In financial technology, ideas are everywhere, but execution is rare. For blockchain-enabled finance, the leap from 0 -1 often feels like crossing a canyon without a bridge. The companies that succeed aren’t the ones with glossy pitch decks; they’re the ones that ship products that deliver value quickly, securely, and within regulatory guardrails.

This is where the discipline of building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) comes in. An MVP isn’t a smaller version of your vision; it’s your best market hypothesis, made real. In today’s landscape, where frameworks like the U.S. Genius Act are setting clearer rules for stablecoins, and platforms like Yellow Card are proving real-world impact across Africa, the question is no longer if blockchain belongs in finance, but how fast and responsibly it can transform everything from payments to global trade.

What does it really take to be a standout Fintech Product Manager in 2025? In this post, I reflect on my five-year journey in the industry and break down the specific skills, mindsets, and responsibilities that set great PMs apart, from mastering compliance and AI to owning outcomes and building customer trust in a high-stakes environment. Whether you're navigating crypto, embedded finance, or digital banking, these insights are grounded in real-world experience.