Tech companies haven't been shy about pushing into heavily regulated industries such as healthcare. But while finance also represents a new frontier of possibilities for the deployment of technology, a dense regulatory landscape may ultimately dictate that progress be slow and steady.

Whether it is Facebook exploring digital currencies or Google planning to introduce consumer bank accounts, a recent article by CNBC pointed out that many tech entities are steering clear of crossing the line into regulated financial institution territory. Still, even those lines can be difficult to navigate, while the possibility of new regulations that deal specifically with fintech may become gridlocked in a battle waged between state and federal regulators.