Sustainability and financial innovation: The emerging role of Fintech for Good (F4G)

26 January 2026

Banca d'Italia today publishes 'Sustainability and financial innovation: The emerging role of Fintech for Good (F4G)', the new issue of the series 'Markets, infrastructures, payment systems'.

Technological innovation in support of sustainable financial development (Fintech for Good, F4G) pursues specific environmental and social goals, and promotes financial inclusion, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations. This paper proposes an operational definition of F4G, outlining its fundamental characteristics and fields of application. Subsequently, the paper makes the case for introducing a regulatory framework to mitigate the risks of false claims regarding the adoption of environmentally sustainable measures (greenwashing) and to ensure that F4G initiatives are consistent with measurable and verifiable sustainability objectives. To this end, the paper emphasizes the importance of promoting public-private collaboration and strengthening financial education programmes.