Revolut, one of the world’s fastest-growing fintech companies, has reported a £1.7 billion pre-tax profit for 2025, representing a 57% year-on-year increase, while simultaneously warning that its support for crypto and AI could trigger reputational consequences. The dual announcement highlights the complex balancing act faced by modern financial platforms that profit from cutting-edge but environmentally controversial technologies. The company’s annual report frames the risk as stemming from “shifting attitudes” toward energy-intensive activities.
Since its founding a decade ago, Revolut has expanded from a travel money card into a comprehensive financial services platform offering everything from stock trading to cryptocurrency exchange. The company, now valued at $75 billion, recently achieved a major milestone with the granting of its UK banking licence, ending a five-year regulatory saga. It currently operates as a licensed bank in over 30 of its 40 markets globally.
The numbers behind Revolut’s 2025 performance tell a story of sustained momentum. Total revenues rose 46% to £4.5 billion, while the company attracted 16 million new individual customers, taking its total to 68.3 million. UK users numbered 13 million, with business customers growing by 33% to 767,000. The company hopes to surpass 100 million global customers by the middle of next year.
Revolut’s candid acknowledgment of ESG-related risk is significant in the context of tightening environmental expectations across the financial sector. AI data centres and bitcoin mining operations are among the largest consumers of electricity in the global economy, and energy prices have surged following recent geopolitical developments. For a company pursuing banking licences in major economies, demonstrating climate awareness is increasingly a matter of regulatory and public necessity.
In terms of future direction, Revolut is focused on deepening its banking capabilities. Products such as personal loans, mortgages, and expanded business banking are expected to be rolled out over the coming years. The recent application for a US banking licence marks a significant strategic step, and chief executive Nik Storonsky has expressed confidence that Revolut’s technology-first model will continue to outperform traditional competitors.