A comprehensive analysis of FinTech (1968–2025): a bibliometric approach

Mohammed R. M. Salem () and Shahida Shahimi ()
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Mohammed R. M. Salem: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Shahida Shahimi: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Future Business Journal, 2025, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Abstract This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of FinTech research spanning from 1968 to 2025, using 2760 articles indexed in the Web of Science database. It aims to uncover major publication trends, core theoretical frameworks, emerging topics, and the intellectual structure of FinTech scholarship. Employing VOSviewer and Harzing’s Publish or Perish software, this study maps co-occurrence networks, citation structures, and thematic clusters. It analyzes document types, source distribution, geographical contributions, keyword evolution, and the top 10 most cited papers in FinTech literature. The analysis reveals a significant surge in FinTech research since 1968, driven by the growing impact of digital finance innovations. The top three countries contributing to FinTech publications are the USA, England, and China. Dominant publication outlets include the International Journal of Bank Marketing and the Journal of Financial Services Marketing. Key research themes have evolved across three distinct periods: early banking and innovation (1968–1999), customer satisfaction and trust (2000–2011), and bank performance and digital adoption (2012–2025). Emerging topics include blockchain, mobile banking, crowdfunding, and Internet banking. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), along with its extended versions (TAM2, TAM3, UTAUT), is identified as the foundational theoretical framework in this field. The co-citation and keyword cluster analysis confirm the centrality of trust, risk, satisfaction, and performance in shaping FinTech outcomes. These findings not only synthesize FinTech’s academic development but also inform future research by identifying intellectual gaps and high-impact trends. The study highlights the growing integration between FinTech and consumer behavior and calls for deeper exploration into regulatory, ethical, and cybersecurity issues affecting FinTech adoption. Beyond the banking sector, the thematic patterns uncovered particularly in areas such as blockchain-based supply chain finance, crowdfunding ecosystems, and AI-enabled embedded financial services signal substantial strategic implications for non-financial firms. These include enhanced liquidity management, decentralized capital access, and data-driven business model innovation across diverse industries such as manufacturing, retail, and digital commerce.

Keywords: Fintech; Financial technology; Banks; Banking; Crowdfund; E-commerce; Blockchain; E-finance; Digital finance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G19 G21 G32 M14 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1186/s43093-025-00652-1

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