Estonia is a cashless society with over 99% of financial transactions occurring digitally. Electronic ID and Blockchain are widely used in FinTech applications. 80+ FinTechs ranging from innovative startups such as TransferWise to Blockchain leader Guardtime make Estonia a global centre of excellence for FinTech.
| Digital by design, Estonian financial services have applied FinTech for over 20yrs. | |
| Daily utilisation of distributed systems, electronic ID and smart contracts. | |
| World-class skills in software, high tech systems, process automation and cyber security. | |
| Digital environment supporting rapid innovation, development and launch of solutions. | |
| Global proof of concept in segments including Blockchain, payments and banking. |
Estonian financial technology experts have over 20 years of greenfield development experience having established a high-level functional financial system from scratch. Financial IT systems and services in Estonia are highly innovative combined with user-friendliness.
Estonia’s FinTech journey has its roots in e-Estonia, when the government, financial services, and telecoms providers collaborated to create a unique environment. Digital service delivery was supported by the development of electronic ID, smart contracts, high-speed connectivity, and enabling legislation. Nordic banks were early beneficiaries and continue to profit from efficient and agile business models.
Estonia has utilised decentralised, distributed systems since 2001 and Blockchain since 2008. The world’s largest Blockchain company, Guardtime, was born and continues to have significant operations in Estonia, while Blockchain startup Funderbeam attracts global investments. NASDAQ has completed a successful trial of Blockchain based shareholder voting in Estonia.
In payments, Estonia has produced globally successful companies including Fortumo, award-winning Monese, and the unicorn TransferWise, each of whom has significant R&D, engineering, and 24/7 multilingual client service operations in Estonia.
Estonia also possesses expertise in enterprise-grade solutions, including Fitek’s F&A robotic process automation and Arvato Bertlesmann’s IT Development and Innovation Center.
Further success is expected as Estonia’s expertise in finance and IT, high entrepreneurship, and pro-business environment including regulation promote rapid development and launch of solutions in areas like cryptocurrencies and AI.
Whether you seek innovation, reliable engineering or an operational hub within the EU regulatory framework, Estonia is a smart, agile location for FinTech businesses.
Success stories in the Estonian FinTech sector include:
Arvato Bertlesmann, Bondora, e-Residency, Fitek, Fortumo, Friendly Finance, Funderbeam, Guardtime, IceFire, IPF Digital, Monese, NASDAQ, Pocopay, TransferWise, etc.
These websites can be useful when interested in FinTech in Estonia:
You are also welcome to send us a request for personal e-consulting to obtain more specific information.
Estonia is the world’s most digitally enabled nation, offering a unique combination of talent, environment, and innovation. Our IT R&D ecosystem enjoys global proof of concept, being trusted by global organisations such as Kuehne+Nagel and NATO and producing unicorn startups like Transferwise and Bolt.
Estonia is a cashless society with over 99% of financial transactions occurring digitally. Electronic ID and Blockchain are widely used in FinTech applications. 80+ FinTechs ranging from innovative startups such as TransferWise to Blockchain leader Guardtime make Estonia a global centre of excellence for FinTech.
Estonia has a sizeable Advanced Industrial sector and world-class IT expertise in areas including high tech systems, control technologies and cyber security. Supported by a collaborative ecosystem well suited to research and development, Estonia is emerging as a centre of excellence in industrial automation.
Estonia developed X-Road, its proprietary decentralised, distributed system in 2001 and has utilised Blockchain since 2008. World-class technical skills supported by practical experience implementing public and permissioned Blockchain’s place Estonia at the forefront of the emerging Blockchain economy.
Patient records in Estonia are digitised and secured by the Blockchain, providing a single immutable data source for healthcare professionals. With a unique digital platform and collaborative ecosystem, Estonia is positioned to lead on preventative medicine, patient self-treatment and industry efficiency.
What is it like to run a business in Estonia? How to benefit from the e-solutions and the efficiency of our business culture? What are the opportunities in specific sectors? Who to partner up with?
The Estonian Investment Agency’s team is happy to help you via its complimentary e-Consulting service, organize online or offline follow-up events such as virtual investment visits and guide you through the fairly simple process of investing in Estonia.
