Where Are Global Investors Deploying Capital in Fintech in 2026?

Global fintech investment has strengthened in 2026, but the headline numbers need context. Capital is concentrating in scaled platforms, infrastructure and strategic transactions rather than being spread evenly across all fintech companies.

The headline: more capital, fewer deals

KPMG’s Pulse of Fintech reported global fintech investment of $103.1 billion in H1 2026, up from $72.2 billion in H2 2025. Deal volume, however, declined to 2,100 deals. The combination suggests that more capital is being deployed into a smaller set of companies and strategic transactions.

M&A represented the largest share of investment at $67.9 billion across 394 deals. VC investment was $31.5 billion across 1,641 deals. Corporate VC investment reached $16.3 billion, indicating continued strategic interest from established financial and technology companies.

Payments and infrastructure remain important

Payments generated substantial deal value in H1 2026, although the total was heavily influenced by a very large acquisition. The broader message is more useful than the headline: investors continue to show interest in scaled payment infrastructure and platforms where transaction growth is supported by strong economics.

For founders, that means payment volume alone is not enough. Investors want to understand take rate, merchant mix, net revenue, gross margin, fraud and chargebacks, customer retention and how cross-border growth changes unit economics.

AI, regtech and digital assets are attracting attention

KPMG also points to investor interest in AI-driven financial workflows, regulatory technology, digital-asset infrastructure and stablecoin-related infrastructure. In each case, the strongest investment thesis is usually tied to measurable financial-services value rather than technology novelty alone.

A fintech using AI to reduce fraud, improve underwriting, automate compliance or increase productivity may therefore need to prove how the technology changes revenue, cost, risk or customer outcomes.

Regional capital pools are moving differently

The Americas accounted for the majority of global fintech investment in H1 2026, led by the United States. EMEA and Asia-Pacific recorded lower aggregate investment, although both regions continue to produce meaningful growth rounds and sector-specific opportunities.

This makes global investor targeting important. A company should not assume that the largest capital pool is automatically the best fit; the investor’s mandate, regulatory familiarity, cheque size, portfolio and cross-border strategy matter just as much.

How Terex Ventures can help fintechs respond to these trends

Terex Ventures can help a scaling fintech translate market trends into a company-specific capital strategy through Capital & Fundraising Advisory. That includes positioning the funding requirement, financial model, valuation narrative and investor materials around the company’s actual stage and economics.

For companies using a raise to enter new markets, Cross-Border Growth Advisory can help connect the capital plan with market-entry requirements and relevant investor or strategic-partner engagement.