consults for financial institutions, and produces widely followed fintech content. Their podcast ‘Fintech Insider’ is one of the most popular in the industry, featuring interviews with top leaders and analysis of breaking trends. Brear is known for his straight-talking style, often challenging the status quo in banking and advocating for customer-centric, agile technology solutions.  His belief that ‘digital banking is only 1% finished’ has become a mantra among fintech professionals. He frequently speaks at international events, appears in media commentary, and mentors emerging fintech founders. Under his leadership, 11:FS has worked with major players including NatWest, Standard Chartered, and numerous startups. David’s influence stems from his ability to combine strategic vision with practical implementation, helping clients transform bold ideas into operational succes