The 2019 Global Fintech 100 list (Fintech100) was jointly released by international consulting platform KPMG and fintech investment firm H2 Ventures. This marks KPMG's sixth annual publication of the Fintech100 ranking.
Key Highlights of the Fintech100 Report
Structure: The list features:
- 50 Leading Global Fintech Companies (Top 50)
- 50 Emerging "Rising Stars" (Emerging 50)
Chinese Presence: 10 Chinese fintech firms secured spots in the Top 50, including:
- Ant Group (ranked #1)
- JD Digits (JD.com’s fintech arm, #3)
- Du Xiaoman Finance (Baidu’s fintech unit, #6)
- Lufax, OneConnect (Ping An Group), WeLab, ZhongAn Online (listed: 06060.HK), and others.
Industry Trends
Sector Shifts:
- Declines in payment and lending (including P2P/cash loans) companies.
- Growth in wealth management, insurance, and diversified financial service providers.
Funding Surge:
- Combined venture capital raised: $70B+ (a 35% YoY increase).
- 32 companies secured $100M+ in funding (up from 26 in 2018).
Top 10 Global Fintech Companies
- Ant Group (China)
- Grab (Singapore)
- JD Digits (China)
- GoJek Group (Indonesia)
- Paytm (India)
- Du Xiaoman Finance (China)
- Compass (USA)
- Ola (India)
- Opendoor (USA)
- OakNorth (UK)
Blockchain and Crypto Representation
- Binance (crypto exchange) ranked #7 in the Emerging 50.
Notable Mentions:
- Coinbase (USA, #34 vs. #48 in 2018).
- Liquid (Japan, #38), a licensed crypto exchange.
Emerging 50 Standouts
Top Performers:
- Acko General Insurance (India, #1).
- Alpaca Japan (Japan, #2).
- Athena Home Loans (Australia, #4).
Chinese Entries:
- Bowtie Life Insurance (virtual insurer, Hong Kong).
- MioTech (AI-driven asset management).
- OneDegree (pet insurance, Hong Kong).
Investor Insights
- Active Backers: Sequoia Capital, SoftBank, Tencent, and CICC were prominent investors.
- Ant Group: Backed by Temasek, GIC, China Investment Corp, and others.
- JD Digits: Supported by CICC, Sequoia China, and China Taiping Insurance.
- Du Xiaoman: Funded by TPG and Carlyle Group ($1.9B post-spinoff from Baidu).
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FAQs
1. What criteria does Fintech100 use to rank companies?
Fintech100 evaluates firms based on innovation, funding, growth trajectory, and global impact across payments, lending, insurance, and wealth tech.
2. How does Ant Group maintain its top position?
Ant Group leads due to its expansive ecosystem (Alipay, blockchain R&D, and global partnerships) and $14B+ funding rounds.
3. Why are fewer payment/lending companies on the 2019 list?
Market saturation and regulatory scrutiny have shifted focus to underserved sectors like insurtech and embedded finance.
4. Which investors are most active in Chinese fintech?
Sequoia Capital China and CICC are key players, with stakes in JD Digits, Du Xiaoman, and ZhongAn Online.
5. How does Binance rank despite crypto volatility?
Binance’s dominance in trading volume, derivatives, and global compliance efforts secured its spot.
6. What trends will shape fintech in 2025?
AI-driven underwriting, CBDCs, and climate-finance tech are projected to dominate, with Asia-Pacific firms leading adoption.
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Conclusion
The 2019 Fintech100 underscores China’s rising influence in global fintech, with Ant Group and JD Digits setting benchmarks for innovation. As funding grows and sectors evolve, cross-border collaborations and regulatory tech (RegTech) will drive the next wave of disruption. Stay ahead by monitoring these trends and leveraging data-driven insights.