Shining a light on Ireland’s Fintech industry
Adrian Florian
co-CEO
Reading time: 4 min
Published: Nov 3, 2021
Key takeaways
- Ireland's fintech industry has grown fast: after a record $900M in H1 2021, investment jumped almost 300% in 2024 to about $238M across 25 deals and rose again to roughly $259M in 2025.
- Global fintech funding fell to a seven-year low in 2024, yet Ireland bucked the trend and kept growing - led by the $109M buyout of Dublin's SoftCo.
- The EU's MiCA regulation - with crypto-asset service provider rules applying from 30 December 2024 - gives Irish crypto firms and investors a clearer framework.
- Northern Ireland's fintech roadmap and EU digital investment are widening the island's fintech base beyond Dublin.
- Irish fintech names to know include WhenThen (acquired by Mangopay in 2023), Moco and Assure Hedge - and Wolfpack Digital builds fintech apps from its Dublin and Cluj-Napoca offices.
We all know Wall Street. But the financial world is changing fast, and major new players are already here. For years, the EU stayed quiet on fintech. That is changing now, and Ireland's fintech industry is one of the clearest examples.
The financial sector is changing fast. The coming years will bring more choice and opportunity than ever. Digital tools will change the way we bank and use financial services. The future is still uncertain in many ways. But one thing is clear: the fintech sector will shape our daily lives more and more.
Rules around financial technology are still taking shape in many countries. At the same time, new openings keep appearing. You can also see how the PSD2 Regulation (soon to be replaced by PSD3) will affect financial services in the EU. 👈
Record growth for fintech Ireland 📈🙌
Back in the first half of 2021, KPMG reported record fintech investment in Ireland. The sector drew $900 million in deals and investment in H1 2021. That beat the same period a year earlier. It also topped the old record of $700 million from 2011. Three deals stood out: the $600 million buyout of Fenergo, the $200 million purchase of Taxamo, and a $76 million VC round for Wayflyer.
The growth has not stopped. In 2024, Irish fintech investment jumped almost 300% to about $238 million across 25 deals. That happened even as global fintech funding fell to a seven-year low. The biggest deal was the $109 million buyout of Dublin's SoftCo. In 2025, the total rose again to roughly $259 million. It shows how strong Ireland's fintech industry has become.
Crypto regulations for Ireland & a solid plan on the horizon 💪
Another signal came from BNY Mellon. The bank urged Irish officials to adopt crypto regulation and set national crypto rules before 2023. The EU has since acted. Its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules came into force in 2023. The rules for crypto firms apply from 30 December 2024. Clearer rules protect investors. They also make digital currencies easier to use across the EU.
Northern Ireland took the lead too. It published a roadmap to speed up growth across the region. The plan aims to put the region on the global fintech map. 📍
The focus is twofold: attract foreign investors, and build new partners abroad. But money is not the whole story. Another goal is to grow local talent and lift the economy. That way, the region can attract skilled workers.
The EU is investing too. It has backed data infrastructure and blockchain. At least 20% of the pandemic recovery fund is set aside for going digital across the region. Key areas include blockchain, 5G, digital infrastructure, and digital skills for EU citizens. 🇪🇺 📚
Urge for digitalisation 📲
Is the pandemic the real driver here, or is it something else? Covid-19 was just the tip of the iceberg. It drove up demand for digital tools and for new ways to pay and bank. Interest in blockchain and DeFi grew with the chance to streamline finance. Now people see fresh ways to steady the economy and tackle inequality.
Financial services are becoming more open to everyone. It is not just big banks and firms anymore. Small companies and startups are pioneering in the fintech industry too. The opportunities are huge, and this is just the start.
Demand is rising, but some questions remain. Do we have the right solutions to meet it? And do we have enough skilled people to keep the quality high for everyone? 🤔
On a macro scale, things look hopeful. The fintech industry keeps adding new services, and more people are joining in.
3 fintech companies in Ireland to keep an eye on 👀
Before we wrap up, here are a few Irish fintech names worth knowing.
- WhenThen, a Dublin payments startup, grew fast. It was acquired by Mangopay in 2023 — proof of how quickly Irish fintechs can scale.
- Moco is building a faster, easier mortgage app.
- Assure Hedge (now trading as ALT21) makes currency hedging simpler for businesses.
Building fintech in Ireland with Wolfpack Digital 🐺
Wolfpack Digital is an AI-native product studio that builds fintech apps from its Dublin office at 42 Pearse Street and its HQ in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. We are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO 14001, and we can turn an idea into an MVP in as little as 2–4 weeks. Our fintech work includes Extra Karte, Everon and Ikigai.
Zoom in, though, and you will see that companies face unique challenges when they build the next fintech apps. 👉 Take a look at our whitepaper on designing and building fintech apps for an overview, plus expert advice on making your project a success. You can also browse the fintech apps we've built and our fintech development services. Got a question? Grab a free estimate in 2–3 working days, or drop us an email. ✅
