Financial technology (FinTech) and financial inclusion are increasingly crucial for poverty alleviation, income equality reduction, and economic growth. FinTech leverages technology to innovate and deliver financial products and services, enhancing efficiency and expanding reach, particularly in underserved markets. Financial inclusion, ensuring access to financial services for all, is key to sustainable growth and poverty reduction. Despite progress, 1.7 billion adults lack access to formal financial services, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. This exclusion exacerbates inequality and limits opportunities. FinTech, encompassing mobile banking, peer-to-peer lending, digital payments, and blockchain solutions, offers potential to overcome barriers to financial inclusion like lack of physical access, high costs, and complex requirements. Digital financial services can provide affordable, accessible, and tailored products to underserved populations. This study focuses on FinTech's role in advancing financial inclusion and economic development, a granular focus extending Li and Xu's (2021) broader analysis by including recent developments (up to 2023) and utilizing the Scopus database, differing from their use of Web of Science. The study also identifies research gaps, suggests future research directions, and provides policy recommendations, adding practical value.

The literature review examines existing research on FinTech and financial inclusion. The early stages of FinTech involved automating financial processes, while the 21st century saw the rise of digital financial services fueled by internet and mobile technology. Mobile money revolutionized access to finance in developing countries. The World Bank highlighted FinTech's role in accelerating financial access. Research on the diffusion of digital financial services often employs Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), emphasizing perceived usefulness and ease of use. Financial inclusion research utilizes Access, Usage, and Quality (AUQ) framework and Financial Inclusion Index (Global Findex). Numerous studies demonstrate the positive impact of digital financial services on financial access, improving financial literacy and contributing to economic development. The regulatory environment is crucial for FinTech's success, requiring a supportive and flexible framework that balances innovation with consumer protection. The review also touches upon FinTech's role in financial resilience, crisis management, and managing risks associated with digital financial services.

This bibliometric analysis utilized a comprehensive search string in the Scopus database, combining keywords related to FinTech, digital financial services, and financial inclusion. The search was refined using filters for publication year (2010-2023), subject areas (Economics, Econometrics and Finance; Social Sciences; Business, Management, and Accounting; Computer Science; and Environmental Science), document types (articles and conference papers), and language (English). The PRISMA statement guided the selection process, resulting in 695 eligible documents. Bibliometrix and VOSviewer software were used for the analysis. Biblioshiny was employed for descriptive analysis, including annual growth rate, average citations per document, keyword analysis, author and source identification, and co-authorship analysis. VOSviewer was used for visualization and network analysis, including co-citation, bibliographic coupling, and co-occurrence analysis to examine collaboration patterns among authors, institutions, and countries. The analysis covered various aspects including descriptive statistics, co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling analysis, and co-occurrence analysis.

The analysis revealed a significant increase in research output from 2016 to 2023, indicating a growing interest in the field. Sustainability (Switzerland) was the most prolific journal, publishing 43 articles. The average citations per year were higher for earlier publications (2010-2012) than for later ones (2019-2023), reflecting the time needed for citation accumulation. Wang X emerged as the most productive author. The collaboration world map highlighted the strong collaboration between China and the United States, as well as between the United States and the United Kingdom. Thematic map analysis revealed two key clusters: one focused on financial aspects of FinTech and financial inclusion and the other on broader financial systems, services, and FinTech's economic impact. Trend topic analysis showed the increasing significance of mobile communication, microfinance, money services, telecommunication, financial services, banking, and the developing world. VOSviewer analysis provided detailed insights into co-authorship, institutional and country collaboration networks, co-occurrence of keywords, bibliographic coupling, and document interconnectedness. The analysis identified key institutions, such as the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), and countries, including the United Kingdom, China, and the United States, as significant contributors to the field. Highly cited documents and authors were identified, offering insights into influential works and researchers.

The findings highlight the growing importance of FinTech and financial inclusion research, driven by the potential of digital financial services to address global challenges. The increased research output since 2016 reflects the rapid advancements in digital technologies and their expanding role in financial services. The interdisciplinary nature of the research underscores the complex interplay between technology, finance, economics, and societal factors. The identification of key authors, institutions, and publications provides a valuable resource for researchers seeking to contribute to the field. The strong global collaboration patterns highlight the need for international cooperation to address the challenges and opportunities of FinTech. The thematic analysis reveals a focus on the financial aspects of FinTech, the integration of technology into financial systems, and the economic development implications of financial inclusion. The trend topics demonstrate the evolving landscape of research in this area, emphasizing the roles of mobile technology, alternative financing mechanisms, and telecommunication infrastructure.

This study contributes significantly to the understanding of the research landscape on digital financial services' role in financial inclusion and economic development. Key findings include the growing research interest, identification of leading researchers and institutions, and highlighting influential publications. The study also points to the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and global cooperation. Future research should focus on the impact of FinTech on vulnerable populations, the effectiveness of alternative financing solutions, and the potential of emerging technologies. This analysis emphasizes the need for continued research to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic development in the era of FinTech.

While this study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis, it is important to acknowledge some limitations. The study relies on the Scopus database, which may not include all relevant publications. The analysis focuses on the period 2010-2023, and future trends may differ. The interpretation of bibliometric data depends on various factors, and some aspects, such as the quality of research, are not directly assessed. Finally, the analysis reflects the existing research landscape, and emerging trends may not be fully captured.