Funding for the Irish fintech market reached $158.13 million in the first half of 2026 – a decrease of 9% compared to the same time period in 2025 when $173 million was raised – according to the Pulse of FinTech H1’26 - a bi-annual report published by KPMG highlighting global fintech investment trends.
The data includes $110 million raised by tax automation service Fonoa. Other notable deals included $22 million raised by Dublin-based audit platform Circit, $11.83 million raised through acquisition by blockchain company Trrue, and $10 million raised by Cork-based transaction platform Trustap.
Geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties dampen fintech market in EMEA region
Globally, fintech investment across venture capital, private equity, and M&A increased from $72.2 billion in H2'25 to $103.1 billion in H1'26, putting the sector on pace for its strongest annual investment performance in four years.
Meanwhile, investment in the EMEA region fell to $11.3 billion across 626 deals in H1'26: less than the $18.0 billion invested across 753 deals seen in H2'25.
Investor sentiment in the EMEA region was weighed down by several uncertainties, including heightened geopolitical tensions, tariff policies, and renewed concerns over inflation and interest rates stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.
Despite the broader slowdown, EMEA investors continued to show interest in AI-focused fintechs, particularly those developing solutions related to digital identity management, cybersecurity, and regtech.
These fintechs are still relatively small in EMEA compared with their counterparts in other regions, making for more modest funding rounds.
2026 – Key highlights
Fintech poised for continued growth
While geopolitical uncertainty, macroeconomic pressures, and a subdued exit environment continue to present challenges, the sector's fundamentals remain strong.
Growing institutional adoption of digital assets and stablecoins, continued investment in AI and payments, improving regulatory clarity, and sustained strategic M&A activity all point to continued momentum through the remainder of the year.
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