The Buy & Build Evolution

Engineering, Digital Assets, and the Future of FinTech

At the Buy and Build: Trading Tech Briefing 2025, FinTech Focus TV host Toby sat down with Richard Bell, Head of Engineering at CoinShares, for a conversation that captured the spirit of innovation shaping the next phase of financial technology. Recorded live at the event, the discussion explored the evolution of digital assets, the convergence of traditional and decentralised finance, and the engineering principles driving a new wave of efficiency and creativity in FinTech.

For Harrington Starr, a global FinTech recruitment business connecting technology and financial services talent, this episode encapsulates the conversations defining the industry’s next frontier, where innovation is no longer optional but essential for survival.

The Evolution of Financial Technology: From TradFi to DeFi

Richard Bell has witnessed first-hand the transformation of the financial landscape. As Head of Engineering at CoinShares, a leading digital asset management firm with $10 billion under management, he has seen how financial technology has matured from experimental beginnings into a mainstream investment ecosystem. CoinShares, founded over a decade ago, has positioned itself at the centre of this evolution, helping investors navigate the transition from traditional assets to the future of digital finance.

Over the past two years, Richard has seen remarkable change. The regulation of Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs in the US, the policy shifts under new government leadership, and the rise of major institutional players such as BlackRock and Fidelity have fundamentally reshaped the industry. Their dominance in ETF offerings has resulted in these firms owning substantial proportions of all available Bitcoin, reinforcing the view that digital assets have reached a new level of maturity.

The implications for FinTech jobs and FinTech careers are profound. As cryptocurrency becomes a stable, investable asset class, the demand for professionals who understand both the technical and financial sides of the market continues to rise. For businesses like CoinShares, and for recruitment firms like Harrington Starr, the need for skilled engineers, analysts, and innovators is expanding rapidly.

FinTech Recruitment in a Maturing Market

For much of the past decade, digital assets have been seen as volatile or speculative. That perception is shifting. As Bell noted, Bitcoin has become “a mature, investible asset,” and the same transformation is starting to occur in the altcoin space, with Ethereum, Solana, and Ripple following a similar path. This maturation signals more than just market stability, it’s creating sustainable career pathways and solidifying FinTech recruitment as a key strategic focus for firms building in this space.

At CoinShares, Bell leads engineering efforts that directly support the company’s growth and long-term listing ambitions, including their current progress toward a NASDAQ listing in the United States. This milestone reflects not only investor confidence but also the strength of FinTech innovation within digital asset management.

As the FinTech ecosystem continues to expand, hiring strategies are evolving. Businesses are no longer just looking for traditional technologists; they’re seeking adaptable thinkers who can navigate the intersections of finance, regulation, and emerging technologies. That cross-disciplinary capability is exactly what recruitment specialists like Harrington Starr identify and cultivate across global FinTech markets.

Buy and Build: The Power of Modular Thinking in FinTech Engineering

Recorded live at Buy and Build: Trading Tech Briefing 2025, the conversation turned toward one of the event’s central themes: the engineering philosophy behind modular and microservice-based systems. Bell, who has a background in electronic trading, has long recognised the benefits of modular architecture. He described how many financial institutions are still held back by monolithic legacy systems, which are often too entrenched or too risky to replace entirely.

During the panel he spoke on, one key idea discussed was the concept of the “strangler fig”, a gradual approach to modernisation where new services are built around existing monoliths, slowly absorbing their functionality through APIs until a fully modern ecosystem replaces the old one. It’s an approach rooted in patience, precision, and the understanding that innovation in financial technology rarely happens overnight.

Bell’s experience echoes the challenges many FinTech engineers face today. In the late 2000s, he worked on replacing a large AS/400 platform for a major bank, a system that, while functional, constrained innovation by limiting user experience to outdated “green screen” terminals. The lesson from that experience still applies: modernisation requires both strategic planning and the courage to disrupt what’s comfortable.

For FinTech companies hiring engineers, these principles are essential. The future of financial technology will be built by those who can deconstruct legacy systems without losing the stability they provide. In recruitment terms, that means finding talent who combine legacy expertise with forward-thinking innovation, people who understand that the best engineering is evolutionary, not revolutionary.

The Changing Role of FinTech Engineers and Developers

As Toby and Richard discussed, the landscape of FinTech engineering has transformed alongside broader market evolution. Historically, vendors dictated how technology was used: they built rigid systems and expected clients to adapt their operations around them. Today, that dynamic has flipped. FinTech businesses now have access to a vendor ecosystem capable of providing modular, interoperable tools that support rapid innovation.

This shift has redefined the purpose of in-house development teams. For Bell, the role of an engineering team is to create what he calls the “secret sauce”, the unique technology that delivers a competitive edge and reflects the company’s DNA. Everything else, he believes, can be commoditised through vendor partnerships.

For FinTech recruitment specialists, this is a crucial insight. As more firms adopt modular and microservice-based infrastructure, the demand for top-tier engineers to work on proprietary, business-defining technology intensifies. The best engineers are no longer maintaining core systems, they’re building the innovations that differentiate their firms in an increasingly competitive market.

Bell also noted how this evolution is empowering developers to work at a higher level of strategic impact. Freed from maintaining legacy systems, they can focus on designing solutions that drive growth and improve client outcomes. It’s a vision of FinTech careers built around creativity, collaboration, and continuous innovation.

Innovation as the New Currency of Financial Technology

Throughout the discussion, one theme stood above all: innovation. For Bell, innovation is not just a buzzword, it’s a mandate. He emphasised that today’s FinTech firms have both the tools and the opportunity to innovate, and that the real question is not “can we?” but “why aren’t we?”

The combination of artificial intelligence, improved vendor technology, and modular infrastructure has opened a new chapter for financial technology. AI, in particular, is enabling faster product development, more accurate risk modelling, and intelligent automation that frees engineers to focus on strategic work. For recruitment firms like Harrington Starr, this means that FinTech jobs are evolving faster than ever, requiring talent with hybrid skills across engineering, data, and product disciplines.

Innovation is also reshaping workplace culture. As Bell explained, engineering teams today have the freedom to focus on projects that truly matter. With AI removing repetitive tasks and vendors handling commoditised functions, teams can concentrate on delivering value, something that boosts both productivity and job satisfaction. In an industry as competitive as FinTech, this alignment between purpose and performance is vital to attracting and retaining talent.

Collaboration, Trust, and the New Age of FinTech Hiring

Another crucial thread in the conversation was the growing culture of trust and collaboration across the financial industry. In the past, both buy-side and sell-side firms guarded their technology closely, fearful that sharing knowledge or exposing systems might undermine their competitive edge. Bell and Toby agreed that this secrecy often stifled progress.

Today, that culture has changed. As technology ecosystems have expanded and interoperability has become a necessity, collaboration is now a competitive advantage. The FinTech sector has matured into a space where open dialogue, shared standards, and community-driven innovation are key to progress.

For FinTech recruitment professionals, this cultural shift is as important as any technological one. The most successful companies now seek individuals who can collaborate across teams and organisations, blending technical ability with communication and adaptability. It’s no longer enough to be a great engineer, you need to understand the ecosystem you operate in.

Harrington Starr’s work in the FinTech recruitment space reflects this change. Whether sourcing engineering talent for digital asset firms, developers for trading platforms, or product leaders for scaling FinTechs, the most valuable candidates are those who embrace openness and thrive in collaborative environments.

The Convergence of AI and Human Potential in FinTech Careers

As the discussion drew to a close, Toby and Richard reflected on how artificial intelligence is catalysing a new wave of creativity within financial technology. AI, Bell explained, is giving teams the licence to think bigger, to “dare to dream,” as Toby put it. It’s enabling both established firms and start-ups to explore use cases that would have seemed unattainable only a few years ago.

This shift is redefining the skillsets required for the next generation of FinTech jobs. Engineers must now combine technical depth with innovative thinking, while leaders must balance governance with agility. The FinTech workforce of the future will not only be technically skilled but also visionary, able to see beyond immediate technical challenges to long-term strategic opportunities.

For Harrington Starr, this moment underscores why FinTech recruitment is more critical than ever. The pace of change in digital assets, AI, and financial technology demands a workforce capable of continuous learning. Whether placing software engineers, quant specialists, or product managers, the goal is the same: connect people to opportunities where they can innovate and thrive.

Building the Future: Lessons from CoinShares and the Buy and Build Event

The Buy and Build: Trading Tech Briefing 2025 served as the perfect backdrop for this conversation. The event brought together leaders from across trading technology and financial services to discuss how firms can balance buying external solutions with building internal innovation. For Bell, the answer lies in strategic integration, leveraging vendor capabilities where appropriate while ensuring in-house teams focus on the innovation that sets the company apart.

CoinShares embodies this philosophy. With over a decade of experience in digital assets, the company continues to evolve through a combination of disciplined engineering, forward-thinking leadership, and an unwavering focus on client value. Its commitment to both technical excellence and financial innovation reflects the broader direction of the FinTech sector: one where adaptability, agility, and innovation define success.

In this environment, FinTech hiring becomes a strategic differentiator. Firms that can attract visionary engineers, product leaders, and innovators will shape the next generation of digital finance. As Bell put it, the opportunity is there, the tools exist, the markets are ready, and the world is watching. The only question left is how boldly firms are willing to innovate.

FinTech Recruitment and the Road Ahead

As the conversation closed, Toby reflected on the optimism running through the FinTech ecosystem. The challenges of legacy systems, the pace of regulatory change, and the complexity of AI adoption are significant, but so are the opportunities. For recruitment firms like Harrington Starr, these shifts represent an exciting frontier for growth, innovation, and connection.

The FinTech industry has entered a period of maturity marked by creativity and collaboration. Firms like CoinShares are proving that when engineering teams are empowered to innovate, the results can transform not only their businesses but the entire financial landscape.

The message from Richard Bell was clear and urgent: innovate, innovate, innovate. In today’s world of financial technology, innovation isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation for progress. Whether you’re building digital asset platforms, designing new trading infrastructure, or shaping the next generation of FinTech careers, the future belongs to those who dare to evolve.

Harrington Starr is a global FinTech recruitment business specialising in connecting outstanding talent with the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Through our podcasts, insights, and talent partnerships, we help drive the growth of the FinTech ecosystem, empowering businesses and professionals to thrive in an era defined by innovation.