Ireland may have made its mark in the global fintech industry but the blistering pace of evolution within the sector means we need to take it up a notch if we are to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities in this area. That’s the view of experts, who say that while we are punching well above our weight, we are still lagging behind the big cities that dominate the financial markets.
Ireland’s fintech sector is experiencing a period of remarkable momentum, says Louise Hogan, partner in fintech with A&L Goodbody. “The payment and e-money sector has more than doubled since 2018, the Central Bank’s Innovation Sandbox Programme is actively supporting firms at the frontier of payments and financial crime innovation, and the first MiCA [Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation] authorisations for cryptoasset service providers have now been granted in Ireland,” she says. “The ecosystem itself is thriving.”
According to Ian Nelson, partner and head of financial services and regulatory with KPMG in Ireland, this momentum is underpinned by sustained investment and growing confidence in scaling firms.
“Our latest KPMG Pulse of FinTech H2 2025 report showed Irish fintechs attracted over $259 million in investment in 2025, with deal values rising significantly over recent years despite a more cautious global environment,” he notes.
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“This reflects a maturing market where investors are increasingly focused on firms with clear traction and robust business models.”
Investor confidence in Irish fintech, he adds, reflects not only strong business models but also the quality of the ecosystem, all supported by a highly skilled workforce and robust governance frameworks.
Nelson also points out, however, that competitor jurisdictions have been “intently focused” in recent times on offering attractive environments for innovation in the fintech space – something Ireland should be cognisant of.
Nicola Sheridan, director of fintech and payments leader with PwC Ireland, agrees, saying Ireland’s fintech sector is experiencing robust and sustained growth.
“Vibrant clusters are emerging in Dublin, Cork, and Galway,” she says. The sector, she notes, currently boasts around 600 international financial services companies and employs more than 60,000 people. “This impressive growth has been largely fuelled by the dynamic expansion of payments and regtech businesses – innovators providing cutting-edge technology to streamline and enhance regulatory compliance to financial services businesses.”
One of Ireland’s most notable attributes in the area is our strong skills pipeline – something that both Nelson and Sheridan say should be nurtured.
“Talent is essential to the continued growth of fintech in Ireland, particularly as the sector evolves in response to rapid technological change,” says Nelson. “Ireland’s long-established financial services sector, combined with its growing expertise in technology, has created a workforce operating at the intersection of finance, regulation and digital innovation.”
This positions the country well to capitalise on emerging areas, including AI-driven solutions and next-generation payments, key drivers of fintech growth.
But to nurture this talent, Nelson says it’s crucial that investment continues in both education and continuous upskilling. “Industry-aligned third-level programmes, alongside targeted professional training, will help to build a strong and future-ready talent pipeline.”
Hogan’s A&L Goodbody colleague Eimear O’Brien, also a partner in fintech, says the strong academic foundation in Ireland is increasingly being channelled into fintech-specific pathways through dedicated college courses.
“I can see the level of expertise coming through, in compliance professionals in particular, who have built really strong credentials at the top fintech firms in Europe,” she notes. “Having successfully co-ordinated mentoring programmes for fintech, I’ve seen first-hand that the pipeline is working.”
But Sheridan says that much like in other fast-moving sectors, ensuring access to top-tier talent remains crucial. “To maintain competitiveness, it is essential to address foundational infrastructure needs, including affordable housing and ubiquitous high-speed internet connectivity across all regions of Ireland.”
As the sector evolves, an increasingly entrepreneurial culture is also taking root, Sheridan adds, one that is fostering a healthy growth of indigenous fintech start-ups. “Enhancing targeted measures such as the Key Employee Engagement Programme would support investment in and scaling of indigenous fintech businesses,” she notes.
Hogan says Ireland needs to “shout louder” about what it offers: a world-class regulator with deep sectoral expertise, full EU passporting rights, a competitive tax framework, access to a deep talent pool, and an ecosystem purpose-built to scale. “For firms considering where to establish or expand their European operations, the proposition is compelling, but there is strong competition from the Netherlands and, more recently, Luxembourg, in their bid to become the natural home for EU fintech.”
O’Brien adds that Enterprise Ireland has invested significantly in more than 200 fintech and financial services companies, whose clients have in turn invested in Ireland, while IDA Ireland continues to attract big international financial services firms.
“With initiatives like the 10 per cent corporation tax rate on qualifying IP profits and the recently introduced Angel Investor capital gains tax relief, the country offers one of Europe’s most attractive incentive frameworks for fintech founders and investors,” she says.
O’Brien notes that the proposed national fintech hub, put forward in the Department of Finance’s Ireland for Finance strategy, would provide a dedicated space for fintechs and established financial institutions to collaborate and co-develop products. “This now needs to move from concept to delivery.”
The creation of a national fintech hub would be transformative, agrees Sheridan. “It would offer companies – from early-stage start-ups to scaling firms – a centralised ‘one-stop shop’ to access industry knowledge, talent, and expert resources.” Such a hub would foster greater collaboration and innovation, helping to close skills gaps and strengthen Ireland’s position as a global fintech leader, she says.
As the sector becomes more complex and fast moving, Nelson says agility and collaboration across industry and Government will be increasingly important to sustain the strong growth we have already seen. “An ecosystem for innovation and learning, centred around the proposed fintech hub for Ireland, should be front and centre of our strategic thinking in this regard.”
