Last week was one of those weeks where a lot happened both in my own journey and across the fintech market since moving to London on a Global Talent visa.

Despite spending 8+ years in fintech, I had never attended PAY360 one of the largest payments events in the UK. This year, I finally did.

And it was worth it.

The level of conversations, the density of people building real products, and the sheer number of meaningful connections stood out. I genuinely don’t think I’ve had that many high-quality interactions in such a short time before.

If we didn’t get a chance to meet there I’m in London, let’s connect.

While I was at the event, another important signal came from the market Plaid acquired This Week in Fintech.

I’m genuinely happy for the TWIF team but more importantly, this says a lot about where fintech distribution is going.

Fintech companies are starting to rethink how they approach marketing and PR.

Not through traditional channels alone, but by working with creators who have built trust with their audiences through newsletters, social media, and podcasts.

I’ve said this many times distribution is shifting from institutions to individuals.

Creators don’t just distribute content. They translate it, contextualise it, and make it resonate.

This acquisition is proof that this model works.

On a more personal note, last week I also met with students and professionals in London to share my journey of becoming a UK Global Talent.

There is so much untapped talent from Uzbekistan that can contribute meaningfully to the UK ecosystem. Having the chance to share my experience and help others navigate this path was something I genuinely enjoyed.

And finally, I had a great meeting with Kirill another Global Talent from Uzbekistan building his career here.

It’s exciting to see more people from our region stepping into global markets and building ambitious careers.

London continues to prove why it is one of the most important fintech hubs in the world.

Curious what was one meaningful thing that happened in your professional life last week?