The 3 next big things in fintech, crypto, and blockchain for 2026
Fintech and blockchain technology has seen its fair share of boom and bust cycles in the past decade, from the cryptocurrency explosion during the COVID pandemic to the AI era launched by ChatGPT. But the tech has continued to evolve in step with it all, and the work being done in this space is exciting—from companies that are challenging social norms to those that are betting on futuristic…
Three groundbreaking innovations are poised to redefine the landscape of fintech, crypto, and blockchain in the coming years. First, Mesh is breaking down the fragmented payment ecosystem that has long plagued the cryptocurrency world. By creating a layer of infrastructure that links wallets, exchanges, and platforms, Mesh aims to turn the chaotic landscape into a seamless experience for users.
This technology bridges the islands of various blockchains and digital wallets, enabling instantaneous conversions and settlements regardless of token ownership or currency preference. With Mesh's recent $75 million funding round at a $1 billion valuation, it has already partnered with PayPal, Kalshi, and Google to power crypto payments and shape the future of autonomous payments.
Second, Seon is revolutionizing the way businesses combat fraud in the age of artificial intelligence. The company has developed a fraud detection and anti-money-laundering tool that can be easily integrated into any existing AI model, making fraud protection portable and adaptable across various platforms. Seon's "Model Context Protocol" sends real-time signals to any AI, allowing it to reference them seamlessly throughout the user journey, resulting in more effective fraud detection.
With a daily processing capacity of 15 million transactions and over 5,000 global businesses utilizing its services, Seon has proven its efficacy by helping a major restaurant chain reduce fraud by 40%. In 2025, Seon's annual recurring revenue grew by 80%, demonstrating its growing impact in the industry.
Lastly, Wealth.com is transforming the once-daunting task of estate planning into a streamlined, accessible process for Americans. Despite the importance of financial planning for post-mortem arrangements, the majority of Americans lack a basic estate plan, leading to family disputes and wealth lock-ups. Wealth.com's AI-powered platform translates thousands of pages of state-specific legislation and estate-planning logic, enabling users to navigate the estate planning journey in all 50 states within 30 minutes.
Since its inception in 2021, Wealth.com has delivered over 100,000 estate plans and works with seven of the nation's largest private banks to manage more than $15 trillion in client assets. Following a remarkable four years of over 300% revenue growth, the company recently raised $65 million from prominent investors, including Google Ventures, Charles Schwab, and Citi Ventures, solidifying its place among Fast Company's 2026 Next Big Things in Tech.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
