finsmart-news_admin 
Revolut is exploring a move into China, according to internal investor materials reviewed by multiple outlets. This move could be the boldest expansion plan yet for Europe’s most valuable fintech as it eyes a slice of the world’s most complex and crowded digital payments market.
The London-based firm flagged “hiring, licensing, and scoping” as part of a long-term China entry plan in a pitch deck circulated during a secondary share sale earlier this year. The expansion is part of a broader push into regions Revolut categorizes as “friendly” or “neutral,” including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. In contrast, it described Europe—the continent that made its name—as “aggressive.”
While Revolut hasn’t confirmed a launch timeline, the inclusion of China in its growth roadmap reflects growing confidence from CEO Nik Storonsky and his team that their all-in-one financial superapp can compete beyond Western markets.
China would be Revolut’s most challenging market to date. Digital payments there are dominated by domestic giants Ant Group (Alipay) and Tencent (WeChat Pay), with foreign players historically facing stiff regulatory and operational hurdles. Still, Revolut has already taken a step toward the mainland: in 2024, it inked a deal with Ant Group to enable money transfers into China via Alipay’s infrastructure.
Revolut’s pitch comes as it seeks to raise new funding at a $65 billion valuation, up from $45 billion in its last round. The company claims to have more than 60 million users globally and has turned profitable, booking $4 billion in revenue and $1.4 billion in pre-tax profit last year. Its expansion strategy now revolves around new markets and new revenue lines—from crypto and equities trading to wealth management.
Founded in 2015 by Storonsky, a former derivatives trader, and CTO Vlad Yatsenko, Revolut has made a name for itself by undercutting traditional banks on fees and aggregating banking, investing, and payments into one sleek platform. But its regulatory journey has been rocky: it only recently secured a full banking license in the UK after years of back-and-forth with regulators, and continues to face scrutiny over financial reporting and compliance.
The China plan, though still at the exploratory stage, is emblematic of how far Revolut has come—from fintech upstart to a global player with serious institutional backing. Investors now include the likes of Tiger Global, SoftBank’s Vision Fund, and Coatue.
But even with momentum, China is a high-stakes bet. Success would mean access to the world’s largest e-commerce and remittance corridors. Failure would join a long list of foreign firms that underestimated Beijing’s regulatory guardrails and local loyalties.
