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Revolut Tests Pound Stablecoin

Revolut is set to begin testing a pound-denominated stablecoin as part of a regulatory trial overseen by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.

The initiative will take place within the regulator’s sandbox framework, which allows financial firms to experiment with new products under controlled conditions. The pilot will involve a limited group of participants and focus on potential applications such as payments and settlement processes.

Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to maintain a fixed value by being linked to traditional currencies. Interest in such instruments has grown globally, although major UK financial institutions have taken a cautious stance.

Regulators have indicated that trials like this are intended to explore how emerging technologies might enhance efficiency in financial services while maintaining safeguards.

Revolut plans to begin work on the project in the coming months, reflecting continued efforts to expand digital asset capabilities within established oversight structures.

India sidesteps crypto and stablecoins at world’s largest fintech summit

At India’s massive fintech conference in Mumbai, attended by over 100,000 participants and 800 speakers, two global financial buzzwords were conspicuously absent: cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. Despite Bitcoin’s record-breaking surge past $125,000, the three-day event — headlined by the prime ministers of India and the U.K. — avoided any discussion of digital assets amid the government’s cautious regulatory stance.

A speaker document obtained by Reuters explicitly instructed participants to “avoid political, crypto, religious, or personal remarks”, underscoring India’s reluctance to embrace the sector. While economies like Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore are racing to become crypto hubs, India remains hesitant, opting instead to spotlight its central bank digital currency, the e-rupee, and other fintech innovations.

The Reserve Bank of India showcased pilots for deposit tokenisation and fintech sandboxes, while companies like PayPal and Revolut unveiled new products tailored for the Indian market.

Experts say the policy vacuum is chilling innovation. “Regulators need an iterative approach instead of complete aversion to stablecoins,” said Joseph Sebastian of Blume Ventures, who suggested limited adoption through U.S. dollar stablecoin remittances.

India’s fintech funding fell to $3.5 billion in 2023, its lowest since 2020, as entrepreneurs increasingly incorporate overseas to escape regulatory uncertainty. “It’s becoming real whether we like it or not,” said Vivekdeep Gupta, a digital assets consultant.

Revolut to launch India payments platform, targeting 20 million users by 2030

Revolut, the London-based digital finance company, will launch its first payments platform in India, marking its entry into one of the world’s largest digital finance markets. The rollout will begin later this year with 350,000 waitlisted users, before expanding nationwide.

The platform will allow users to make domestic and international transactions through partnerships with Visa and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The fintech firm, valued among Europe’s largest, sees India as a central pillar of its global expansion strategy.

Revolut India CEO Paroma Chatterjee said the company will offer prepaid cards and a digital wallet, using a payments license granted by the Reserve Bank of India earlier this year. It also holds authorization to provide foreign exchange services.

The company has invested over £40 million ($53.7 million) to localize its technology and comply with India’s data sovereignty regulations — its only market with such a setup. Revolut aims to onboard 20 million customers by 2030, targeting the country’s rapidly growing “aspirational youth” demographic.

The India launch follows Revolut’s push into banking and credit card services in other major markets, including the U.S. and Europe, as it seeks to become a global payments leader.