Exploring the landscape of financial inclusion through the lens of financial technologies: A review

The intersection of financial technology (FinTech) and financial inclusion is increasingly recognized in both academic research and policy as a powerful tool for addressing global challenges and supporting sustainable development. Financial inclusion is essential for achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs), with access to formal financial services playing a critical role in fostering economic growth and improving the livelihoods of underserved populations. FinTech innovations, including mobile money, blockchain, and digital banking, have transformed the financial landscape by providing scalable, cost-effective solutions to bridge the gap between the unbanked and formal financial services. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the intersection between FinTech and financial inclusion, identifying five distinct research clusters. The findings reveal the significant role of mobile money and blockchain in enhancing financial access in developing countries, the impact of digital banking in reducing transaction costs and expanding credit access, and the growing relevance of blockchain for transparency and security in financial systems. This study also highlights emerging research areas, such as FinTech's impact on gender disparities in financial inclusion and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services, offering a foundation for future research.