FastFin insights
Short, sharp reads on the trends, tools and tricks shaping how we bank, pay and invest, written for humans, not headlines.
Insights is where we step back from the how-to guides and look at the bigger picture, where money and technology are heading, what a new tool really means for you, and how to stay one step ahead of the risks. Each piece is designed to be read in a few minutes and leave you a little sharper. Here's what's new.
Tap-to-pay is everywhere, and in some places physical cash is fading fast. But cashless isn't as simple, or as inevitable, as it looks. We weigh the convenience against privacy, access and resilience, and explain why keeping some cash around still makes sense.
Read insightRobo-advisors promise disciplined, emotion-free investing at a fraction of the traditional cost. We make the honest case for and against handing your portfolio to software, and explain who genuinely benefits.
Read insightAs money moves to apps, fraudsters follow. From fake ‘bank support’ calls to investment cons and payment-app tricks, we break down five common scams and the simple habits that stop them cold.
Read insightCut through the noise: what blockchains actually do, why prices swing so wildly, and how to think about digital assets calmly, whether you're curious or completely uninterested.
Read insightNeobanks win on slick apps and low fees, but the branchless model has trade-offs. We look at where app-first banking shines and where an old-fashioned branch still matters.
Read insightIncreasingly, the ‘finance’ in your favourite apps is invisible, payments, lending and insurance baked right into shopping, ride-hailing and more. We explain what ‘embedded finance’ means for you.
Read insightInternational transfers used to be slow and expensive. Fintech has changed that, mostly. We explain how modern cross-border transfers work and how to spot the fees still hiding in the exchange rate.
Read insightOne device now holds your money, your investments and your identity. That's astonishing power, and a single point of failure. Here's how to make sure your phone is an asset, not a liability.
Read insightNew insights land regularly. Bookmark this page, or head to the fintech hub for the in-depth guides.
If you're just landing on FastFin, a few insights make a great orientation. Begin with five fintech scams everyone should know, because safety comes first, then read crypto without the hype to inoculate yourself against the loudest noise in the industry. From there, can an algorithm invest better than you? is a useful primer before you explore automated investing. Together they give you the healthy mix of curiosity and caution that makes fintech work in your favour.