Cybersecurity Challenges in Fintech Ecosystem.

The rapid evolution of financial technology (fintech) has fundamentally transformed the global financial ecosystem by enabling seamless digital transactions, enhancing financial inclusion, and improving operational efficiency. Innovations such as mobile banking, digital wallets, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), blockchain technology, and artificial intelligence have revolutionized how financial services are delivered and consumed. However, this accelerated digital transformation has also significantly increased exposure to cybersecurity threats, making security a critical concern for fintech companies, financial institutions, regulators, and users. This study focuses on analysing the key cybersecurity challenges within the fintech ecosystem, with particular emphasis on the Indian context. As fintech adoption continues to rise, so does the sophistication and frequency of cyber threats, including phishing attacks, ransomware, identity theft, data breaches, and UPI-related fraud. These threats not only result in financial losses but also erode consumer trust and hinder the sustainable growth of digital financial services. The research adopts a quantitative approach, supported by both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data is collected through structured questionnaires targeting fintech users across different demographic groups, including urban, semi-urban, and rural populations. Secondary data is derived from industry reports, academic literature, and publications from institutions such as RBI, IMF, Deloitte, and KPMG. The study examines the relationship between cybersecurity awareness, perceived risk, and fintech adoption, aiming to identify behavioural patterns and security gaps. Findings indicate that while fintech platforms have implemented advanced security technologies such as multi-factor authentication, encryption, AI-based fraud detection, and blockchain systems, human factors remain a significant vulnerability. A lack of cybersecurity awareness, un