Having come of age in a recession, Gen Yers are suspicious of high street banks. But as they begin to require more complex financial products, they’re struggling to find the advice they need online. In response, Samsung is creating a range of pop-up solutions, bringing branches to digital natives.

Are we tired of thinking about money and ever more intent on outsourcing our decisions to artificial intelligence? How will the traditional, ‘big banks’ cope in a new world of digital competition? Will new EU legislation really shake up the sector or will it be business as usual? In this part of the 2018 Expert Outlook series, we speak to three money experts about what’s changing in the way people bank and spend globally.

Around a fifth of African Americans say that when it comes to investments and financial planning for their family’s future, their knowledge is lacking. Crowdfunding platform Buy The Block is tackling this problem by helping them easily invest in real estate and support their community in the process.

Rapidly shifting market forces have made China the largest and most sophisticated digital (and notably mobile) payment market in the world. In turn, these forces are also changing consumer behaviour and pushing the country’s consumers towards a society that no longer uses cash.

The average Briton carries eight cards around at any one time, which can be a source of annoyance when making contactless payments or stress-inducing if one’s wallet is lost. Curve aims to simplify things by letting users manage their credit and debit cards with an app and a single piece of plastic.

From being saddled with student debt, to sky-high housing prices, the dream of owning a home has never seemed more distant to most Gen Yers. Claiming to be “the missing step,” Unmortgage is helping people put down roots with a scheme that partially finances their homes.

Giftcoin is the world’s first cryptocurrency designed for transparent charitable giving. Could this use of cryptocurrency – which was until recently an alternative or niche way of spending – be a step towards seeing radical ideas becoming mainstream models?

Blockchain, the digital scaffolding behind cryptocurrency bitcoin, has hit critical mass and is being taken seriously by major conglomerates and governments alike. Canvas8 spoke to technology strategist Paul Armstrong to understand how it might make an impact beyond the financial world.