British fintech giant Revolut has introduced a new crypto trading platform called Revolut X, tailored for retail customers in the U.K., signaling a deeper dive into digital assets. This move, highlighted in a recent blog post, solidifies Revolut’s commitment to the crypto industry, where it aims to cater to both novice and seasoned crypto investors.
With a user base of over 40 million, Revolut is among the world’s largest fintech firms and is now poised to compete with major crypto exchanges like Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) and Binance. The platform will offer trading options for over 100 tokens, with fees varying between zero to 0.09%. Trading on Revolut X requires having an existing Revolut account, allowing users to easily transfer funds between their Revolut X and standard Revolut retail accounts.
This development follows Revolut’s introduction of Revolut Ramp in March, a feature that enables direct crypto purchases through a partnership with MetaMask. According to Leonid Bashlykov, head of crypto exchange product at Revolut, the platform is designed to empower customers to expand their wealth across both fiat and crypto assets.
Fintech analyst Boaz Sobrado noted that Revolut’s profitability has closely aligned with its crypto operations, particularly during the crypto market’s bull run in 2021. He emphasized that the high margins in crypto trading are likely to continue boosting Revolut’s financial performance.
The launch aligns with recent regulations from the Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K., which introduced a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period for crypto transactions, setting a barrier that favors larger, established companies like Revolut and Kraken over smaller or offshore entities.
The optimism surrounding Revolut X also ties into broader market dynamics. Since the U.S. approval of 10 spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds on January 11, which now manage over $53 billion in assets, the crypto market has seen significant growth. Companies like BlackRock(NYSE:BLK) and Fidelity issuing crypto products have further expanded the investor base, enhancing market potential.
However, Revolut’s strengthening in the U.K. market contrasts with its recent retreat from the U.S. crypto market in August 2023 due to regulatory uncertainties, impacting only 1% of its users. Meanwhile, other fintech players like Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD)have also faced regulatory challenges in the U.S., with Robinhood receiving a Wells Notice from the SEC regarding its crypto operations.
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