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🚀 BULLET THESIS 🚀: 2025 will be the year enterprise embraces stablecoins. Just spoke to the founders of one of our portfolio companies Stitch. They're seeing EXPLOSIVE demand from large multinationals for stablecoin payments. Why? These multinationals faced a common problem in South Africa: without local entities or bank accounts, they struggled to move their earned Rand into dollars or euros. Stitch offered an elegant solution. Convert local currency into stablecoins (USDT, USDC) → Transfer instantly to central wallets → Save time & money. The result was instant, cheap, and automatically reconciled. This isn't just an isolated success story. It's a herald of enterprise adoption, and it signals something much larger on the horizon. 💡 Why is this happening NOW? 1) Infrastructure has matured dramatically - Ethereum fees down to $1 (was $12 in 2021) - Layer 2 solutions = sub-cent transactions - Better custody solutions - Streamlined on/off ramps 2) Regulation is clearing up - Europe's MiCA framework goes live - US moving forward with FIT 21 - Banks getting clarity on custody 3) Big players are moving FAST - Stripe dropped $1.1B to acquire Bridge (10x growth in 2024) - PayPal launched their stablecoin - Visa & SWIFT now support stablecoins - Revolut exploring launch 🔮 The next wave isn't retail - it's ENTERPRISE. We're seeing it first in emerging markets, but this is just the beginning. Opportunities I'm watching: - Cross-border trade finance 2.0 - Enterprise-grade custody - Industry-specific payment solutions - Compliance automation Are you building in this space? Let's talk. Liked this analysis? Follow me for more fintech insights! And also subscribe to my substack here: https://lnkd.in/eytvHCYe And read the piece here: https://lnkd.in/e4Jx3eJ7 #Fintech #Stablecoins #VC #Enterprise #Payments #Innovation PS: If you're building something in this space and raising pre-seed/seed, my DMs are open 📩

In Case You Missed It | Linas Beliūnas Read, Connect, Build with #linasbeliunas https://lnkd.in/ee-fDSRS 💥Breaking News Europe's most valuable FinTech Revolut is taking on trading giants Robinhood & eToro with its standalone retail wealth app 😳 Called Revolut Invest #revolutinvest the app will: - Offer nearly ~5,000 assets on debut, including US and European stocks, ETFs, commodities and bonds, as well as new products such as CFDs. - Equity and bond investments will face a flat fee of either 0.25% or €1 while charges for CFDs may vary. Currently undergoing testing in Greece, Denmark, and the Czech Republic, the app will be introduced in other European Economic Area countries by the end of the year, as per Revolut. Valued at $45 billion, Revolut aims to be the Global Super App but having a separate WealtTech offering makes a lot of sense: 👉 It can tap into the wave of retail investors returning to the markets as central banks around the world start to cut interest rates. 👉 Revolut will be able to target new customers who aren’t already using its banking services thus using this as a customer acquisition funnel for the main app while at the same time offering premium services & new subscription tiers. Assets under management in Revolut's wealth offering have almost tripled to €8.5 billion, from €3 billion at the end of 2023 🤯 For the perspective, #robinhood currently holds more than $140B in AUC. Retail trading space is about to get really interesting 🍿 #revolut, #fintech, #retailtrading

Most fintech companies build either bank-first or crypto-first. This startup founded by Revolut and Ledger alumni builds user-first. So we co-lead their €12M Seed Round. What's different? With Deblock, you can pay for a coffee, receive your salary, buy a car, make a one-click transfer, and pay rent in cryptos or euros. Deblock provides users with a French IBAN, payment cards for daily transactions, instant transfers, and the freedom to deposit, withdraw, and convert cryptocurrencies into euros and vice versa, without constraints or limits. Watching the velocity of the Deblock team from the inside is impressive. They’ve built a highly complex product with a neobank offering merged to a non-custodial wallet (protecting user assets regardless of circumstances) while becoming the first regulated entity by the ACPR with a PSAN license in France. Michael Kent, Dominic Wilhelm and I are excited to partner up with co-founders Jean Meyer, Adriana Restrepo, Aaron B. and Mario Eguiluz Alebicto as they take on consumer banking with a novel approach. Story (in FR) and download link in the comments.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀! 🚀⁣ ⁣ Today, we're excited to highlight some of the latest updates shaping the industry landscape. From Revolut's expansion of mobile wallet services in Africa to Cash App's efforts to enhance its banking features, these stories underscore the ongoing innovation and progress in fintech. 1️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 W𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀⁣ Revolut is extending its mobile wallet services to African countries, benefiting expats and international students by enabling seamless money transfers via their app. https://lnkd.in/e3FSs7uK 2️⃣ 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗔𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀⁣ Currently, only 2 million of Cash App’s 57 million active users use its direct deposit feature for paychecks. Block plans to introduce tools for credit building, subscription management, wire transfers, and bill pay to attract more users to its banking features. https://lnkd.in/e74Rcy9Y 3️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗾 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻⁣ After being forced out by Brexit regulations in 2020, bunq is planning to re-enter the UK market. The neobank aims to attract the UK's substantial community of 2.8 million 'digital nomads'. https://lnkd.in/evNjcGrY 4️⃣ 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 $𝟲𝟱𝗠 Colendi has raised $65 million in a Series B funding round, boosting its valuation to $700 million. The round was led by Citi Ventures, with participation from several other investors. https://lnkd.in/dXfmxwRK 5️⃣ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 W𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 $𝟭.𝟮𝟮 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟮 The credit card payments market is growing rapidly, driven by technological advancements and increased adoption of digital transactions. The market is projected to reach $1.22 trillion by 2032, with a CAGR of 8.87%. https://lnkd.in/dZ-8Jgdw 💡 Don't miss out on the latest fintech trends and developments! Follow us for more insights and join the conversation. #Fintech #Innovation #Finance #Blockchain #PaymentSolutions #TechNews #FintechNews #Payments #creditcard #revolut #cashapp #digitaltransactions #fintechdevelopemnts #neobank

TechCrunch reports that Revolut has secured a new $45 billion valuation through a #secondary market share sale, following the acquisition of banking licenses in the U.K. and Mexico. This makes the neobank one of Europe’s most valuable private tech firms. Established in 2015, Revolut provides services such as multi-currency accounts and crypto products and has grown to 45 million users worldwide. The share sale aims to offer employee liquidity, with investors like Coatue, Tiger Global Management, and D1 Capital Partners L.P. participating. With strong growth, the company is gearing up for a potential IPO, likely in the U.S. Read the full report below. ——— At AXIS Group Ventures, we specialize in global #debtplacement and private market #secondaries for VC- and PE-backed companies. Learn more about us here: www.axisgroupventures.com. #privatemarket #secondaries #venturecapital #privateequity

🌍 Breaking Barriers with Stablecoin-Powered Payments! 🌍 In October alone, Scalex processed $2M in payments, pushing our total processed volumes to an impressive $6.7M! This achievement is more than just numbers – it’s a testament to the growing acceptance of stablecoin payments in Africa and beyond. For businesses across Africa, where FX shortages and high transaction fees hinder progress, stablecoins present a powerful alternative. Scalex is driving B2B payments with speed, transparency, and at a fraction of traditional costs. Our mission? To empower businesses with reliable cross-border payments, opening new opportunities for growth. We do not credit this achievement to cross-border payments alone! We’ve seen a record number of partners integrate our flexible widgets and APIs to power On/Off Ramps in their DApps. Further signifying our commitment to supporting global and indigenous projects building in the continent. The global landscape is shifting too. With major players like Stripe acquiring Bridge, it’s clear the future of payments lies in stablecoins, especially in underserved markets. 🌐 🚀 Join us as we continue to champion financial inclusion and shape the future of digital finance across emerging markets. The future is stable, secure, and scalable – it’s #Stablecoins. #Scalex #FinTech #StablecoinPayments #B2BPayments #FinancialInclusion #Africa #EmergingMarkets #Innovation #CrossBorderPayments

Ever dreamt of building your own bank? Nikolay Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko turned that dream into reality with Revolut. 🏦 Stay till the end for a special gift! Founded in 2015, Revolut is a financial powerhouse worth a staggering $25.7 Billion, with over $2 Billion in funding and $1 Billion in revenue. They disrupted the banking industry by solving the costly and cumbersome process of international transactions and currency exchange. Revolut's go-to-market strategy, offering incentives like zero fees on currency exchange and international transactions, helped them amass over 30 million customers. Their business model revolves around currency exchange, foreign transactions, crypto trading, and personal banking, supported by revenue streams like subscriptions, forex markups, transaction fees, and premium metal cards. Key decisions like expanding into new markets, introducing crypto trading, and navigating regulations propelled Revolut's success. They meticulously track KPIs like user growth, transaction volume, CAC, ARPU, and compliance metrics. Ready to learn how to build a financial empire like Revolut? Follow me and comment 'Revolut' for insider insights into their business and revenue model. #TamilEntrepreneur #TamilBusiness #TamilStartup #Revolut #FinTech #StartupSuccess #BusinessInsights #EntrepreneurialJourney #FinancialInnovation #DreamBig

Monday’s issue of Global Fintech Insider out, and it’s once again a crazy one! I write about: 🇸🇪 Klarna CEO Slams EU Open Banking as a "Failure" in Scathing X Post 🇨🇦 Travel App Turned Fintech Hopper Plans $10B IPO 🇳🇬 Visa Invests $10M+ in Nigerian Business Banking Fintech Unicorn Moniepoint Group 🇺🇸 American Express Boss Admits Keeping Close Watch on Brex and Ramp 🇸🇬 Revolut Launches $100 Minimum Robo-Advisor in Singapore 🇺🇸 Rent-to-Own Pioneer Divvy Homes To Sell For Half Its $2B Peak Value 🇬🇧 HSBC Shuts Down Wise Competitor Zing After Less Than a Year 🌐 Binance’s $10B VC Arm Rebrands to YZi Labs Amid CZ’s Return 🇮🇳 Microsoft CEO-Backed Trading App Groww Eyes $7B IPO 🇧🇷 Brazilian App Friday Launches AI WhatsApp Payments Using Open Banking 🇮🇳 CheQ Launches AI Tool to Maximize Credit Card Benefits 🇫🇷 French Police Save Crypto CEO After Kidnappers Cut His Finger If you want to read the stories behind the headlines in my fintech newsletter Global Fintech Insider, please click the link in the comments.

🚀 From the .Com Revolution to the Fintech Revolution: Enter Revolut! 🌍💡 The 90s brought us the .com revolution. Now, we are witnessing the fintech revolution led by none other than Revolut. 💳📱 With a clear mission to become the world’s largest bank, spanning the globe in both products and market presence, Revolut is making waves in fintech like never before. 🌍 🔹 What’s Revolut All About? Headquartered in London founded by Nik Storonsky, Revolut offers a wide range of services from instant spending notifications to foreign currency exchanges at the real exchange rate. Their services include commission-free stock trading, charity donations, cryptocurrency trading, and multi-currency accounts. 💸📊 🔹 Global Expansion Revolut is already available in Australia and Singapore, with further launches in the USA, Canada, and Romania coming by December 2024. But they aren't stopping there! 🚀 Revolut is eyeing the Latin American market with recent expansions into Colombia following successful moves into Brazil and a banking license win in Mexico. They plan to hire 30 to 50 employees and invest $35.64 million to secure their foothold in Colombia. 📈🌎 🔹 Middle East Ambitions With Mubadala's investment, Revolut has its sights on the Gulf countries with plans to launch crypto-focused services in the region. 🏦🚀 Revolut is pushing boundaries to become the first truly global bank, serving customers worldwide from a single app, built on a unified technology platform. Revolut isn't just expanding—it's redefining what it means to be a global fintech leader. 🌍💡 What do you think? Will Revolut's bold moves reshape the future of global banking? #Fintech #Revolut #DigitalBanking #GlobalBanking #LatinAmerica #MENA #FintechRevolution #Innovation

Revolut launches retail wealth app Revolut Invest to take on Etoro and Robinhood #Revolut is moving into the retail investment market by launching Revolut Invest, a standalone app based on its wealth management services. Founded in 2015 by Nikolay Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko, the #fintech giant began as a digital payments and money transfer app in the UK and has since expanded globally, offering services ranging from cryptocurrency trading to eSIM plans. The new app will provide access to over 4,000 financial instruments, including US and European stocks, bonds, commodities, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). With equity and bond investments involving a flat fee of either 0.25% or €1, Revolut Invest aims to make investing more accessible and affordable. While these features are already available on Revolut's main app, the standalone platform is designed to attract new customers who haven't yet used its banking services. Currently being piloted in Greece, Denmark, and the Czech Republic, Revolut Invest plans to expand to other European Economic Area countries later this year. The company also holds relevant approvals in the UK, US, Singapore, and Australia, signaling a strategic push for global reach. This initiative positions Revolut as a strong competitor to established players like #Robinhood, #Etoro, Trading 212, and Freetrade. By broadening its services, Revolut is progressing toward its goal of becoming a "super app," offering a comprehensive suite of financial services that challenge traditional banks. In 2023, Revolut reported a record pre-tax profit of £438 million, driven by higher interest rates and the acquisition of nearly 12 million new retail customers. The firm expects its global user base to surpass 50 million customers by the end of this year. Securing a UK banking license earlier this summer, Revolut can now directly hold deposits and increase lending in its home market, where it serves over nine million customers. The article on Bloomberg in the first comment.