Bitcoin

<p>When Revolut decided to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/12/05/revolut-cryptocurrency/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">integrate</a> a crypto purchasing feature into its app in 2017, it seemed like an experiment, as no one was seriously talking about the mass adoption of digital assets at the time. Thus, the company became the first major neobank to allow users to buy and sell cryptocurrency directly from their smartphones. At the time, it wasn't even a “feature,” but a quiet yet very important paradigm shift — both for Revolut itself and for fintech in general.</p><p>In the early 2020s, it became clear that this move was extremely successful. The integration of digital assets became a stable channel of monetization, increasing the frequency of app openings, transaction volume, and customer loyalty. In doing so, Revolut proved an important point: crypto is not a niche experiment, but a must-have feature for any fintech company that wants to grow and remain relevant today.</p><h3 id="crypto-products-as-a-driver-of-revenue-and-loyalty-in-modern-neobanks">Crypto Products as a Driver of Revenue and Loyalty in Modern Neobanks</h3><p>By setting a new standard for fintech companies, Revolut has effectively forced other neobanks to catch up. For example, Wirex made significant progress in 2021 by launching one of the world's first cryptocurrency-enabled debit cards, significantly ahead of many of its competitors. In October 2022, N26 added the ability to buy and sell cryptocurrencies to its app, significantly reducing its gap with Revolut. And New York-based mobile bank Current, which initially targeted young people, integrated crypto services directly into its app that same month, transforming the platform from a simple payment tool into a full-fledged digital ecosystem.</p><p>These changes reflect user behavior: young customers now expect not just a bank, but a full-fledged financial hub. Crypto products are no longer just an add-on feature — they are setting new standards for loyalty and engagement, forcing fintech companies to rethink their offerings.</p><p>Crypto products have significantly updated the revenue model for fintech companies. Users have started trading more, storing assets in the app more often, and returning to the ecosystem more willingly. All this has created a “retention economy” effect, where each new crypto tool increases customer LTV and opens up additional levels of monetization that were previously unavailable.</p><p>Main sources of income:</p><ol><li>Trading fees - The company receives a commission for each transaction — fixed or flexible. High trading activity among users makes this income stable and predictable, which is especially valuable in business models with variable demand.</li><li>Spread income - The platform sets its own spread between the purchase and sale price of an asset, and the difference becomes its profit. This source grows especially during periods of volatility, when trading volume peaks.</li><li>Staking and deposits - Fintech companies offer income for locking assets, earning money from validator rewards or affiliate programs. They share a portion of the income with users, creating a transparent, win-win model that encourages long-term retention of funds in the app.</li></ol><h3 id="top-3-caas-providers-every-fintech-should-know-in-2025">Top 3 CaaS Providers Every Fintech Should Know in 2025</h3><p>In recent years, CaaS (Crypto-as-a-Service) has become one of the key tools for fintech companies seeking to quickly integrate cryptocurrency into their product without having to build their own blockchain infrastructure. Simply put, CaaS is a model in which specialized providers offer ready-made solutions for buying, selling, storing, and trading crypto assets. Companies can connect them to their services via API or use white-label solutions for complete customization under their own brand.</p><p>CaaS is gaining popularity due to several key advantages:</p><ul><li>Quick launch: instead of spending years developing crypto services, a company can integrate ready-made solutions in a matter of weeks.</li><li>Regulatory security: CaaS providers already operate within the framework of local regulations, which significantly reduces legal risks for businesses.</li><li>Reduced infrastructure and security costs: companies get ready-made solutions for asset storage and risk management without having to invest in their own servers or cybersecurity experts.</li><li>Risk-free scalability: services grow with the business, ensuring stability even as the number of users increases.</li></ul><p>Among the leading CaaS providers, the following 3 should be highlighted:</p><ol><li><a href="https://www.kraken.com/en-gb/institutions/embed" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Kraken</a>: access to over 370 crypto assets via low-latency modular APIs, in-app trading, and white-label solutions for full branding.</li><li><a href="https://institutional.whitebit.com/crypto-as-a-service" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WhiteBIT</a>: infrastructure for deposits, withdrawals, buying/selling cryptocurrency for fiat, and cross-chain transactions. Supports over 300 assets, individual wallets, and a flexible API, and offers white-label solutions for complete brand customization.</li><li><a href="https://www.bitgo.com/products/crypto-as-a-service/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">BitGo</a>: support for over 1,300 crypto assets on over 40 blockchains, wallet creation, trading and staking for users, modular API, and white-label solutions for complete brand control.</li></ol><p>This model is suitable for virtually all players in the fintech ecosystem:</p><ul><li>neo-banks and payment providers;</li><li>marketplaces and non-brokerage applications;</li><li>travel services;</li><li>e-commerce platforms that want to add crypto payments for their customers.</li></ul><p>CaaS allows companies to experiment with cryptocurrencies without large-scale internal development and to respond quickly to market changes. That is why this model has become a critically important component of innovation in fintech today.</p><h3 id="so">So,</h3><p>looking at this trend from a modern perspective, it is easy to see a pattern: what was once just an “experiment” at Revolut has now become an almost mandatory feature for any fintech company that wants to remain competitive. What does the future hold?</p><p>According to my predictions, in 2026–2027, we will witness an even more massive wave of integrations: cryptocurrencies will become an integral part not only of mobile banks but also of marketplaces, travel services, e-commerce, and more. Web3 integration will cease to be an “additional option” and will become the standard, on par with Apple Pay or multi-currency accounts. After all, for those who look at fintech through the prism of the future, the question is no longer “whether to implement crypto,” but “how to do it quickly, safely, and effectively.”</p>

The Next Fintech Standard? Seamless Crypto Integration

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Kate Wilson

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