Fintech Innovation: A New Era of Financial Inclusion
On February 10, 2026, the global fintech landscape experienced a wave of announcements signaling a new era of collaboration, technological advancement, and inclusive growth across Asia and Africa. From Nigeria’s burgeoning digital training sector to the dynamic fintech hubs of Mumbai and the policy-focused environment of Bhubaneswar, these developments highlight a unified effort to redefine how financial services are built, delivered, and regulated for the future.
Nigeria: Empowering Communities Through Digital Savings
The Ibadan Digital Academy (IDA) in Nigeria initiated this transformative change by forging a strategic partnership with Ajoti, a fintech firm specializing in digitizing trusted savings systems. According to BusinessDay, this collaboration aims to broaden access to inclusive financial innovation, particularly for underserved communities. IDA, renowned for its digital capacity building and skills acquisition programs, will equip young people with the skills needed in today’s digital economy. Ajoti brings its research-backed expertise in digitizing AJO (Rotating Savings and Credit Association, or ROSCA).
Ajoti’s model differs from traditional credit systems by focusing on consistency and collective discipline to build financial access. The partnership gained momentum after Ajoti received support from the Crimson Project at the University of Utah, strengthening its platform and preparing it for pilot implementation. IDA CEO Peter Ojo recognized the potential to reimagine financial access through a community savings framework, leading to this impactful agreement. IDA will provide technical expertise, digital skills training, and incubation support to help Ajoti develop and deploy its product across Nigeria. Both organizations share a commitment to innovation, skills development, and technology-driven solutions for underserved populations.
India: MIDASX Achieves Record Growth with AI-Powered Fintech
In India, MIDASX, a rising star in the fintech ecosystem, announced a remarkable 30% revenue growth in Q3 FY 25–26. As reported by Meyka AI PTY LTD, this marks MIDASX’s strongest quarterly performance since its inception, signaling a shift from product development to large-scale execution. The company achieved SaaS break-even and cash-flow positivity, demonstrating operational maturity and long-term sustainability.
This success is driven by the launch of a comprehensive AI-powered fintech platform that integrates multi-asset financial product distribution, empowering intermediaries like mutual fund distributors and advisors. The platform streamlines onboarding, transaction management, analytics, and advisory support, improving efficiency and providing clients with diverse investment options. MIDASX’s freemium strategy and AI-enabled tools have fueled rapid user adoption and engagement. To support its growth, MIDASX opened a new office in Mumbai and expanded its workforce, reinforcing its commitment to technological innovation.
Aakash Bansal, Co-Founder and CEO of MIDASX, described Q3 FY 25–26 as a transformational phase. “We’re not just building software; we’re constructing the infrastructure for the future of financial distribution in India,” he stated, envisioning MIDASX as the default operating system for financial advisors and product creators.
Policy Collaboration: SPF and GFTN Accelerate Fintech Innovation
The Black Swan Summit India 2026 in Bhubaneswar saw the Startup Policy Forum (SPF) announce a strategic collaboration with the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), aiming to accelerate fintech and digital innovation across borders. According to Bernama, the partnership, formalized in the presence of key stakeholders, will foster coordinated policy engagement, ecosystem development, and cross-border growth programs.
SPF, representing over 65 high-growth Indian startups valued at over US$100 billion, works with government institutions to strengthen India’s innovation policy. GFTN, based in Singapore and established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, connects policy, technology, and finance leaders across more than 130 countries. The collaboration will focus on strengthening global–India innovation corridors, enabling policy dialogue, and supporting the international expansion of Indian startups. Priority areas include digital finance infrastructure, responsible AI, digital assets, cross-border payments, and regulatory innovation.
Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO of SPF, emphasized the partnership’s significance: “This partnership embeds India’s startup ecosystem more deeply into global financial and technology networks. By combining SPF’s on-ground policy advocacy with GFTN’s global platforms, we can drive regulatory coherence, cross-border growth and long-term innovation.”
The Future of Fintech: A Connected Ecosystem
These developments demonstrate a broader trend: fintech’s evolution from isolated solutions to interconnected, policy-driven ecosystems. The IDA-Ajoti partnership highlights the need for community-based financial solutions. MIDASX’s achievements underscore the importance of operational maturity, AI, and workforce expansion. The SPF-GFTN collaboration demonstrates how regulatory coherence and global partnerships can create an enabling environment for startups.
A shared commitment to financial inclusion, technological innovation, and ecosystem growth ties these developments together. The future of fintech will be shaped by those who can blend technology, policy, and community impact in creative and sustainable ways. As these partnerships and platforms mature, the global fintech sector will likely see even greater integration, competition, and opportunity, offering hope for inclusive financial innovation worldwide.
