Survey of Fintech: 2026 Release

John Nofsinger – Dean, Professor, and William H. Seward Endowed Chair of International Finance at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He earned his BS degree in electrical engineering from Washington State University, his MBA degree from Chapman University, and his PhD degree in finance from Washington State University. Dr. Nofsinger has written over 70 articles in the areas of investments, corporate finance, and behavioral finance. These papers have appeared in the scholarly journals Journal of Finance, Journal of Business, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Financial Management, Journal of Corporate Finance, Journal of Banking and Finance, and Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, among others. Dr. Nofsinger has also authored (or coauthored) fourteen trade books, scholarly books, and textbooks that have been translated into eleven different languages. The most prominent of these books is the industry book The Psychology of Investing. Dr. Nofsinger is a leading expert in behavioral finance and is a frequent speaker on this topic at industry conferences, universities, and academic conferences. He is frequently quoted or appears in the financial media, including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Fortune, Bloomberg Business Week, Smart Money, The Washington Post, and CNBC, and other media from The Dolans to The Street.com.

Sean Stein Smith, DBA, CPA, CMA, CFE, CGMA, is an associate professor at the City University of New York―Lehman College, a Forbes columnist, and a leading expert on blockchain, cryptoassets, and their impact on financial services. He chairs the Accounting Working Group for the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, advises multiple startups in the crypto and AI spaces, and has authored multiple books and award-winning research on emerging technologies in finance. Named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, Sean regularly advises global organizations, regulators, and educators on integrating fintech into the future of business education.

Yosef Bonaparte, Ph.D., is a leading voice in fintech and modern finance, with expertise spanning blockchain, digital payments, AI, and cryptocurrency. He earned his doctorate in finance from the University of Texas at Austin and has published extensively in top journals such as Journal of Financial Economics, Management Science, and Journal of Monetary Economics. A sought-after commentator for outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and CNBC, Dr. Bonaparte bridges academic rigor with real world application. He has authored multiple books on financial innovation, including Cryptocurrency, Decentralized Finance Blockchains and Robust Trading Strategies. In the classroom, Dr. Bonaparte has designed and taught courses at the Ph.D., masters, and undergraduate levels, covering fintech classes, including AI and ML for FinTech, Crypto and Blockchain Investing and Trading, and Advanced Asset Pricing. His work equips students and educators to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.