• Account Aggregation
  Combining data from multiple accounts into one view.
• Acquiring Bank
  A bank that processes card payments for merchants.
• AI in Fintech
  Using artificial intelligence to automate financial processes.
• Alternative Lending
  Non-bank lending models such as peer-to-peer platforms.
• AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
  Measures to prevent illegal financial activity.
• APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
  Allow different software systems to communicate.
• Asset Tokenization
  Turning real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain.
• ATM Withdrawal Fee
  Charge for withdrawing cash from an ATM not operated by your bank.

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• BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service)
  Enables fintechs to offer banking services via APIs.
• Blockchain
  A decentralized ledger for secure digital transactions.
• BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later)
  Short-term financing allowing consumers to pay over time.
• Bank Charter
  License that allows a company to operate as a bank.
• Basel III
  Global regulatory framework for banks to manage risk and capital.
• Biometric Authentication
  Using physical traits like fingerprints to verify identity.
• Bitcoin
  The first decentralized cryptocurrency, launched in 2009.
• Behavioral Finance
  Study of psychological influences on financial decisions.

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• CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency)
  Digital form of central bank-issued money.
• Crowdfunding
  Raising small amounts of money from many individuals online.
• Cryptocurrency
  Digital currency using cryptography for security.
• Custodial Wallet
  A digital wallet where a third party holds the private keys.
• Credit Score
  A numerical rating representing a person’s creditworthiness.
• Card-Not-Present Transaction
  Payment made without the physical card, typically online.
• Compliance Tech
  Technology that helps companies meet regulatory requirements.
• Chargeback
  A transaction reversal requested by a cardholder’s bank.

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• DeFi (Decentralized Finance)
  Financial services built on blockchain, without intermediaries.
• Due Diligence
  Investigation process before a financial transaction or investment.
• Digital Identity
  Online identity used to access financial services.
• Digital Banking
  Banking services accessible through digital platforms.
• Digital Wallet
  App or software used to store payment information securely.
• Data Privacy
  Protection of personal and financial information in fintech systems.
• Direct Debit
  Automatic withdrawal of funds from an account for payments.
• Disintermediation
  Removal of intermediaries in financial transactions, often via tech.

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• Embedded Finance
  Integration of financial services into non-financial platforms.
• Exchanges
  Marketplaces for trading digital assets, like crypto or stocks.
• eKYC (Electronic Know Your Customer)
  Digital process for verifying customer identity.
• ESG Investing
  Investing that considers environmental, social, and governance factors.
• ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund)
  A basket of securities traded on an exchange like a stock.
• Encryption
  Securing data by converting it into a code.
• Equity Crowdfunding
  Raising capital online by offering equity to investors.
• Escrow
  Funds held by a third party until conditions are met.

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• Fintech
  Technology-driven innovation in financial services.
• Factoring
  Financial transaction where a business sells its invoices for upfront cash.
• Financial Inclusion
  Providing access to useful and affordable financial services to underserved populations.
• Flash Loan
  A type of uncollateralized loan used in DeFi, repaid in the same transaction.
• Fiat Currency
  Government-issued currency not backed by a physical commodity.
• Fraud Detection
  Systems that identify suspicious financial activities.
• Funding Round
  Stage in a startup’s lifecycle where capital is raised from investors.
• FX (Foreign Exchange)
  The global marketplace for currency trading.

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• Gamification
  Using game design elements to engage users in financial apps.
• GDPR
  EU regulation for data protection and privacy.
• Gig Economy
  Labor market based on short-term, flexible jobs, often served by fintech apps.
• Growth Equity
  Investment in mature companies to accelerate expansion without control changes.
• Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)
  Total sales dollar value for merchandise sold through a platform.
• Green Finance
  Financial activities that support sustainable and environmental objectives.
• Governance Token
  A token allowing holders to vote on decisions in a DeFi project.
• Global Payments
  Infrastructure and services enabling cross-border financial transactions.

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• Hash Function
  Cryptographic method used to secure blockchain data.
• High-Frequency Trading (HFT)
  Algorithmic trading executed at extremely high speeds.
• Hard Fork
  A radical change to a blockchain protocol that is not backward compatible.
• Hedge Fund
  Investment fund using advanced strategies to maximize returns.
• Hybrid Bank
  Institution combining digital-first services with physical branches.
• Halving
  An event in crypto mining where the reward for mining is reduced by half.
• Hot Wallet
  Crypto wallet connected to the internet, suitable for frequent use.
• Human-in-the-Loop (HITL)
  AI system design where human oversight is built into automated decisions.

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• IBAN
  International Bank Account Number used for cross-border payments.
• ICO (Initial Coin Offering)
  Fundraising method in crypto, offering new tokens to investors.
• Insurtech
  Use of technology to disrupt and improve the insurance industry.
• Interchange Fee
  Fee paid between banks for processing card-based transactions.
• Interest Rate
  Percentage charged on borrowed money or earned on deposits.
• Identity Verification
  Process of confirming a user’s identity for regulatory compliance.
• Institutional Investor
  Entities like pension funds or insurance companies that invest large sums.
• Inflation Hedging
  Investments designed to protect against the eroding value of money.

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• J-Curve
  Investment pattern where initial losses are followed by gains over time.
• Joint Account
  Bank account shared by two or more individuals.
• JobTech
  Fintech tools focused on job matching and income smoothing.
• Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act
  U.S. law easing securities regulations for startups and small businesses.
• Jurisdiction Risk
  Legal risk of operating in specific countries or regions.
• Just-in-Time Funding
  Real-time disbursement of capital when needed, common in gig economy platforms.
• Junior Debt
  Subordinated debt that is repaid after senior debt in case of default.

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• KYC (Know Your Customer)
  Process of verifying a customer’s identity to prevent financial crime.
• Kiosk Banking
  Banking services offered through self-service kiosks in rural or remote areas.
• Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
  Metrics used to track performance against business objectives.
• Key Management System
  Secure systems to manage cryptographic keys for digital transactions.
• Kyber Network
  On-chain liquidity protocol in the DeFi ecosystem.
• Kiting
  Illegal practice of taking advantage of the float time in bank transfers.

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• Ledger
  A record of financial transactions; in fintech, often refers to a blockchain ledger.
• Liquidity
  Ease of converting assets into cash without affecting market price.
• Loan Origination
  Process by which a borrower applies for a loan and a lender processes it.
• Late Payment Fee
  Penalty charged for failing to make a payment on time.
• Limit Order
  Order to buy or sell a security at a specified price or better.
• Layer 2
  Scalable blockchain solutions built on top of Layer 1 networks.
• Loyalty Program
  Rewards system used by financial platforms to encourage customer retention.
• LTV (Loan-to-Value)
  Ratio used to assess risk in lending, calculated as loan amount divided by asset value.

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• Mobile Banking
  Accessing banking services via mobile apps.
• Micropayments
  Small-value online transactions, often used in digital content and gaming.
• Machine Learning
  Type of AI that enables systems to learn from data and improve over time.
• Multisig Wallet
  Crypto wallet requiring multiple keys to authorize a transaction.
• Money Market Fund
  Mutual fund that invests in short-term, high-quality financial instruments.
• Margin Call
  Request by a broker for an investor to deposit more funds to cover losses.
• Merchant Acquirer
  A financial institution that processes credit/debit card payments on behalf of a merchant.
• Mobile Wallet
  App that stores payment card information on a smartphone for digital payments.

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• Neobank
  Digital-only bank offering services without physical branches.
• NFC (Near Field Communication)
  Technology enabling contactless payments via short-range communication.
• Net Interest Margin
  Difference between interest earned and interest paid by banks.
• Non-Performing Loan (NPL)
  Loan on which the borrower is not making interest payments or repaying principal.
• Network Effects
  When the value of a product or service increases as more people use it.
• Node
  A participant in a blockchain network that maintains a copy of the ledger.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
  AI technique used in chatbots and robo-advisors to understand human language.

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• Open Banking
  System that allows third-party access to banking data via APIs.
• Overdraft
  When withdrawals from a bank account exceed the available balance.
• Options
  Financial contracts giving the right to buy or sell an asset at a set price.
• Order Book
  List of buy and sell orders for a specific asset on an exchange.
• Onboarding
  Customer registration and identity verification process in fintech platforms.
• Open Finance
  Expanded version of open banking covering all financial products, not just payments.
• Oracle
  Service that provides external data to a blockchain smart contract.
• Overcollateralization
  Using more assets than needed as collateral to reduce risk in lending.

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• Payment Gateway
  Technology that enables merchants to accept card payments online.
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending
  Lending model connecting borrowers directly with individual lenders.
• PSD2
  EU regulation promoting secure and open payment services and data sharing.
• Proof of Stake (PoS)
  Consensus mechanism where validators are chosen based on token ownership.
• Private Equity
  Investment in companies not listed on public exchanges.
• Portfolio Management
  Strategic management of financial assets to achieve specific goals.
• Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP)
  Third-party provider that initiates payments on behalf of users under PSD2.
• Personal Finance App
  Digital tool for budgeting, saving, and tracking financial goals.

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• QR Code Payment
  Payment method where users scan a code to complete a transaction.
• Quantitative Easing
  Monetary policy where central banks inject money into the economy by buying securities.
• Quant Fund
  Investment fund driven by quantitative analysis and algorithmic trading strategies.
• Qualified Custodian
  Financial institution approved to hold client assets on behalf of others.
• Quorum
  Permissioned blockchain framework for enterprise use based on Ethereum.

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• Robo-Advisor
  Automated platform providing algorithm-driven financial planning services.
• RegTech
  Technology that streamlines regulatory compliance processes for financial institutions.
• Risk Management
  Identification and mitigation of financial risks in investments or lending.
• Remittance
  Money transfers sent by migrants to individuals in their home countries.
• Recurring Payments
  Automatic payments made at regular intervals, often used in subscriptions.
• Real-Time Payments (RTP)
  Payments that are processed and settled instantly, 24/7.
• Revenue-Based Financing
  Alternative funding where repayment is based on a percentage of monthly revenue.
• Risk Scoring
  Credit evaluation model used to assess borrower reliability.

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• Stablecoin
  Cryptocurrency pegged to a stable asset, such as fiat currency.
• SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)
  Cloud-based delivery of software applications via subscription.
• Smart Contract
  Self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code.
• Savings Account
  Bank account that earns interest and allows limited transactions.
• SandBox
  Regulatory environment allowing fintechs to test products under relaxed rules.
• Series A/B/C Funding
  Stages of venture capital fundraising based on business growth and valuation.
• Security Token
  Digital asset representing ownership of a tradable security.
• Synthetic Asset
  Financial instruments mimicking the value of real-world assets using blockchain.

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• Tokenization
  Conversion of rights to an asset into a digital token on a blockchain.
• Term Loan
  Loan granted for a specific amount and term with fixed repayments.
• Trade Finance
  Financial instruments that facilitate international trade transactions.
• Transaction Fee
  Fee charged for executing a financial transaction, such as a crypto transfer.
• Tier 1 Capital
  Core capital held by banks to sustain operations and absorb losses.
• Third-Party Risk
  Risk arising from outsourced services or partnerships.
• Treasury Management
  Managing an organization’s liquidity, investments, and financial risk.
• Token Sale
  Event where digital tokens are sold to raise capital, similar to an ICO.

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• UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner)
  The person who ultimately owns or controls a company or asset.
• Underwriting
  Evaluation process for assessing risk before issuing insurance or loans.
• Unbanked
  Individuals without access to traditional banking services.
• Usage-Based Pricing
  Revenue model where users are charged based on how much they consume.
• Utility Token
  Digital token used to access a product or service within a blockchain ecosystem.
• Uptime
  The time a system or service remains operational and available.

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• Virtual Card
  Digital-only payment card used for online transactions.
• Volatility
  The degree of variation in asset prices over time.
• Venture Capital
  Financing provided to early-stage, high-potential startups.
• Validator
  Network participant responsible for verifying transactions on a blockchain.
• Value Chain
  The series of steps a company takes to deliver a product or service.

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• Wallet
  Software or hardware used to store cryptocurrencies securely.
• WealthTech
  Technology used to provide wealth management and investment services.
• Wire Transfer
  Electronic transfer of funds between financial institutions.
• White Label
  A generic product that companies can rebrand and sell as their own.
• Withdrawal Limit
  The maximum amount a user can withdraw from an account or ATM.
• Whale
  A person or entity holding large amounts of cryptocurrency, often influencing markets.

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• XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language)
  Standard for exchanging business and financial data electronically.
• XRP
  Digital currency native to the Ripple network, used for cross-border payments.

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• Yield
  Return on investment, typically expressed as a percentage.
• Yield Farming
  Practice in DeFi of earning rewards by lending or staking crypto assets.
• Year-to-Date (YTD)
  Measurement of performance or returns from the beginning of the year to date.
• Yield Curve
  A graph that plots interest rates of bonds with equal credit quality but differing maturity dates.

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• ZKP (Zero-Knowledge Proof)
  A cryptographic method that proves something is true without revealing the information itself.
• Zelle
  U.S.-based peer-to-peer payment system for instant bank transfers.
• Zoning
  Refers to the categorization of areas in urban planning — in fintech, metaphorically used in risk segmentation or product access levels.
• Z-Score
  Statistical measurement indicating how far a data point is from the mean, used in credit risk models.

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