Episode 123: Revolut’s $75B Valuation and Europe’s Payments Reset

The fintech industry is entering a decisive phase. In this episode of the Fintech Garden podcast, Igor Tomych and Dumitru Condrea unpack two of the most important updates: Revolut’s $75 billion valuation and the launch of the European Payments Initiative (EPI Wero). Together, these stories highlight where the next wave of digital banks and payment innovation is heading.

From Fintech Startup to $75B Powerhouse

Revolut’s growth story continues to redefine Fintech Europe. What began in 2014 as a simple travel card has become a super app offering payments, trading, lending, and wealth management.

• Revolut license: securing full banking status opened the door to deposits, credit, and compliance at scale.
• Valuation jump: from $45B last year to $75B today, reflecting investor confidence in digital-first banks.
• IPO comparisons: the discussion contrasts Revolut’s trajectory with Visa’s landmark IPO and the expected Klarna IPO.

The takeaway: scalability, trust, and fintech compliance have turned Revolut from a fintech startup into one of the most valuable digital banks globally.

Europe’s Payments Innovation: EPI Wero

The second focus of the episode is EPI Wero, a pan-European initiative designed to strengthen independence from Visa and Mastercard. Its launch later this year could transform European payments.

• SEPA instant and settlement T+1 promise near real-time payments.
• Local wallets integration reduces reliance on global card schemes.
• Merchant acquiring benefits include lower fees and faster reconciliation.
• Links to FedNow news show how Europe and the U.S. are racing toward instant payment systems.

This move positions Europe for greater resilience, consumer choice, and innovation in the digital wallet EU space.

Looking Ahead: Fintech’s Expanding Role

The episode also explores what’s next for:

• AI shopping and agentic commerce shaping user behavior.
• Crypto fintech and stablecoins banking merging into mainstream apps.
• Personal finance apps acting as central hubs for wealth, payments, and subscriptions.
• The US vs EU banking gap and how Eastern Europe fintech could leapfrog traditional players.

Why You Should Listen

Whether you’re a founder, product manager, or investor, this episode highlights the strategies driving the fintech future. From Revolut valuation milestones to the rise of payment gateways beyond card networks, these are the shifts that will define digital banking over the next decade.

Listen to Episode 123 now and learn how to prepare your business for the next wave of payment innovation.