The University of Utah’s Fintech Center hosted the 4th Annual Fintech Xchange from February 4-6 in downtown Salt Lake City, bringing together nearly 400 innovators and executives from leading companies such as Visa, Intuit, LoanPro, and KPMG. The event focused on the challenges currently facing the fintech industry, including regulatory changes, emerging technologies, and the ongoing commitment to helping consumers achieve their financial goals.
Ryan Christiansen, Senior Director of the Fintech Center, emphasized Utah’s unique position as a host for such discussions. “Utah brings favorable regulatory frameworks and innovation infrastructure,” he stated, underscoring the importance of insights and relationships formed at the conference. “While we’re proud of Utah’s role as host, this is fundamentally a national conversation.”
Established in 2023, the Fintech Center has quickly made strides in education and research within the financial technology sector. In just three years, 42 students have completed a Fintech minor at the university, a Fintech Ambassador program has been launched, and collaborations on economic research with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute have commenced. This summer, the fintech minor will expand internationally, taking students to Paris and Barcelona.
The growth of Utah’s fintech sector is noteworthy, with nearly 70 companies based in Salt Lake County alone, contributing to the creation of nearly 8,000 jobs and over $1 billion in wages as projected for 2025. Moreover, fintech companies are expected to add more than $7 billion to the state’s gross domestic product, according to the governor’s office. In alignment with these developments, Governor Spencer Cox designated February 2026 as “Tech Month” in Utah, aimed at fostering further innovation. In December, he also announced a $10 million “pro-human” AI initiative to prepare the state’s workforce for future technology that supports human flourishing.
During a “Hot Takes” discussion on February 5, fintech executives including Jason Henrichs (CEO of Alloy Labs), Simon Taylor (Founder of Fintech Brainfood), Alex Johnson (founder of Fintech Takes), and Peter Renton (CEO and Founder of Renton & Co.) addressed the pressing challenges posed by rapid technological advancements. They highlighted the increasing proliferation of financial products, notably in areas like artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and gambling applications, urging participants to stay true to the industry’s mission of making financial technology accessible to consumers.
“Practically speaking, in 2026, the financial services industry is made up of two different parties: There are companies that want to convince consumers to give up and then profit from that. And there are the other companies that want to convince the customers to not give up,” Johnson noted. “I hope everyone in this room is on the side of getting consumers not to give up. That’s the side we need to focus on.”
Kurt Dirks, Dean of the David Eccles School of Business, highlighted that discussions such as these set the Fintech Xchange apart from other industry conferences. The University of Utah is effectively bridging the gap between business executives and higher education leaders, fostering opportunities for the next generation of fintech professionals.
In a further commitment to expanding fintech education, the Academic Senate approved a financial technology master’s degree on February 2, building on the university’s growing focus in this area. Gene Levinzon, Director of the Undergraduate Fintech Program, articulated the center’s commitment to topics such as digital financial education, ethical data usage, and transparency in artificial intelligence algorithms. “All of that is something that Fintech is focusing on and contributing to,” Levinzon said.
The new Fintech programs are set to launch in the upcoming fall semester, promising to provide students with vital skills needed in an ever-evolving industry.
As the fintech landscape continues to evolve, events like the Fintech Xchange are pivotal in shaping the future of the industry, ensuring that technological advancements are aligned with consumer needs and ethical standards.
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