Navigating the fragmented world of fintech media has become increasingly complex, especially for companies in the payments and banking technology space.

Gone are the days when a few major financial publications dominated coverage of payment processing innovations or banking infrastructure developments. Today, the most insightful analysis often comes from independent Substack creators who’ve built dedicated audiences hungry for depth rather than breadth.

As the financial communications agency supporting a broad array of companies in this industry, understanding this new landscape isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

The Great Fintech Media Micro-Culture

A rich ecosystem of specialist publications covering this industry has flourished. These aren’t just blogs—they’re sophisticated analysis platforms built by industry veterans who understand the nuances of payment rails, acquiring networks, and compliance frameworks.

The reality is that some of these Substackers have more direct experience in banks or as equity analysts than trade media, and often they are slightly further on in their careers. On financial valuation and tech they are often more switched on.

What makes these platforms particularly valuable is their engagement model. These aren’t passive audiences skimming headlines—they’re active professionals who are willing to pay for insights that help them navigate an increasingly complex financial technology landscape.

The Fintech Substack Power Players

When we look specifically at payment processing and banking infrastructure coverage, a few Substacks stand out for their depth, audience, and influence:

The Heavy Hitters

Fintech Takes by Alex Johnson delivers bi-weekly deep dives with tens of thousands of subscribers. Johnson doesn’t just report—he analyzes the structural implications of fintech developments, particularly in payment systems and banking infrastructure. His background in fintech research gives him a uniquely informed perspective on the evolution of payment networks and banking-as-a-service platforms.

Fintech Business Weekly by Jason Mikula brings a regulatory lens to fintech developments that’s particularly valuable for compliance-heavy segments like payments and banking. His previous experience at Goldman Sachs’ Marcus means he understands both the technology and the regulatory constraints shaping payment innovation.

Together, Johnson and Mikula co-host the Fintech Recap podcast, creating a multi-channel approach that amplifies their reach beyond just newsletter subscribers.

Fintech Brain Food by Simon Taylor focuses heavily on payment infrastructure evolution, with recent analyses of stablecoins, payment networks, and the future of transaction processing. Taylor’s background as a fintech thought leader makes his insights particularly valuable for understanding how current infrastructure might evolve.

The Specialists

For those specifically interested in payment processing coverage, Popular Fintech stands out for its focus on publicly traded fintech companies, including regular coverage of major processors. Their analyses go beyond typical market coverage to explore strategic positioning and competitive dynamics.

Digital & Beyond brings a global perspective to payments innovation, with particular emphasis on cross-border payment evolution, real-time payment systems, and the technological infrastructure enabling money movement across borders. Their February 2025 analysis of how cross-border payments are evolving is essential reading for anyone working in international payments.

For those focused on banking infrastructure, The Painted Stork by Ambika Pande provides deep coverage of how fintechs are powering next-generation banking, with particular emphasis on API-driven financial services and banking-as-a-service platforms.

Why These Matter As Much As Traditional Media

What’s fascinating about this ecosystem is that it’s not just an alternative to traditional media—it’s becoming a primary source of insight for many industry professionals. The fragmentation isn’t merely about attention spans or algorithms—it’s about depth and authenticity.

When fintech leaders want to understand the implications of FedNow’s expansion or how real-time payment systems will integrate with existing card networks, they’re not just turning to Bloomberg or WSJ. They’re subscribing to Taylor’s Fintech Brain Food or Johnson’s Fintech Takes, where contributors can spend 3,000 words exploring a single aspect of payment infrastructure evolution.

For communications professionals, this shift requires a fundamentally different approach:

1.  Depth Over Headlines: These audiences expect technical substance, not simplified messaging
2.  Relationship Building: These creators are accessible in ways traditional media never was
3. Community Engagement: The comment sections in these newsletters often feature industry leaders debating implications

The New Rules of Engagement

Engaging with this ecosystem requires a different playbook than traditional media relations:

Be a Source, Not a Subject: The most valuable relationships with these creators come from becoming trusted technical resources, not pitching press releases. When Jason Mikula is writing about BaaS regulatory developments, having a compliance expert available for insight creates mutual value.

Embrace the Technical: These audiences appreciate detail. Simplifying complex technologies into consumer-friendly soundbites won’t resonate. The very aspects of payment infrastructure that mainstream publications edit out are often what these specialized audiences find most valuable.

Join the Conversation: Many of these Substacks have vibrant comment sections where industry leaders debate implications. Having your experts participate in these discussions builds credibility in ways traditional PR never could.

Think Ecosystem, Not Placement: These creators frequently collaborate, appear on each other’s podcasts, and reference each other’s work. Building a relationship with one often opens doors to others.

Where We Go From Here

The fragmentation of financial media isn’t slowing down—it’s accelerating. Every week brings new specialized publications focusing on niche aspects of the financial technology landscape.

For communications professionals, this evolution represents both challenge and opportunity. The days of reaching the entire industry through a handful of publications are gone. But the opportunity to engage deeply with highly targeted audiences of decision-makers and influencers has never been greater.

What are your experiences with this new ecosystem? Are there other fintech Substacks you find particularly valuable? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we’re genuinely interested in building this map together.

After all, in a fragmented media world, the best insights often come from comparing notes.

Doug Hesney is a senior vice president in New York