The Argentine fintech ecosystem is experiencing a historic moment driven by the growth of apps and digital wallets.
The fintech ceased to be –in this context– an alternative to become fundamental pillars of the financial system.
According to the Credicorp Financial Inclusion Index , in Latin America, the use of digital financial services quadrupled since 2021.
The Argentina , furthermore,leads the region in adoption levels , with the highest proportion of users choosing this type of tools for their daily operations followed by Chile and Panama.
This advance, however, transformed the user experience and the logic of financial system security.
In this way, the traditional model, based on physical branches, closed networks and internal systems , gave way to a much more dynamic and distributed architecture.How the transactional model changed
Transactions now occur in complex digital environments: mobile applications, APIs, cloud infrastructures, and multiple technology providers that interact in real time.
This new scenario requires rethinking security from a comprehensive perspective, where data protection , the user authentication and the fraud prevention must adapt to a more open ecosystem, interconnected and in constant evolution.
Néstor Markowicz, COO of CertiSur , emphasized that "today, financial security is no longer protected only in the banking core: it is protected at every digital touchpoint".
Those points are:
- the app
- the API
- the user's device
- connected services.
"The challenge is balancing security and experience. Users expect to be able to open an account or make a payment in minutes, but behind it there has to be robust identity validation," explained.
This is about more dynamic security architectures , based on digital identity, encryption of communications and continuous monitoring because when operations move to mobile, the user's device becomes part of the security perimeter and new risks appear such as phishing, credential theft, fraudulent applications or identity spoofing.
Digital certificates and encryption: the foundation of online trust
In this way, current financial platforms require an infrastructure based on several components that work in an integrated manner:
- Communication encryption via TLS/SSL
- Digital certificate management
- Digital identity infrastructure
- Real-time fraud detection systems
- Key and certificate automation
Markowicz clarified that "particularly TLS certificates are the backbone of Internet trust."
"Every time someone accesses a banking app or makes an online payment, there's a certificate working behind the scenes to ensure that communication is secure," noted.
In that sense, the TLS encryption protects that information during transmission and prevents attacks such as data interception or transaction manipulation. Additionally, in environments where thousands of transactions are processed per second, encryption must function transparently, automatically, and scalably.
One of the main problems is certificate expiration or mismanagement, which can cause interruptions in applications, APIs, or financial services. If a TLS certificate expires, systems or browsers can automatically block the connection , something that leaves the platform temporarily out of service.
"Today, many organizations manage thousands of digital certificates but without visibility and automation, which makes certificate expiration and unexpected outages very likely," explains Markowicz.
What fintech security looks like
Particularly regarding fintech, emphasized that "they combine different layers of security that work in a coordinated manner:
- Digital onboarding with identity verification
- facial biometrics and document validation
- user behavior analysis
- artificial intelligence-based anti-fraud systems
- encryption and authentication via digital certificates
From control to anticipation: how protection is evolving in financial services
Among the main trends that define the future, the following stand out automation in certificate and cryptographic key management —key to operating at scale—, the adoption of Zero Trust architectures , which eliminate implicit trust within networks, and strengthening API protection , fundamental in platform integration.
Added to this is advancement of verifiable digital identity , which allows validating users securely and without friction, and use of artificial intelligence for fraud detection and prevention in real time , anticipating suspicious behavior before it materializes.
"In the near future, security will become increasingly automated. Organizations will not only protect infrastructures, but also digital identities and complete ecosystems of interconnected services," he concluded.