GFF 2025: The Finternet of Things and other future-forward ideas

One could call it the Kumbh Mela of India’s financial services industry. Or, as RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra put it, a congregation where “the wizards of tech and the experts of finance intersect”. 

The Global Fintech Fest (GFF) has been an annual fixture in the country’s BFSI calendar for six years and counting. A well-orchestrated effort between the government, RBI, SEBI, NPCI, IRDAI, and the private sector, among others, the ‘G’ in GFF could well stand for ‘gigantic’ given the scale of the summit.

As with every year, there were the overused terms; ‘Agentic AI’ took the crown at GFF 2025, closely followed by ‘AI-powered finance’ and ‘inclusive innovation’. 

In her inaugural address, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underscored India’s position as a global fintech superpower. Sample this: Every one in two digital transactions worldwide now takes place in India, which has become the nerve centre of global payments innovation. The country’s 87% digital adoption rate, compared to the global average of 63%, reflects a consumer ecosystem deeply wired into fintech. No surprise then that India now ranks third globally in terms of the number of fintech firms, reinforcing its rise as both a consumer market and a leader in financial technology. 

But what’s next for India’s vibrant fintech sector?