FinTech Adoption and Its Influence on Sustainable Mineral Resource Management in the United States

Asif Raihan, Syed Masiur Rahman, Mohammad Ridwan and Tapan Sarker ()
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Asif Raihan: Applied Research Center for Environment and Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Syed Masiur Rahman: Applied Research Center for Environment and Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Ridwan: Department of Economics, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
Tapan Sarker: School of Business, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4300, Australia

Resources, 2025, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: Sustainable mineral resource management is critical amid escalating environmental concerns and growing demand for minerals in digital and clean energy technologies. While financial technology (FinTech) has been widely recognized for enhancing financial inclusion and economic efficiency, its role in environmental governance—particularly in the mining sector—remains underexplored, especially within developed economies like the United States. This study addresses this gap by examining how FinTech adoption influences mineral sustainability, using time series data from 1998 to 2023. Four FinTech proxies—mobile cellular subscriptions, Internet usage, fixed broadband access, and financial inclusion—were analyzed alongside environmental compliance and investment in sustainable mining technologies. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and Frequency Domain Causality (FDC) analysis, the results show that greater FinTech adoption significantly reduces mineral depletion rates, indicating improved sustainability. Internet and broadband access exhibit strong long-term impacts, while mobile connectivity and credit access show notable short- and medium-term effects. Investment in sustainable mining technologies further enhances these outcomes. Our findings suggest that FinTech serves as a multidimensional enabler of sustainability through digital inclusion, transparency, and access to green financing. This study provides empirical evidence to guide policymakers in integrating digital financial infrastructure into strategies for sustainable mineral resource governance.

Keywords: resources; mineral management; FinTech; environment; sustainability; USA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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