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Crypto and blockchain topped the number of investments within the financial technology space in Canada, according to a report by accounting organization KPMG.&nbsp;
On Feb. 6, KPMG <a href="https://kpmg.com/ca/en/home/media/press-releases/2024/02/investment-in-canadian-fintechs-fell-in-2023.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">published</a> a Canadian fintech report, highlighting that while deal volumes and values dropped significantly in 2023, crypto remains at the top of the charts. KPMG’s data showed that the blockchain and crypto space had 31 deals in 2023, more than any other vertical in fintech. The software-as-a-service industry followed with 24 deals, while the artificial intelligence and machine learning industry had 15 deals. 
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 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-02/34e74c2b-8b0d-4600-a717-90fbe8b053dc.jpg" alt="" title="">
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 Canadian financial technology stats for 2023. Source: KPMG&nbsp;
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KPMG partner Edith Hitt said in the report that investor interest in crypto-related fintech projects was driven partly by the anticipation of spot <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/sec-spot-bitcoin-etf-approvals">Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) approvals</a> by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Hitt explained: 
“The approval of a Bitcoin ETF in the United States could help boost investment in Canadian fintechs and help drive new technological advancements in the digital assets space.”
The executive also added that one of the biggest fintech investments in Canada in 2023 was in a blockchain infrastructure firm. Hitt believes this signals a growing interest in the technology within the region. Hitt added that investors might be “thinking ahead to the future,” where a central bank digital currency (CBDC) might become a reality in Canada. 
Related: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/canada-use-of-law-freezing-protesters-crypto-donations-unconstitutional">Canada’s use of law freezing protesters’ crypto donations was unconstitutional — Judge</a>
Hitt explained that if a CBDC gets deployed in Canada, blockchain technology might potentially be the infrastructure necessary to power the system. The executive added that this could be another growth catalyst for the fintech ecosystem in Canada. 
While Hitt pointed toward a potential CBDC, its adoption in Canada still faces doubts. In August 2023, a discussion paper by the Bank of Canada found that a CBDC <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/canadians-little-reason-to-adopt-cbdc-central-bank-paper">might have difficulties</a> in terms of adoption within the country. The central bank found that consumers would have a “weak incentive” to use a CBDC since they don’t have any barriers to financial services. 
On Nov. 30, a survey <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/digital-canadian-dollar-fails-impress-residents-despite-high-awareness">confirmed the central bank’s hypothesis</a>. Within the report interpreting the survey results, the central bank found that people aware of CBDCs were more reluctant to use them than those unaware of the technology. 
Magazine: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/big-questions-can-bitcoin-payments-make-a-comeback/">Big Questions: How can Bitcoin payments stage a comeback?</a>

Crypto industry tops all Canadian fintech investments 2 years in a row

Cointelegraph

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