Fintech Pulse Forum in Riga on 27 November: new sector data, an Austrian banker who chose Latvia, and an exclusive interview with Alexander Browder.
Latvijas Banka has issued more than 20 fintech licences since the start of 2026 – five years ago, new market entrants were rare. On Friday, 27 November, the Fintech Latvia Association (FLA) will present the fifth Fintech Pulse report at Fintech Pulse 2026: Finance of the Future Forum in Riga, showing how the sector has changed in five years.
The forum also features Alexander Browder. At 17, he became the youngest known person on Russia’s sanctions list after his Global Cryptocurrency Laundering Database exposed how sanctions are evaded and money is laundered through the financial system. In an exclusive interview, he will discuss what his research uncovered and what it means for fintech companies.
A gateway to the EU market
A licence from Latvijas Banka opens the entire EU single market, and Latvian investment platforms already serve investors in 28 of 30 EU/EEA countries. One in four euros ever invested through European alternative investment platforms has gone through platforms licensed in Latvia.
Austrian banker Thomas Köck, who previously led Erste Group Bausparkasse, is one of those who took this route. Looking for a European base for his new company pinyya, he chose Latvia, and in April pinyya invest received its licence from Latvijas Banka. Köck credits the regulator’s constructive approach. Max Schertel, finmid co-founder and one of N26’s first employees, joins the licensing debate.
The business case is growing too. According to the previous Fintech Pulse (2024 data), Latvia’s 127 fintech companies reported turnover of almost €372 million. Net profit more than doubled to €97 million, taxes paid rose 28% to over €91 million and employment grew 9% to 3,644.
Tīna Lūse, Managing Director, Fintech Latvia Association: “Latvia offers fintechs what they need most: a fast route into the EU market and a jurisdiction that partners and investors trust. Latvia was the first country in MONEYVAL’s new evaluation round and scored high or substantial in 10 of 11 areas – here, speed does not come at the expense of standards. That is why more than 20 fintechs have chosen Latvia this year, bringing jobs and taxes home. On 27 November we will show where the sector has grown in five years – and where we still have work to do.”
Programme highlights
- The Year in Numbers. The Fintech Pulse 2026 results and where Latvia has grown most or fallen behind.
- Sanctions and financial crime. An exclusive interview with Alexander Browder.
- Licensing and supervision. Getting a fintech licence in Latvia, non-bank lending under Latvijas Banka supervision, and whether maturing fintechs should become specialised banks.
- Ronald Kleverlaan (European Centre for Alternative Finance, Utrecht University) on how alternative finance helps SMEs raise capital, plus a debate on turning savers into investors.
- Growth and talent. Latvian fintechs in global markets and the skills the sector needs.
- Fintech Pulse Awards (18:30) for those moving the sector forward.
Other speakers include Mārtiņš Šulte (Mintos), Nauris Bloks (TWINO), Jakub Wieclaw and Jelena Jurane (Magnetiq Bank), Uldis Cērps (Finance Latvia Association), Fredis Bikovs (Riga Investment and Tourism Agency), Iveta Bruvele (Wandoo Finance) and Raman Korneu (myTU). Full programme and registration: fintechpulse.io.
Ahead of the forum, FLA has launched the podcast series “Small HUB, Endless Opportunities” on Latvia’s advantages as a fintech jurisdiction. Episode one, with Latvijas Banka: YouTube · Spotify.
About Fintech Latvia Association
Fintech Latvia Association represents Latvia’s financial technology sector and brings together more than 50 fintech companies – a tenfold increase in membership over five years. Members include payment and e-money institutions, lenders, investment and crowdfunding platforms, regtech companies and crypto-asset service providers. It speaks for the sector before public institutions and the regulator and publishes the annual Fintech Pulse review. www.fla.lv
