The banking sector faces a seismic shift. New AI forecasts suggest around 200,000 banking positions could disappear across Europe by 2030—a stark reminder that fintech disruption isn't some distant threat anymore.

What's happening? Automation is eating into roles traditionally held by analysts, traders, and back-office workers. Routine tasks—compliance checks, transaction processing, customer service—are getting handled by algorithms now. Meanwhile, traditional banks are caught between doubling down on AI adoption or risking obsolescence.

Here's the thing: this echoes what we're seeing in crypto markets too. Decentralized finance is already siphoning users and capital away from legacy banking. Layer on top of that the efficiency gains from AI, and suddenly the competitive pressure becomes real. Banks that don't innovate will bleed talent and deposits.

The silver lining? New roles are emerging—AI engineers, data specialists, compliance technologists. But the transition period will be messy. Entire departments could be restructured.

The real question isn't whether this happens. It's how quickly Europe's banking workforce adapts. Training programs, reskilling initiatives, policy interventions—these matter now more than ever.

Fintechs and crypto platforms have been nimble here. They built from the ground up with automation in mind. Traditional banks? They're retrofitting century-old infrastructure with 2030s technology. That's a recipe for disruption—and for those 200,000 at-risk positions.