Top Fintechs Disrupting Payments with AI and Stablecoins

The payments industry is undergoing a radical transformation, driven by innovative fintech startups leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and stablecoins. As banks and financial institutions increasingly adopt these technologies, startups are at the forefront of developing solutions that enhance security, efficiency, and scalability. This shift is accelerated by the growing interest in stablecoins, which are gaining traction as a reliable payment alternative, especially as regulatory frameworks take shape.

According to Crunchbase data, there are over 8,600 fintech startups and nearly 2,400 dedicated to payments, collectively raising approximately $257 billion and $96 billion, respectively. These startups are not only providing essential services to banks but also becoming attractive acquisition targets. For example, Stripe's acquisition of Bridge, a stablecoin payments platform, highlights the strategic value of these innovations.

Key Fintech Startups to Watch in 2025

Industry experts have identified five early-stage startups that banks should closely monitor in 2025. These companies are pioneering advancements in fraud prevention, AI-driven payments, stablecoin infrastructure, and cross-border transactions.

Darwinium

Founded in March 2021 by Alisdair Faulkner, Ananth Gundabattula, Ben Davey, Caleb Moore, and Colin Goldie, Darwinium offers a robust fraud prevention platform that combines automated detection with traditional methods. Headquartered in San Francisco with operations in Australia and the U.K., the company provides real-time visibility and control over digital interactions across web, apps, and APIs. With $28 million in venture capital funding from investors like U.S. Venture Partners and Naval Ravikant, Darwinium serves global companies, including neobanks and fintechs.

Darwinium's recent expansion into the U.S. and its plans to increase revenue fivefold in 2025 underscore its growth trajectory. CEO Alisdair Faulkner emphasized the platform's ability to adapt to evolving fraud threats, making it a valuable tool for banks seeking to enhance their security measures.

Skyfire

Skyfire, founded in 2022 by Amir Sarhangi and Craig DeWitt, is a payments and identity platform that utilizes AI to process payments, verify identities, and access services without human intervention. Based in San Francisco, the company has raised $9.5 million in seed capital from notable investors like Coinbase Ventures and a16z CSX. Its primary customers include agent developers and agent platforms, with some banks already adopting its technology.

Since its launch in August 2024, Skyfire has attracted over 10,000 developers. The company plans to release a more scalable version of its platform and form partnerships with financial institutions and internet infrastructure providers, according to co-founder Craig DeWitt.

Crossmint

Crossmint, founded in March 2022 by Rodri Fernández Touza and Alfonso Gómez-Jordana, provides an all-in-one platform for companies and AI agents to leverage stablecoin and blockchain technology. With headquarters in New York and Miami, the company offers wallets, payments, and tokenization services, backed by $24 million in venture capital from investors like Ribbit Capital and Nyca Partners.

Crossmint's customer base includes dozens of Fortune 500 companies and a top-20 bank by assets under management. The company reported a 1,100% increase in subscription revenue over the past year, with over 40,000 companies and developers using its platform across more than 40 blockchains. Crossmint's recent launch of an open-source toolkit for fintech apps further expands its reach in the industry.

Merge Money

Merge Money, founded in 2022 by Kebbie Sebastian, offers an API-first platform for stablecoin payment infrastructure. Based in London, the company has secured $9.5 million in venture capital from investors like Coinbase and Octopus Ventures. Its customers include B2B marketplaces, fintechs, and European banks.

Merge Money has achieved significant milestones, including obtaining Electronic Money Institution (EMI) and Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licenses. The company plans to expand into the U.S., building on its success in providing stablecoin payment solutions to over 75 countries.

Conduit Technology

Conduit Technology, founded in 2021 by Kirill Gertman, specializes in facilitating cross-border payments using stablecoins or local currencies as an alternative to SWIFT. Headquartered in Boston, the company has raised $53 million in venture capital from investors like Dragonfly and Altos Ventures.

Conduit Technology's transaction volume grew 16 times in 2024, reaching over $10 billion. The company recently signed an agreement with Braza Group, which owns Brazil's largest foreign exchange bank. Conduit Technology is now targeting small to medium banks in the U.S. and plans to integrate its platform with major bank core providers.

The Future of Payments

The rise of fintech startups leveraging AI and stablecoins is reshaping the payments landscape. As these technologies mature, banks and financial institutions will increasingly rely on innovative solutions to stay competitive. The success of startups like Darwinium, Skyfire, Crossmint, Merge Money, and Conduit Technology underscores the potential for disruptive change in the industry.

"The future of payments is not just about speed and convenience; it's about building a more secure, inclusive, and efficient financial ecosystem," said an industry analyst. "Fintech startups are at the heart of this transformation, and their innovations will define the next decade of banking and payments."