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Belgium’s Digital Finance Ecosystem Comes of Age

Belgium’s Digital Finance Ecosystem Comes of Age

By Raf De Kimpe, CEO of FinTech Belgium


Belgium's digital finance sector has entered a new phase, one defined not only by innovation but by maturity, collaboration and international relevance. The shortlist for the 2026 edition of the Digital Finance Awards Belgium 2026 reflects an ecosystem that is increasingly diverse from early-stage AI-driven fintech startups to established scale-ups, infrastructure providers, regtech specialists and cybersecurity champions.


What stands out is how strongly Belgian digital finance is positioning itself around practical innovation. The conversation has evolved beyond disruption for disruption's sake. Across the market, companies are focusing on embedded finance, operational efficiency, trusted digital identity, compliance automation and AI applications that solve tangible business and customer challenges.


Another visible trend is the growing collaboration between fintechs and established financial institutions. Belgian banks, insurers and payment providers are no longer simply observing innovation from the sidelines; they are actively partnering with fintech companies to accelerate digital transformation.


The shortlist in the collaboration category illustrates how the ecosystem is increasingly interconnected and how innovation today is often built through partnerships rather than competition alone.


Artificial intelligence also plays a central role across this year's finalists. From credit analytics and automation to customer engagement and fraud prevention, AI has moved from experimentation to implementation. At the same time, the continued prominence of regtech, cybersecurity and identity solutions highlight an industry responding to growing regulatory expectations and rising demands for digital trust.


The 2026 finalists demonstrate that Belgian digital finance is no longer a niche sector. It is becoming a strategic pillar of the broader European financial landscape.


2026 Shortlist Highlights


This year's finalists span eleven categories, including Best Fintech Startup, Best Fintech Scale-Up, Best Fintech Company, Best PayTech, Best WealthTech, Best RegTech, Best Cybersecurity or ID/KYC Company, Best Use of AI in Finance and Best Digital Finance Growth Partner.


The winners were announced during the Digital Finance Awards Belgium 2026 on 23rd June 2026 in Ghent. Beyond recognising individual achievements, the evening is a gathering moment for Belgium's fintech and digital finance community bringing together founders, financial institutions, investors, policymakers and technology leaders shaping the sector's next chapter.


As the ecosystem continues to evolve at speed, this year's shortlist already sends a strong signal: Belgian digital finance is building momentum, attracting international attention and creating solutions with impact far beyond its borders.


Here are the winners of the awards:


Best WealthTech Company of the Year

Recognising a wealthtech company advancing investment, advisory or portfolio solutions through digital innovation


🏆 Winner: InvestSuite

InvestSuite provides embedded wealth technology that enables financial institutions to deliver digital investment, advisory, and portfolio management solutions at scale.


⭐ Honorable Mention: Abbove

Abbove develops digital wealth management solutions that help financial institutions and advisors deliver more efficient and personalized investment services.


Best RegTech Company of the Year

Celebrating a regtech company strengthening compliance, risk management and regulatory confidence through technology

Nominees: ChainComply, Harmoney, SafeTransactions and Zapptax


🏆 Winner: Harmoney

Harmoney offers digital onboarding, KYC, and compliance solutions designed to simplify regulatory processes and improve customer experiences for financial institutions.


⭐ Honorable Mention: Zapptax

Zapptax simplifies VAT refund processes for international travelers through a fully digital and user-friendly platform


Best Digital Security Company of the Year

Celebrating a digital security company strengthening trust, security, identity verification and operational resilience through advanced technology


🏆 Winner: Approach Cyber

Approach Cyber provides cybersecurity, risk management, and digital resilience services that help organisations protect critical assets and strengthen trust in the digital economy


Best PayTech Company of the Year

Recognising a payments company improving how money moves through efficiency, security and customer-centric design


🏆 Winner: Paynovate

Paynovate delivers payment processing, card issuing, and embedded finance solutions that enable businesses and fintechs to launch and scale innovative payment experiences


⭐ Honorable Mention: Twikey

Twikey helps organizations automate recurring payments and subscription management through digital mandate and payment solutions.


Best New Digital Finance Product of the Year

Recognising an outstanding digital finance product setting benchmarks for innovation and impact


🏆 Winner: FINVICTUM - MIRA

MIRA is an innovative digital finance solution developed by FINVICTUM, designed to enhance decision-making and create greater efficiency within financial services


Best Use of AI in Finance

Recognising the effective application of artificial intelligence to deliver measurable value and impact in financial services


🏆 Winner: PAIR Finance

PAIR Finance leverages artificial intelligence to modernize receivables management and debt recovery processes, creating more efficient and customer-friendly financial interactions.


Best Digital Finance Growth Partner of the Year

Recognising a digital finance growth partner driving business expansion through advisory, incubation or acceleration


🏆 Winner: imec.istart

imec.istart supports early-stage technology companies through funding, mentoring, and access to a broad network of industry experts, investors and corporate partners


Best Fintech & Financial Institution Collaboration

Honouring a collaboration that combines fintech innovation with institutional scale to deliver real-world impact


🏆 Winner: POM

POM develops payment and digital transaction solutions that simplify interactions between organizations and their customers, helping create seamless user experiences


Best Fintech Startup of the Year

Recognising a fintech startup delivering outstanding innovation, growth and impact in financial services


🏆 Winner: Peaky

Peaky is building innovative financial solutions focused on helping individuals and businesses make smarter financial decisions through technology-driven insights


Best Fintech Scale-up of the Year

Recognising a fintech scale-up demonstrating exceptional growth, scale and innovation across financial services


🏆 Winner: Digiteal

Digiteal offers digital billing, invoicing, and payment solutions that help businesses streamline collections and improve customer payment experiences


⭐ Honorable Mentions: Mifundo and PAIR Finance

Mifundo enables cross-border access to credit data, helping mobile Europeans access financial services more easily across different countries

PAIR Finance uses artificial intelligence to transform receivables management through data-driven and customer-centric collection processes


Best Fintech Company of the Year

Recognising a fintech company that has delivered innovation and impact across the fintech landscape


🏆 Winner: iBanFirst

iBanFirst provides international payment and foreign exchange solutions that help businesses manage cross-border transactions more efficiently while reducing complexity and risk

 
 
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