Call for Papers
JRFM (Scopus Indexed) Special Issue:
“Regulation of Fintech, Digital Payments and Digital Assets Markets”

The Journal of Risk and Financial Management (www.mdpi.com/journal/jrfm, ISSN 1911-8074) invites authors to submit papers for peer review and possible publication in a Special Issue on:

“Regulation of Fintech, Digital Payments and Digital Assets Markets”,

Authors conducting relevant and innovative research on this theme and related disciplines are encouraged to contribute to this Special Issue.

Submissions may take the form of original research articles or review papers.

Globally, the Fintech landscape has changed significantly. Newer Fintech innovations such as central bank digital currencies, cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, tokenisation, artificial intelligence in financial services, buy now pay later, open banking, and open finance are gaining traction. At the same time, more established innovations, including mobile money, debt and equity crowdfunding, Fintech balance sheet lending, and Insurtech, have become more mainstream across certain jurisdictions. Projections by Boston Consulting Group (2023) suggest that Africa’s Fintech market will grow thirteenfold to reach USD $65 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 32%. This thirteenfold increase is expected to position the continent as the global leader in Fintech growth, outpacing all other regions. For comparison, Latin America is projected to grow 12.5 times, Asia–Pacific 8.5 times, Europe 5.5 times, and North America 4 times. Alongside this rapid market growth, a wide range of policy, legal and regulatory developments have unfolded, not only on the African continent but globally.

This Special Edition explores Fintech law and regulation in different jurisdictions, with a particular focus on how Fintech law and regulation and in particular, the policy, legal and regulatory developments have evolved in Fintech, digital payments, digital money and digital assets. With all innovation comes benefits and opportunities; however, innovation may also raise new regulatory risks and challenges.

This Special Issue seeks to assess policy, legal and regulatory initiatives in various jurisdictions, identify lessons that can be drawn from these experiences, and provide broader insights for strengthening the global digital finance ecosystem.

If our proposal interests you, please feel free to contact us or Ms. Niki Ke at Niki.Ke@mdpi.com) with any questions or ideas regarding manuscripts. We look forward to your submission.
 

Guest Editors:

Prof Dr. Vivienne Lawack
Centre for African Fintech, Innovation and Law
Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
vlawack@uwc.ac.za


Prof Dr. Louis de Koker
La Trobe Law School. La Trobe University. Melbourne, VIC 3086 

Deadline for manuscript submissions
15 January 2027