9 Fintech Books That Shape Tomorrow’s Finance

Discover fintech insights from Spiros Margaris, Jesse Torres, Ghela Boskovich, and Jim Bruene in these expert-recommended books.

Spiros Margaris
Jesse Torres
Updated on June 22, 2025
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What if the way we think about finance is on the brink of a radical shift? Fintech is no longer a buzzword but a force reshaping banking, payments, and investment globally. As digital currencies rise and community banks face unprecedented challenges, understanding these changes is crucial for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Experts like Ghela Boskovich, founder of FemTechGlobal, have praised Bankruption for illuminating the real hurdles community banks face against fintech disruptors. Meanwhile, venture capitalist Spiros Margaris spotlights Cashless as a vital resource for grasping China's digital currency revolution. Meanwhile, fintech consultant Jesse Torres values The Bitcoin and Blockchain Booklet for making crypto accessible to newcomers. These voices offer you a curated path through fintech’s complex landscape.

While these expert-recommended books provide proven frameworks and insights, your specific interests in fintech—whether payments, digital currencies, or entrepreneurship—might call for a tailored approach. Consider creating a personalized Fintech book that builds on these insights and aligns precisely with your goals and experience.

Best for community banking leaders
Ghela Boskovich, founder of FemTechGlobal, brings a fintech leader's perspective shaped by her commitment to sustaining community banking. After navigating the rapid changes in financial technology, she found "Bankruption is a road map for community institutions that want to go the distance. But be prepared for a wild ride, as Waupsh takes us on a gonzo journalism journey through banking, technology, and the wisdom gleaned from industry experts who join him for this crusade to keep home-town community institutions thriving." This book helped her appreciate the nuanced challenges local banks face against big banks and tech disruptors. Joining her, Jim Bruene, founder of Finovate, praises the book’s sharp analysis and data-backed insights, noting its blend of wit and serious fintech evaluation.

Recommended by Ghela Boskovich

Founder of FemTechGlobal

Bankruption is a road map for community institutions that want to go the distance. But be prepared for a wild ride, as Waupsh takes us on a gonzo journalism journey through banking, technology, and the wisdom gleaned from industry experts who join him for this crusade to keep home-town community institutions thriving. It's a survival guide to navigating the challenges of remaining relevant, avoiding being eaten by the Big 5 banks, and preparing for a future where technology reinvents money movement.

2016·320 pages·Banking, Banks, Fintech, Finance, Strategy

Unlike most fintech books that focus solely on innovation hype, John Waupsh brings a grounded perspective rooted in over a decade of industry experience, including his role as Chief Innovation Officer at Kasasa. You gain a clear understanding of the real challenges community banks face against megabanks and nimble fintech startups, supported by extensive data and expert insights. Notably, the book breaks down myths about community banking and offers tailored strategies for preserving local financial institutions in a rapidly evolving landscape. If you're involved in community banking or credit unions, this book offers practical frameworks and visual tools to help your organization adapt and compete.

New York Times Bestseller
Rated Amazon Best Book of the Year
#3 Best Seller in Process Management
View on Amazon
Best for digital currency strategists
Spiros Margaris, a leading venture capitalist and recognized fintech futurist, highlights this book as essential reading within the fintech community. After observing China's rapid shift to a cashless society, he found Richard Turrin's insights invaluable, stating, "A great book everyone should read in our space." This endorsement reflects how the book reshaped his understanding of digital currency's potential to transform global finance and challenged preconceptions about the future of money.
SM

Recommended by Spiros Margaris

VC and fintech futurist

@richardturrin @leimer @psb_dc A great book everyone should read in our space. (from X)

2021·402 pages·Fintech, Digital Currency, Central Bank, Payment Systems, Blockchain

What if everything you knew about money was wrong? Richard Turrin challenges the traditional view of currency by taking you inside China's bold digital currency experiment, revealing a financial system reshaping global economics. Drawing from his experience as a former banker and fintech executive living in Shanghai, Turrin explains how China's central bank digital currency blends blockchain principles with state control, offering insights into cross-border payments and financial inclusion. You’ll gain a nuanced understanding of how digital currencies might disrupt US dollar dominance and what this means for businesses and policymakers worldwide. This book suits professionals eager to grasp the forces redefining money in the age of fintech innovation.

New York Times Bestseller
Rated Amazon Best Book of the Year
#3 Best Seller in Process Management
View on Amazon
Best for tailored fintech strategies
This AI-tailored book on fintech essentials develops a systematic approach with frameworks that adapt to your specific industry context and learning objectives. The content adjusts based on your background and goals, addressing key concepts such as blockchain, payments, and regulatory frameworks that define the fintech landscape. Created after you specify your areas of interest, this guide bridges foundational knowledge with actionable insights, supporting a deep understanding of fintech's core technologies and market forces.
2025·50-300 pages·Fintech, Fintech Fundamentals, Digital Payments, Blockchain Technology, Regulatory Environment

This personalized book provides a structured framework exploring the core concepts and principles underpinning fintech technologies and markets. It offers a tailored approach that emphasizes foundational elements such as blockchain, digital payments, and regulatory landscapes, while adapting to your specific professional context and goals. The methodology cuts through generic fintech advice to focus on relevant strategies that fit your particular industry or interest area. It explores emerging trends, market dynamics, and technological infrastructures essential for understanding fintech's evolving ecosystem. By integrating practical applications with theoretical foundations, the book ensures a comprehensive grasp of fintech essentials within your unique situation.

Tailored Framework
Regulatory Insight
3,000+ Books Generated
Best for crypto beginners
Jesse Torres, an independent consultant specializing in fintech, discovered this booklet while exploring ways to explain blockchain simply during his consulting work. He found it a helpful, accessible entry point, saying "The Bitcoin and Blockchain Booklet is a fast and easy-to-read introduction to the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency." This concise guide helped him clarify complex concepts quickly and made him rethink how to communicate crypto basics effectively.
JT

Recommended by Jesse Torres

Independent consultant specializing in fintech

The Bitcoin and Blockchain Booklet is a fast and easy-to-read introduction to the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency.

2019·110 pages·Fintech, Cryptocurrency, Cryptocurrency for Beginners, Blockchain Technology, Digital Wallets

When Robert Beadles transitioned from government aid to becoming a successful entrepreneur and blockchain educator, he realized how daunting cryptocurrency can be for newcomers. In this booklet, he breaks down Bitcoin and blockchain technology into accessible concepts, explaining everything from decentralization and private keys to using apps like Monarch Wallet. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how cryptocurrencies function and how to safely buy and store them, making it ideal if you’re stepping into crypto investment or fintech innovation. While it’s a concise primer rather than a deep dive, it’s practical for anyone wanting a straightforward start without overwhelming jargon.

New York Times Bestseller
Rated Amazon Best Book of the Year
#3 Best Seller in Process Management
View on Amazon
Best for fintech entrepreneurs
Agustín Rubini is a financial savant and strategist with deep expertise in fintech innovation, authoring bestselling guides and advising on digital transformation. His passion for finance and technology, combined with interviews of over 100 fintech founders, fuels this book's detailed exploration of entrepreneurial journeys and industry evolution. Rubini’s background lends credibility to the lessons shared, making this work a valuable compass for anyone navigating the complexities of financial services innovation.

Drawing from his extensive experience as a financial industry strategist and having interviewed over 100 fintech founders, Agustín Rubini offers a rich compilation of insights that illuminate the challenges and opportunities in financial technology. You gain a nuanced understanding of how fintech entrepreneurs navigate everything from securing funding to refining business models across diverse niches such as payments, wealth management, and cryptocurrencies. For example, the book explores specific strategies for pivoting after early setbacks and the importance of assembling the right founding team. This resource suits not only aspiring entrepreneurs but also professionals within established financial firms eager to grasp the evolving fintech landscape and its future trajectory.

New York Times Bestseller
Rated Amazon Best Book of the Year
#3 Best Seller in Process Management
View on Amazon
Best for fintech newcomers
Steven O’Hanlon is the President and CEO of Numerix, a global leader in financial analytics software, with over 25 years pioneering emerging market fintech startups and guiding three IPOs. His extensive experience in scaling fintech firms worldwide informs this book, which aims to demystify the complex fintech ecosystem. O’Hanlon’s leadership at Numerix, recognized by New York SmartCEO and Institutional Investor, grounds this guide in real-world industry expertise, offering readers a reliable compass for navigating fintech’s continual evolution.
FinTech For Dummies book cover

by Steven O'Hanlon, Susanne Chishti, Brendan Bradley, James Jockle, Dawn Patrick··You?

2020·400 pages·Fintech, Finance, Strategy, Financial Analytics, Startup Growth

Steven O’Hanlon brings over 25 years leading fintech ventures and financial analytics to this guide, offering you a clear window into the fast-evolving financial technology landscape. You’ll gain a solid grasp of the key market segments driving fintech growth, from startup fundamentals to global scaling strategies, with insights into real companies shaping the future. Chapters break down decision-making processes for growth plans and explore what makes top fintech firms tick, making it ideal if you're aiming to understand or build within this dynamic sector. This book suits professionals seeking practical knowledge without the jargon, though those wanting deep technical coding details might look elsewhere.

New York Times Bestseller
Rated Amazon Best Book of the Year
#3 Best Seller in Financial Engineering
View on Amazon
Best for custom payment strategies
This AI-tailored book on payment technologies develops a systematic approach with frameworks that adapt to your specific industry context. The content adjusts based on your interests, background, and goals to address the nuanced challenges in adopting emerging payment systems. Offering a blend of foundational knowledge and practical strategies, it bridges the gap between fintech innovations and real-world commerce applications. Created after you specify your areas of interest, the book ensures relevance and depth for your professional needs.
2025·50-300 pages·Fintech, Payment Technologies, Digital Wallets, Real-Time Payments, Blockchain Integration

This tailored book provides a focused exploration of emerging payment technologies transforming money transfer and commerce. It presents a personalized framework that examines core concepts such as digital wallets, real-time payments, blockchain applications, and cross-border transaction innovations. By aligning its content with your specific industry context and goals, the book cuts through generic advice to deliver targeted methodologies for leveraging payment ecosystems, regulatory landscapes, and fintech integration strategies. The tailored approach enables you to grasp both foundational principles and advanced implementation tactics relevant to your professional needs in payment innovation.

Tailored Framework
Fintech Integration
3,000+ Books Generated
Best for payment tech investors
Susanne Chishti is the CEO of FINTECH Circle, Europe's first angel network dedicated to fintech investments, and founder of the FINTECH Circle Institute, a leading fintech education platform. Her extensive experience advising top financial services executives and co-editing bestselling fintech books fuels this volume, which guides you through the rapidly evolving world of payment technology. This background uniquely positions her to explain how PayTech innovations are transforming markets and creating opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
The PAYTECH Book: The Payment Technology Handbook for Investors, Entrepreneurs, and FinTech Visionaries book cover

by Susanne Chishti, Tony Craddock, Robert Courtneidge, Markos Zachariadis··You?

2019·256 pages·Fintech, Payments, Investment, Regulation, Cybersecurity

When Susanne Chishti first recognized the accelerating impact of payment technologies on global commerce, she co-created this book to map out the evolving PayTech landscape. Drawing from her extensive experience leading Europe’s first fintech angel network and founding a fintech education platform, she and her co-authors unpack how innovations reshape payment systems, regulations, and customer experiences. You’ll explore topics from cybersecurity to wholesale payments, gaining insight into how PayTech fuels financial inclusion and market growth. The book suits investors, entrepreneurs, and executives eager to grasp the practical shifts and opportunities in payment technology ecosystems.

New York Times Bestseller
Rated Amazon Best Book of the Year
View on Amazon
Best for wealth management innovators
Susanne Chishti is the Founder and CEO of FINTECH Circle and the FINTECH Circle Institute, leading platforms for fintech learning and innovation. With 15 years at top financial institutions including Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley, she brings deep expertise to this book. Her leadership in WealthTech, InsurTech, AI, and blockchain drives the insights here, making it a relevant guide for anyone navigating investment technology disruption and opportunity.
2018·336 pages·Fintech, Investment Technology, Wealth Management, Robo-Advisors, Hybrid Models

What changed the perspective here is how Susanne Chishti and Thomas Puschmann shift the focus from typical fintech hype to the practical realities of wealth management technology. You’ll learn how automated investment tools, from robo-advisors to hybrid models, are reshaping wealth accumulation for different investor segments. The book dives into how tech innovations can help you outperform traditional benchmarks and explores emerging business models with real company examples. If you’re involved in investment management or fintech entrepreneurship, this book offers a grounded view on innovation’s impact and the evolving customer expectations in this space.

New York Times Bestseller
Rated Amazon Best Book of the Year
#3 Best Seller in Process Management
View on Amazon
Best for fintech investors
Susanne Chishti is a recognized expert in the fintech industry and co-founder of FinTech Circle, a global community of fintech entrepreneurs and investors. She has extensive experience in financial services and has been involved in various fintech initiatives, providing insights and guidance to startups and established firms alike. Her work focuses on the intersection of finance and technology, making her a leading voice in the fintech revolution.
2016·320 pages·Fintech, Finance, Strategy, Investment, Digital Banking

Susanne Chishti, co-founder of FinTech Circle and a veteran in financial services, brings a uniquely informed perspective to this exploration of the fintech landscape. Drawing on her deep involvement with startups and established players, she and Janos Barberis consolidate viewpoints from across the fintech ecosystem to clarify market dynamics and innovation drivers. You'll gain detailed insights into key industry developments, investment opportunities, and the challenges confronting banks and insurers adapting to digital disruption. This book suits entrepreneurs, investors, and financial professionals aiming to understand the evolving fintech space beyond buzzwords, with concrete examples and practitioner lessons woven throughout.

New York Times Bestseller
Rated Amazon Best Book of the Year
#3 Best Seller in Process Management
View on Amazon
Best for payments professionals
Carol Coye Benson, co-founder of Glenbrook Partners and a recognized expert with extensive experience at Bank of America, Visa, and Deutsche Bank, wrote this book drawing from decades spent launching and advancing payment technologies worldwide. Her deep knowledge led her to create Glenbrook’s Payments Education program, educating over 23,000 professionals globally. This background uniquely positions her to explain global payments clearly, making complex subjects accessible and relevant to anyone involved in payments across borders and fintech innovation.
2020·92 pages·Fintech, Payments, Financial Inclusion, Cross Border Payments, Payment Systems

When Carol Coye Benson first uncovered the universal structures underpinning national payments systems, she crafted a concise guide that demystifies the complex world of global payments. You’ll explore how cross-border transactions function behind the scenes and discover the fintech innovations reshaping these processes—from new payment rails to real-time retail systems facilitating greater financial inclusion. The book’s clarity makes it accessible whether you’re a seasoned payments professional or new to the field, offering insight into industry shifts and practical examples like Faster Payments. If you want a grounded understanding of global payments’ mechanics and innovation without getting lost in jargon, this book fits the bill.

New York Times Bestseller
Rated Amazon Best Book of the Year
#3 Best Seller in Process Management
View on Amazon

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Conclusion

Together, these nine books reveal three clear themes shaping fintech today: the tension between traditional institutions and innovation, the rise of digital currencies and blockchain applications, and the transformative power of payment technologies. If you’re navigating community banking challenges, Bankruption offers grounded strategies; for fast-moving digital currency insights, Cashless and The Bitcoin and Blockchain Booklet are invaluable.

Entrepreneurs and investors will find Fintech Founders and The FINTECH Book rich with real-world lessons, while payment specialists should dive into The PAYTECH Book and Global Payments for practical knowledge. For newcomers, FinTech For Dummies breaks down complex topics into manageable insights.

Once you've absorbed these expert insights, create a personalized Fintech book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. This tailored approach can accelerate your fintech journey, whether you seek deep dives or strategic overviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with FinTech For Dummies if you're new to fintech; it breaks down the basics clearly. If you're focused on banking, Bankruption offers practical strategies, while Cashless is great for digital currency enthusiasts.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Fintech?

Not at all. Books like FinTech For Dummies and The Bitcoin and Blockchain Booklet are designed for newcomers, providing accessible introductions without jargon.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with broad overviews like FinTech For Dummies, then explore specialized areas such as payments in The PAYTECH Book or entrepreneurship in Fintech Founders.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your interests. For example, choose Cashless for digital currency or Global Payments if you're in payment systems. Each book covers distinct fintech facets.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast Fintech changes?

While fintech evolves rapidly, these books offer foundational understanding and expert perspectives that remain relevant for grasping core concepts and trends.

How can personalized fintech books complement these expert recommendations?

Personalized books tailor expert insights to your role, goals, and knowledge level, filling gaps and speeding your learning. They complement classics by focusing on what matters most to you. Explore creating your Fintech book.

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