As part of the UNCHAIN CEE Fintech Tour, our stop in Bulgaria brought together bold voices from fintech. The goal: to discuss how innovation is reshaping finance in the region. What followed was an honest and energizing debate about the future—and the practical challenges of getting there.
Here are five key ideas that stood out:
1. AI is Here—but Only Works if You Deliver
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword. Bulgarian banks are already using it in credit risk and internal processes. But as one panelist put it: “AI is only real if you execute.” It’s not about impressing the market with futuristic tools. It’s about embedding those tools into real products and workflows—fast, smart, and with the right people behind them.
2. Innovation Depends on Infrastructure
Front-end interfaces matter, but the real battleground is in the back-end. Scalable APIs, cloud-native systems, and a modern core are what make speed, agility, and ecosystem play possible. Fintechs may move fast, but banks have the reach—if they can upgrade what’s under the hood.
3. Digital Identity Is a Missing Link in CEE
Without a common digital identity framework, the CEE region remains fragmented. While innovation is accelerating, cross-border adoption is harder without strong identity rails. This is more than a tech problem—it’s a regulatory and trust issue that must be solved to unlock the region’s full potential.
4. Talent and Culture Will Make or Break You
One thing was clear: tech doesn’t build itself. Banks need teams that understand legacy systems but also think like product builders. Culture change is key—empowering teams to move fast, fail smart, and align with users. People before platforms.
5. Regulators Can—and Should—Be Enablers
The tone of the conversation was hopeful: regulators in Bulgaria and across CEE are starting to lean in. But the ask from the ecosystem is clear: be consistent, be fast, and be open to dialogue. Sandboxes, open banking frameworks, and faster licensing paths can accelerate progress for everyone.
What’s Next?
The UNCHAIN CEE Fintech Tour continues in the second part of the year, bringing together innovators, builders, and decision-makers from across the region. We’ll keep exploring what makes fintech move—from Sofia to other key cities in CEE.
Stay close to hear new stories, spark new ideas, and meet the people reshaping finance in Central and Eastern Europe.
