Dr. Marc Roberts
General Counsel and Co-President of the EFA

Dr. Marc Roberts has been General Counsel since 2017 of one of the biggest German FinTechs Raisin that aims to revolutionise the savings and investment market. He is Co-President and board member of the European FinTech Association (EFA) that gives innovative businesses in finance a voice in the European space. Prior to joining the deposits specialist Raisin he was Senior Associate at the German law firm Hengeler Mueller where he specialised in compliance and corporate law as well as Cravath Swaine & Moore (New York).

The year 2025 has reshaped the global landscape in ways few anticipated. Economic cycles have shortened, geopolitical tensions spread far beyond their borders, and markets now react with unprecedented speed to shifts in trade policy and technological power. Amid this volatility, the concept of sovereignty, whether national, financial, technological or embedded in supply chains, has gained new prominence. Countries and regions are reassessing dependencies and investing more deliberately in domestic capabilities. While this trend introduces fresh challenges, it has also sparked meaningful innovation, encouraged home-grown solutions and revived an appetite for long-term thinking over short-term fixes.

For consumers and businesses, these macro-forces are redefining expectations around trust, resilience and access to financial services. As in previous years, the fintech sector stands both as a reflection of these broader dynamics and as a catalyst for navigating them. It helps market participants adapt to new economic realities and turns complexity into progress.

In the European Union, policymaking is entering an era focused on innovation, autonomy and simplification. This is reflected in the Commission’s 2026 work programme titled “Europe’s Independence Moment” as well as its regulatory simplification agenda. Businesses across the Union are experiencing a pivotal shift: reduced administrative burdens, expanded pathways for financing innovation and a renewed attempt to balance consumer protection with business continuity. Together, these efforts represent a significant opportunity for firms to help shape the future of Europe’s markets and regulatory frameworks in ways that support innovation, stability and sustainable growth.

In this changing environment, the European FinTech Association (EFA) plays a central role in representing the interests of Europe’s FinTech sector. As a not-for-profit and member-driven organisation, the EFA brings together a diverse group of more than forty companies across the Union, ranging from payments and lending to banking, investment, robo-advice and software-as-a-service providers. What unites our members is a shared commitment to the European market and to a vision of a truly digital single market for financial services.

The shift in Europe towards innovation, autonomy and simplification has reinforced the importance of this mission. Our members see first-hand how harmonised rules, consistent supervision and proportionate safety requirements can foster competitive markets, encourage investment and allow European companies to scale. The EFA advocates for a strong and integrated common market that ensures a level playing field between incumbents and FinTechs, and supports policies that reduce unnecessary administrative burden while maintaining high standards of consumer protection and financial stability.

Technology remains a powerful tool for delivering these goals. Digital solutions can reduce costs for businesses and consumers, simplify compliance, and provide regulators with greater transparency. Even in a more challenging macro-economic climate, FinTechs continue to develop successful business models that attract financing, talent and customers. One clear lesson from recent years is that the customer-first approach embraced by many FinTechs has benefited the entire market. Consumers have gained access to financial products that were once limited to high-net-worth individuals and corporates, including digital wealth management, competitive exchange rates, real-time payments and advantageous deposit offerings.

As customer expectations rise, providers across the financial sector are responding. Some incumbents are building new services internally, while others are integrating FinTech solutions into their offerings. This dynamic encourages innovation, enhances competition and strengthens Europe’s financial ecosystem as a whole. It also demonstrates the value of a regulatory environment that supports collaboration, enables responsible experimentation and allows European firms to grow at home and compete globally.