News•Feb 28, 2026
The Fintech Stack
Fintech operates on a five‑layer stack, from foundational payment rails to end‑to‑end financial journeys. The bottom rail layer comprises card networks, ACH, SWIFT and emerging blockchain protocols that move money. Above that, capabilities such as KYC, AML, fraud detection and AI‑driven compliance enable products like deposits, loans, cards, payments, investments and insurance. Services repackage these products into consumer‑focused experiences, while the journey layer stitches multiple services together around life events, representing the next frontier for disruption.
