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The Global FinTech Alliance (GFA) is the first global, structured and representative voice of the FinTech and digital finance industry before regulators, supervisors, central banks, international organisations and institutional stakeholders.
Composed of leading regional and continental FinTech associations, the GFA represents an ecosystem spanning 130 countries and more than 30,000 FinTech companies worldwide. It brings together the European Digital Finance Association (EDFA), the FinTech IberoAmérica Alliance (FIA), the Africa FinTech Network (AFN), International Digital Economies Association (iDEA) from Asia, the MENA Fintech Association, and India’s Unified Fintech Forum, among other leading regional ecosystems.
Its mission is to connect the global digital finance industry, support the internationalisation of FinTech companies, foster financial inclusion, and promote responsible innovation across markets. Through institutional cooperation, cross-border dialogue and policy coordination, the GFA works to reduce regulatory fragmentation, strengthen interoperability, and contribute to the development of common principles for the future of digital finance.
The GFA acts as a global counterpart for regulators, supervisors, policymakers, multilateral organisations, financial institutions, technology companies and FinTech associations seeking to engage with the sector through a structured, representative and constructive industry voice. Its work is aligned with financial stability, innovation, competitiveness, inclusion and the responsible development of digital financial services.
The Board of Directors
Rodrigo García de la Cruz has been appointed Chairman of the Global FinTech Alliance. He is one of the leading figures in the development of the global FinTech ecosystem and has played a key role in the creation and consolidation of several regional and international FinTech associations. He is also Vice President of the Spanish FinTech and InsurTech Association (AEFI), co-founder of the FinTech IberoAmérica Alliance, co-founder of the European Digital Finance Association.
Segun Aina serves as Board Member for Africa, representing the Africa Fintech Network (AFN). He is Chairman of the Africa Fintech Network and one of the most recognised leaders in the African digital finance ecosystem, with a long track record in FinTech advocacy, financial inclusion, innovation policy and institutional ecosystem development.
Cristina Amor Maclang serves as Board Member for Asia, representing Digital Pilipinas and the International Digital Economies Association (iDEA). As Founder and Convenor of Digital Pilipinas and Secretary General of iDEA, she has been instrumental in building digital ecosystems across ASEAN and connecting emerging digital economies with global innovation networks.
Niklas Sandqvist serves as Board Member for Europe, representing the European Digital Finance Association (EDFA). He is Co-Secretary General of EDFA and has been deeply involved in the development of European FinTech communities, including Fintech Norway, Nordic FinTech initiatives and broader European policy engagement in Brussels.
Diego Pérez serves as Board Member for the Americas, representing the FinTech IberoAmérica Alliance and ABFintechs Brazil. He is a leading voice in Latin American FinTech regulation, open finance, digital assets and cross-border ecosystem collaboration, and currently serves as Vice President of the FinTech IberoAmérica Alliance.
Nameer Khan serves as Board Member for MENA, representing the MENA Fintech Association. He is Founder and Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association, one of the leading regional FinTech bodies across the Middle East and North Africa, and Founder and CEO of Fils, a climate FinTech infrastructure company. His work focuses on FinTech, sustainability, public policy, regional ecosystem development and cross-border collaboration.
Jatinder Handoo serves as Board Member for India, representing the Unified Fintech Forum, formerly the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI). He is CEO of the Unified Fintech Forum and has more than two decades of experience across MSME banking, digital lending, FinTech strategy, public policy and responsible finance. His work has focused on financial inclusion, digital credit, regulatory dialogue and the development of India’s FinTech ecosystem.
Luis Javier Sánchez Mulligan serves as General Counsel and Strategic Advisor to the Global FinTech Alliance and the World FinTech Forum. He brings senior experience in financial services, strategy, governance, distribution and institutional relations, supporting the GFA in its legal, strategic and institutional development.
Board Meetings and Global Institutional Agenda
Following the initial meeting of founding members in Madrid, the Global FinTech Alliance continued its institutional development with a Board of Directors meeting in Dubai in May 2025, held in the context of the Dubai FinTech Summit. This meeting reinforced the GFA’s role as a global convening body for FinTech associations, regulators, investors, financial institutions and technology leaders.
The following Board of Directors meeting was held in Singapore, in the context of Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, further strengthening the GFA’s bridge between Asia, Europe, Africa, MENA and the Americas. These meetings form part of the GFA’s broader institutional roadmap to consolidate a truly global, representative and constructive voice for the FinTech and digital finance industry.
About the Founding Members
Africa Fintech Network (AFN): AFN brings together Africa’s FinTech and digital finance leaders, organisations and stakeholders through country associations across more than 40 African markets. Its mission is to connect Africa with the global community, enable open dialogue, build synergies and create new opportunities in FinTech.
European Digital Finance Association (EDFA): EDFA represents Europe’s digital finance and FinTech ecosystem, promoting a unified digital single market for financial services, innovation-friendly regulation, open finance, competitiveness and the international growth of European FinTech companies.
FinTech IberoAmérica Alliance (FIA): The FinTech IberoAmérica Alliance brings together 16 FinTech chambers and associations from North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Spain, representing thousands of FinTech companies and promoting financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, competitiveness and regulatory cooperation across Ibero-America.
International Digital Economies Association Asia (iDEA): iDEA connect digital economy leaders, policymakers, innovators and ecosystem builders across Asia and other emerging markets, supporting digital transformation, inclusive finance and cross-border cooperation.
MENA Fintech Association (MFTA): MFTA is a collaborative regional body dedicated to fostering innovation, growth and regulatory advancement across the Middle East and North Africa. It represents 22 markets and a community of more than 26,000 professionals, promoting regulatory dialogue, cross-border collaboration and FinTech ecosystem development.
India Unified Fintech Forum, formerly DLAI: The Unified Fintech Forum brings together India’s digital finance ecosystem, including regulated lenders, banks, FinTech platforms, embedded finance players, technology providers, credit bureaus, legal firms and industry advisors. It supports responsible finance, financial inclusion, ethical practices, policy alignment and capacity-building across India’s FinTech sector.
Through its Board of Directors, founding members and global institutional agenda, the Global FinTech Alliance is consolidating the first truly global, structured and representative voice of the FinTech and digital finance industry. Its purpose is to strengthen cooperation across regions, support responsible innovation, promote financial inclusion, and contribute to a more interoperable, competitive and resilient global financial ecosystem.
