Finternet to see global rollout by 2026: Nandan Nilekani

BENGALURU: Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani said India’s “Finternet” initiative, which is a digital infrastructure framework that integrates tokenisation, AI, and regulated finance, is set to expand across 20 ecosystems in four continents and see live implementations by 2026.Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025 in Mumbai, Nilekani described Finternet as India’s vision to build a scalable and compliant digital architecture for asset tokenisation and digital wealth creation. “It represents a structured, scalable, and compliant approach to tokenisation and digital asset management, creating a future where individuals and businesses can unlock the potential of their assets, participate in new markets and realise their aspirations,” he said.He added that any asset, from gold and property to securities, could be digitised, verified and transacted programmatically within a regulated framework, allowing citizens to leverage wealth and access credit more easily. “Finternet is expanding across 20 ecosystems in four continents, with live implementations across multiple sectors expected by 2026,” he said.Nilekani said India’s digital public infrastructure had already transformed financial inclusion, citing 1.43 billion Aadhaar holders, 600 million DigiLocker users, and 20 billion UPI transactions every month. “What you’re seeing is technology, government, RBI, NPCI and private innovators working together to achieve this,” he noted.He added that India’s digital ecosystem was now moving towards cross-border integration and global adoption of digital assets, “making the Indian digital ecosystem more connected with the world.”GFF 2025, themed ‘Empowering Finance for a Better World Powered by AI’, is organised by the Payments Council of India, the National Payments Corporation of India, and the Fintech Convergence Council, with support from several government ministries and regulators.