Released at the Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2026, the Global FinTech Hub Report profiles the "Global Top 50 FinTech Hubs". Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong are listed as "comprehensive global hubs".

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The report was jointly released by the Beijing-based Frontier Institute of Regulation and Supervision Technology (FIRST), the Academy of Internet Finance (AIF) of Zhejiang University, the Zhejiang International Base for Science & Technology Exchange: Fintech & Big Data Analysis (ZIBSciTechX), and the Shenzhou Business School of the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo. Based on a sample of 500 representative fintech companies in 160 cities across 58 countries and regions, the report identifies the "Global Top 50 FinTech Hubs".

This year's list of the "Global Top 50 FinTech Hubs" covers cities in nine major regions and comprises 10 "comprehensive global hubs", 20 "industry-specific hubs", and 20 "regional growth hubs". Inclusion on the list recognizes a city's role as a key global fintech hub. The cities are listed without a numerical ranking.

The report notes that understanding China's fintech competitiveness requires examining the functional connections among Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong. Beijing links scientific research, financial institutions, and regulatory technology applications; Shanghai stands out in financial markets, clearing and settlement, and cross-border/boundary services; Shenzhen has strengths in digital banking R&D and technology implementation; Hangzhou draws on digital commerce and applications serving micro and small-sized enterprises; and Hong Kong serves as a bridge to international markets and professional services. The complementary capabilities of these cities support the international expansion of China's fintech entities.

Building on these findings, the report identifies three routes for the international expansion of China's fintech entities: the export of financial technologies and operational expertise; the expansion of commercial payment and enterprise service networks; and the development of public financial infrastructure and supporting capabilities.

Looking ahead, the report spots six key trends: closer coordination between super-hubs and specialized nodes; stronger ecosystem connections through public financial infrastructure; the reshaping of financial services with the assistance of artificial intelligence; the need for trusted rules and practical applications in digital asset development; the emergence of a network of multiple hubs in the Global South; and a shift in digital banking competition toward the sustainable provision of inclusive financial services.

(Source: The Beijing News)