The fintech industry is evolving at lightning speed. Startups are bringing new payment solutions to market, banks are adopting fintech strategies, and the demand for seamless financial experiences is growing. But behind every great fintech innovation lies a major challenge: security, compliance, and scalability.
To understand what fintech founders need to navigate these challenges, we spoke with Pavel Kaminsky, an expert in secure payment environments and PCI DSS compliance (PCI DSS is a global security standard applying to all organizations that process, store, transmit, or impact the security of payment cards data). As the founder & CEO of 7Security GmbH, he helps fintechs and payment service providers worldwide implement PCI DSS requirements in a way that’s cost-effective and scalable. He also serves as a mentor for fintech programs like VISA Innovation Program, Level39, and Startupbootcamp, and as an advisory board member and awards judge at MPE Berlin.
With years of experience working with startups, Kaminsky shares his insights on what it takes to succeed in fintech today.
FinTech vs. banks: the lines are blurring
The line between fintech startups and traditional banks is blurring fast.
“Banks are becoming fintechs, and fintechs are becoming banks,” Kaminsky says. Many banks now have their own fintech divisions, while startups are securing banking licenses to offer a broader range of services. This creates both new opportunities and new regulatory hurdles for fintech founders.
One of the biggest challenges? Compliance.
“Many fintechs underestimate how complex financial regulations are. Each country has its own banking rules, and navigating them slows down expansion,” Kaminsky explains.
While the European Union offers a unified market, fintechs still face different financial regulations in each country, making scaling across borders a slow and expensive process.
Security is another major roadblock. Many startups focus so much on growth that they overlook security and compliance—until it becomes a problem. Kaminsky helps fintechs build secure payment environments without killing their agility.
“The most secure system is one that’s turned off,” he jokes. “But that doesn’t work for a business. The goal is to find the right balance—strong security, but in a way that still allows fast growth.”
His approach has already helped several fintech startups scale, proving that compliance doesn’t have to slow you down—it can actually accelerate growth when done right.
Why CEE is a FinTech powerhouse & what founders need to win
Kaminsky sees huge potential in Central and Eastern Europe as a fintech innovation hub. The region has already produced some major success stories—one standout example is SoftPOS technology, which allows merchants to accept payments on their phones without needing extra hardware.
Why is this sector booming in CEE? Kaminsky believes founders in emerging markets have a unique advantage:
“They have energy, creativity, and the ability to do a lot with very little,” he says. Without the deep pockets of Silicon Valley, CEE fintech founders have to innovate smarter.
However, fintech startups in the region still face hurdles. According to Kaminsky, three key things would help them succeed:
- Simplified regulations – A more unified fintech regulatory framework in the EU would allow startups to grow without hitting compliance roadblocks in every country.
- Stronger security strategies – Founders need to build security into their products early, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
- Access to funding & mentorship – Connecting with investors and experienced fintech mentors can accelerate a startup’s journey from idea to market leader.
Kaminsky also emphasizes that fintech isn’t just about better technology—it’s about better experiences for users.
“Innovations like split payments, buy-now-pay-later, and seamless mobile payments all focus on making transactions feel effortless. That’s where fintech is heading: making payments disappear into the background.”
The future of payments
So, what’s next for fintech? Kaminsky predicts embedded finance will revolutionize payments, where transactions happen automatically without users even noticing.
“Your car will pay for gas on its own. Your fridge will reorder groceries. The idea is ‘buy anything, anywhere’—without even thinking about it,” he says.
While biometric payments, like face recognition for transactions, sound futuristic, Kaminsky is sceptical about their success.
“They look cool but come with privacy concerns, and most consumers don’t trust them yet,” he explains. Instead, he sees software-based payment solutions—where any device can act as a payment terminal—as the real game-changer.
Meet Pavel Kaminsky at Money Motion
If you want to hear more about fintech’s future, Pavel Kaminsky will be speaking at Money Motion in Zagreb, the conference taking place on March 27-28.
“I love how fast this conference is growing,” he says. “It’s becoming a true Balkan fintech hub, connecting startups, investors, and industry leaders. This year, their goal is to make sure at least one startup secures an investment during the event,” Kaminsky says. “That’s the kind of fintech conference we need—one that actually helps startups grow.”
Tickets and detailed information about the Money Motion 2025 conference program are available on the official website.
