Couchonomics with Arjun How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewiring the Future of Fintech
Nov 25, 2025
Sandeep Patil, a partner at QED Investors with rich experience in fintech, discusses the transformative phase of the industry. He explains how the fintech reset isn't over yet and highlights stablecoins as the backbone of global trade. AI's influence in underwriting and distribution is substantial, streamlining processes and reducing costs. Sandeep emphasizes the necessity for founders to be regulatory-savvy, viewing regulation not as a hurdle but as a tool for growth. Emerging opportunities in the UAE and MENA region are also spotlighted.
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Fintech Reset Isn't Finished
- The global fintech reset is not fully over because macro volatility and interest rates still suppress lending-led profits.
- Recovery may be near but likely needs another 6–12 months barring new macro shocks.
Stablecoins And AI Are Structural Tailwinds
- Stablecoins and AI are major structural tailwinds reshaping payments and underwriting respectively.
- Stablecoins rewire cross-border rails while AI drives specialist models for underwriting and distribution.
Global Trade Is Being Reset
- Global trade is being reset at an unprecedented scale, reshaping where commerce and payments converge.
- Dubai and the UAE sit at the nexus of re-emerging trade flows and population relocation.