Hi 5! The top five fintech stories we’re following today

Ecommerce moves from products to subscriptions When you peel back the covers to take a look into some of the world's top product companies like GM, it's likely that they're thinking about their future businesses entirely differently. New data shows that subscription-based companies are growing nine times faster than those in the S&P 500. Zuora enables firms to transition their businesses to subscription services, away from products. Companies like NCR and Informatica work with the tech company to do way more than just process recurring payments.

• Read more: Subscriptions could be part of Daimler's strategy -- it just acquired a bitcoin payment company and plans to launch Mercedes Pay

Improve healthcare payments, improve healthcare Healthcare payments aren't healthy but there are cures being worked on. One such solution, by fintech firm, Simplee, and used by 1000 healthcare providers, designs a more enjoyable payment experience for patients. Patients get more choices and flexibility in how and when they pay, boosting revenues.

• Read more: Not all opportunities in insurtech have to do with health insurance. Some experts believe there's a trillion dollar opportunity in...solar insurance?

The future of fintech Reading the fintech tea leaves isn't easy but experts in the field attempt to figure out where finance and technology are headed. This week saw a few of those types of analysis:

• Wells Fargo Digital Lab offers a front-row seat to the future of banking (Finextra)
• Where a leading VC still sees fintech opportunities (TechCrunch)
• Deutsche Bourse turns to fintech partners to build 'Exchange 4.0' (Fintextra)
• Online student lender CommonBond's CEO offers 5 fintech predictions for 2017 (TechCrunch)

Bitcoin and blockchain grow up (well, sorta) Blockchain technology could help the world’s largest investment banks cut their infrastructure costs by between $8 to $12 billion a year by 2025, according to a report by Accenture. Not so fast, though. Technology and policy holes still enable opportunities to be exploited, like Chinese high speed traders are doing with Bitcoin. “It’s the golden age to be in the bitcoin market, because it’s imperfect,” said Zhou Shuoji, a former IBM technology consultant whose firm, Fintech Blockchain Group, runs a bitcoin hedge fund and venture capital fund. Banks, heal thyselves (before your competitors do) Banks are losing the battle to get more business from existing customers. Bank customers clearly display a lack of loyalty to their primary bank. In the U.S., less than half the time do they new financial products from their primary bank. The U.S. head of Bain’s banking practice joins Tradestreaming to discuss what banks can do to counter hidden defections.