The main event of the industry – Ukraine Fintech Week 2026, held under the slogan “Tested by reality. Built for scaling”, clearly outlined the vectors of development, in particular, open banking, instant payments and unprecedented integration of artificial intelligence into the financial infrastructure.
Artem Lyashanov channels the rapid transformations of the sector in early 2026 through the prism of practical cases and strategic trends.
Philosophy of experience
Modern banking has long ceased to be a set of cards and accounts. Today it is a struggle for Lifetime Value (LTV) through the creation of an emotional connection and a unique customer experience.
The success of leading neobanks is based on strategies that changed the world:
- Starbucks created a third place;
- Apple sells the indissoluble unity of the digital space;
- Airbnb started selling the experience of exploring cities instead of housing, and progressive fintech today sells integrated experiences.
Working on the development of high-load payment systems and scaling fintech projects, I have learned from my own experience that technology should be invisible. The Ukrainian market in this context has become a unique platform where the numbers are ahead of the most optimistic European forecasts.
Digital reality in numbers:
- There are 2-3 active cards for each active adult Ukrainian. The level of unbanked in our country is record low, which creates an ideal environment for the introduction of complex products;
- Only 16% of transactions are carried out by physical contact of plastic. The remaining 84% is the contactless world of smartphones and gadgets.
are also implemented within the framework of our projects. When we build an architecture for a new fintech player, we don’t just integrate an API, we create an environment where a transaction becomes a natural extension of a client’s intent.
Anatomy of an Ecosystem
Let’s face it, despite the bright facade, the pace of fintech development in Ukraine has long been held back by fundamental factors. Outdated legislation, limited access to capital, and a specific level of financial literacy of the population created an environment where only the strongest and most adaptive survived.
A separate challenge remains the cultural aspect, according to research, Ukrainians are prone to short-term planning and consumption, which creates a certain vacuum in the segments of long-term investments and savings.
However, it is these obstacles that have become the catalyst for the formation of a unique ecosystem, which today has over 100 mature companies.
Ukrainian fintech is a dynamic structure, where key roles are distributed as follows:
- Payments and money transfers;
- Infrastructure solutions;
- Digital lending.
“One of the most interesting trends that I observe in my projects is a change in the interaction model. Today we see synergy when banks become platforms, and fintech companies become providers of innovative experience. This is beneficial for everyone, business gets speed, the state gets transparency, and society gets financial inclusion,” – Artem Lyashanov.
On sustainability
Ukrainian fintech is a unique global case, where extreme challenges have become a catalyst for creating the most resilient digital infrastructure in Europe. While global markets are discussing risks, Ukrainian companies ensure 100% service availability at times when physical infrastructure is under threat.
What makes the Ukrainian model an example?
- About 66% of Ukrainian fintech companies develop through self-financing. This indicates the high quality of business models and the absence of critical dependence on external banking investments;
- Ukraine has bypassed the intermediate stages of financial technology development. We immediately moved to Digital-first banking and solutions like tap-to-phone. For example, the Monobank, Pick&go or Turbapay cases;
- Ukrainian teams are not only interface developers, but also architects of complex B2B solutions;
- The systems are based on advanced developments in the field of identification and biometrics.
“Ultimately, the case of Ukrainian fintech proves that the absence of outdated infrastructure combined with a high level of engineering expertise allows us to build systems that are ahead of their time. Further development of the sector will depend on the ability to maintain this pace of innovation and integrate new digital assets into the legal and technological field of the country,” – Artem Lyashanov.
About the author: Artem Lyashanov
Artem Lyashanov is a strategic manager and a specialized expert in the fields of Fintech, development of high-load systems and digital transformation of business. His professional focus is on creating and scaling complex technology products that combine financial infrastructure, cybersecurity principles, and innovative customer experience.
With significant experience in implementing international and local projects, he specializes in:
- Developing roadmaps for fintech startups and systemic market players;
- Implementing solutions in the areas of Open Banking, AI-scoring, and modern payment systems; Coordination of the full software development lifecycle for high-load platforms.
Artem actively shapes expert discourse around the future of Ukraine’s digital economy, focusing on technological resilience and adaptability of financial services to global challenges. His approach is based on a synergy of deep technical expertise and a visionary vision of the financial ecosystem as a driver of economic recovery.
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