Romania is accelerating in the FinTech sector and rapidly digitalizing its banking services, possessing all the attributes to become a leader in this industry both regionally and internationally. As a result, Romania is considered an „unknown hero” of digital adoption, yet it is attracting the attention of investors and is admired by fintech entrepreneurs from Central and Eastern Europe, according to an analysis by representatives of Money Motion, the largest fintech event in the region, organized in Croatia.
“What’s particularly exciting is Romania’s growing fintech ecosystem. With its ever-so-strong IT sector and a young, tech-savvy workforce, Romania is well-positioned to become a leader in fintech innovation in the region and beyond. Romania is an unsung hero in terms of digital adoption, and a market that many of us in the industry admire. I am convinced that we will see a surge of fast-growing startups with the capacity and ambition to take over new markets, as they should, and we should learn from them,” says Nikola Škorić, co-founder of Money Motion and a well-known fintech entrepreneur in the region, as well as the founder of Electrocoin, the largest cryptocurrency company in Croatia.
Romania’s FinTech potential will be presented and debated at the Money Motion conference, on March 27-28, in Zagreb, Croatia, where 90 FinTech experts will be present to announce the latest trends in the field. Among them will be Nic Bălăceanu, the vice president of RoFintech, who will present the evolution of the FinTech sector in Romania.
Cryptocurrency payment is increasingly used in the region
„In Croatia, you can literally buy anything with cryptocurrencies through Paycek, in traditional retail or online. For example, the city of Sveta Nedelja became one of the first in the EU to introduce a payment service that includes cryptocurrencies. The potential for cryptocurrency-focused companies in the region is high, with new projects being developed every day. We juggled between creating demand and responding to it, but the market has evolved beyond that point, and there is now a clear demand from users for the option to pay with cryptocurrencies.
At Electrocoin, we have grown to become the largest cryptocurrency company in Croatia, expanding our presence throughout the EU. Another successful example is Aircash, an electronic money institution that has expanded to more than 10 European markets, including Romania, where it is consolidating its presence. In addition, LAQO, the region’s first fully digital insure-tech, pioneered the integration of a GPT-based assistant for customer support and offering cryptocurrency payments on its online platform. The fact that their users can file a claim through the mobile app just moments after a road accident is a paradigm shift in user experience and the entire insurance industry,” explains Nikola Skoric, co-founder of Money Motion and a well-known FinTech entrepreneur in the region, founder of Electrocoin, the largest cryptocurrency company in Croatia.
2025, one of the most exciting years in history regarding digitalization
2025 is already on its way to becoming one of the most important and interesting years in history, with rapid digital transformation in all areas, say Money Motion specialists. Traditional banks are finally embracing innovation, partnering with fintechs and even making their foray into cryptocurrency. The adoption of blockchain technology is accelerating and digital payments and wallets are experiencing significant growth. At the same time, artificial intelligence is becoming a major change factor, automating processes and personalizing services.
But this progress also faces challenges. Looking ahead, the key question in Central and Eastern Europe will be related to collaborative efforts between national ecosystems. There are many notable scaleups and emerging companies in the region that have naturally expanded from one neighboring country to another but then had to adapt to EU regulatory policies. For example, BLIK, a Polish startup and one of the fastest-growing digital wallets in the EU, recently obtained a license from the National Bank of Romania to operate in the Romanian market. This illustrates that even within the EU ‘single market’, a company in this industry cannot simply expand its business across borders.
Additionally, there is the issue of the growing number of mature startups and the overall maturing of the fintech market, but with a dearth of capital investment opportunities for them in the region.
Problems from the industry but also the novelties of the FinTech field will be debated within Money Motion 2025, where solutions will be presented to contribute to the progress of digitization in the countries of the region.
Tickets and detailed information about the Money Motion 2025 conference program are available on the official website: https://www.money-motion.eu.
The organization of the third edition of the Money Motion event is possible with the help of several innovative companies, including ASEE, Monri, Mastercard, OTP banka, A1 Hrvatska, Croatia osiguranje, and LAQO.
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Money Motion brings together more than 700 companies and 3,500 professionals from the financial and technology sectors, making it the most important event in Central and Eastern Europe. As a hub of innovation, the event brings together diverse ideas, cultures and solutions, shaping the latest trends and visionary strategies in one of today’s most dynamic industries.
Banking 4.0 – „how was the experience for you”
„So many people are coming here to Bucharest, people that I see and interact on linkedin and now I get the change to meet them in person. It was like being to the Football World Cup but this was the World Cup on linkedin in payments and open banking.”
Many more interesting quotes in the video below:
