Belgium, the next fin-tech giant?

Could Belgium be the new hub for FinTech?

Belgium is yet to tap into its FinTech potential, with its central location in Western Europe and world-class infrastructure, it is a prime location for international expansion. Being part of the EU and Eurozone means that financial directives applicable in Belgium also apply in other European countries, making it easier for Fintech companies to expand across the continent.

Belgium boasts a rich history of banking and insurance, with several leading financial players having their international or European headquarters based in the country, including SWIFT, Euroclear, Bank of New York Mellon, and MasterCard. Belgium has been a pioneer in the financial services industry, launching innovative systems like Proton, Payconiq, and Isabel years ahead of other countries.

Not only does Belgium have innovative banks like KBC and Belfius, who rank in the top 5 for having the best mobile apps, but it is also home to a highly skilled workforce, with excellent software engineers, mathematicians, and economists available for deployment in the Fintech industry.

The large financial players in Belgium also support Fintech innovation through their start-up accelerators and programs, such as the KBC StartIt program, Belfius Studio, and Mastercard's StartPath and Fintech Express programs.

The potential for Fintech growth in Belgium is huge, it won't be long until we see our first Belgian Fintech powerhouse.