A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF FINTECH PLATFORMS IN INCREASING RETAIL PARTICIPATION IN STOCK MARKETS

The rapid advancement of Financial Technology (FinTech) has significantly transformed the accessibility and operational structure of modern financial markets. Digital brokerage platforms, mobile trading applications, and automated advisory systems have reduced traditional entry barriers and enabled a broader base of individual investors to participate in equity markets. Despite the rapid growth of technology-driven financial services, the extent to which FinTech platforms influence retail investor participation in stock markets remains an important subject of academic investigation. This study examines the role of FinTech platforms in expanding retail participation and evaluates how technological features influence individual investment behaviour.

The study primarily aims to analyse the relationship between FinTech platform adoption and retail investor participation, as well as to evaluate the impact of platform accessibility, transaction cost efficiency, and digital advisory tools on market engagement. A quantitative research design is adopted using secondary data collected from stock exchange reports, brokerage industry publications, and financial market databases. Statistical techniques including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis are employed to examine the relationships among the variables.

The results of the empirical analysis indicate a strong positive association between FinTech adoption and retail participation in stock markets. The findings further reveal that higher platform accessibility and lower transaction costs significantly encourage individual investors to participate in equity markets. The study concludes that FinTech-driven financial innovation plays a crucial role in improving market inclusivity and expanding retail investor engagement, thereby contributing to the development of more accessible and efficient capital markets.