More than a billion people around the world still lack access to basic financial services, particularly in emerging markets.

But artificial intelligence is fuelling a financial technology transformation in many of these countries, including Brazil and Nigeria.

With the help of AI, the future of finance will be written by entrepreneurs in places like Lagos, Jakarta, Cairo and Dubai.

The global financial landscape has been irrevocably transformed by technology. Yet, amid the rapid progress brought about by the digital revolution, 1.4 billion adults worldwide still lack access to basic financial services. This is a stark reminder that innovation has outpaced inclusion, leaving vast human potential untapped. This is a generational opportunity for a paradigm shift in how we define financial access.

The biggest barrier to this shift is not infrastructure or geography, it’s intent. The real challenge is building financial systems that are intentionally inclusive. They must be grounded in equity and the determination to innovate for all.

Most of the world’s unbanked live in emerging markets, where formal financial access is limited. But the appetite for change in these regions is immense and this demand is fuelling a powerful shift. A 2023 report by Boston Consulting Group and QED Investors forecasts global fintech revenues will reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, driven significantly by emerging markets.

The challenge of fintech ingenuity

This potential is already taking shape on the ground. From Cairo to Lagos, Jakarta to São Paulo, emerging economies aren’t just adopting tech, they’re co-creating the financial operating systems of the future. The catalyst? Artificial intelligence (AI).

AI enables markets to bypass legacy infrastructure entirely, leapfrogging traditional financial infrastructure and redefining the very essence of what it means to be “financially included”. The outdated view that inclusion is noble but costly is being replaced. AI-driven ecosystems, designed for mobile-first users, are proving more scalable, accessible and commercially viable.

This isn’t a recycled model from developed markets. It’s a new framework, grounded in the distinct needs and realities of the underserved, that’s serving as a blueprint for the future of finance where every interaction is multilingual, voice-first and powered by contextual, alternative data. Here, financial identities are not defined by traditional credit scores, but by everyday digital footprints and behaviours – from messaging exchanges to mobile top-ups and geolocation patterns.

The future of finance

In 2025 and beyond, financial inclusion will no longer be about simply assigning someone a bank account number. Instead, it will be about enabling them to seamlessly interact with the full spectrum of financial services – transactional, savings, lending and investment – all within a single, integrated experience. This is not a utopian vision, it’s already happening.

Nubank, a branchless bank in Brazil, has scaled by rethinking creditworthiness. MoniePoint, a Nigerian fintech, has built a financial ecosystem around overlooked small businesses. These companies and others like them are proof that inclusion is not a philanthropic effort, it’s a lucrative and sustainable business model.

The UAE benefits from a unique combination of factors: a diverse population, a progressive regulatory environment and forward-thinking frameworks like the Stored Value Facilities and Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes regulations. This has created an unparalleled setting for developing and scaling inclusive financial solutions.

This foundation is further strengthened by initiatives such as the Digital Cooperation Organization, which works to advance digital transformation among its various member countries. Dynamic public-private partnerships are also driving the development of interoperable, cross-border fintech ecosystems. As a result, the UAE is becoming a testbed for innovation where the future of finance and financial inclusion is actively taking shape.

How AI is redefining financial identities

This transformation is not only structural but deeply human. True financial inclusion begins by recognizing people as they are, not as legacy systems expect them to be. For the unbanked, financial activity has never been absent; it has simply been invisible. Traditional institutions often deemed them too risky or irrelevant. Today, AI and alternative data are reversing that narrative.

AI doesn’t merely automate processes, it interprets the intricacies of human behaviour. It can discern financial intent where others see noise. It can reveal opportunities to save, invest or borrow in places where legacy systems see only risk. Crucially, AI offers people the chance to build a financial identity one transaction at a time.

This isn’t just an aspiration, it’s already happening in countries like India, South-East Asia and, increasingly, in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where over 70% of the population is under the age of 35. This means there is significant potential for AI-driven fintech solutions to address the financial needs of a largely young and digitally connected population. This ability to create alternative financial identities is a game-changer.

At Astra Tech, we are bringing this philosophy to life through our flagship product, Botim. Now with over 150 million active users, Botim’s journey began by simplifying something universal: communication. Imagine a remittance chat instantly triggering a micro-loan offer, or a voice note in a local dialect prompting AI-powered savings tips. These are not futuristic ideas – they are the next frontier of financial empowerment, and they are unfolding now.

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The future of finance will be powered by AI

Across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, the rapid rise of fintech ecosystems is revolutionizing finance. In Nigeria, the fintech industry grew by 70% in 2024. In Indonesia, digital transactions surged by 226% in 2024. Egypt’s fintech ecosystem experienced a 5.5-fold increase over the last five years. These are not just data points, they are blueprints for the future.