Hotspots and Trends of Financial Technology (Fintech) Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Fintech has emerged as a force of disruption in the reconfiguration of traditional financial services through technological innovation, while research on this domain remains fragmented. The present study tries to fill this literature gap by carrying out a bibliometric analysis of 494 Fintech-related articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection from 2001 to 2024. Using VOSviewer and RStudio, publication trends, citation networks, and the contributions of highly productive authors, institutions, and countries are presented. The findings show a rapid growth in Fintech research, especially during the pandemic period of Covid-19, with dominant themes being adoption factors, financial impacts, shadow banking, and technological development. Three important research trends identified in this study are: the economic impact of Fintech in emerging markets, the role of Fintech in capital markets, and improvements in disclosure and rating systems. These reflect the increasing importance of Fintech in enhancing financial inclusions, regulatory adaptation, and efficiency in markets. The results reveal gaps in current research, such as the need for further exploration of Fintech’s social implications in developing economies and its regulatory challenges. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive mapping of the Fintech research landscape, offering insights that are valuable to policymakers, financial institutions, and academics. The conclusions highlight the need for innovation, regulation, and investment strategies to support the sustainable growth of Fintech. In addition, the study proposes a future research agenda aimed at fostering more inclusive and efficient financial systems, particularly in emerging markets, thereby enhancing Fintech’s role in global financial markets.