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Revolut Starts India Beta As It Targets Digital Payments Growth

Strategic Expansion Into A High-Growth Market

Revolut has begun a limited beta rollout in India, marking the latest step in the British fintech company’s expansion into one of the world’s largest digital payments markets. Over recent weeks, users on the company’s waitlist have started receiving access to the India-focused app as Revolut prepares for a broader launch.

Localized Offerings And Enhanced Customer Experience

The beta version, available on both Google Play and Apple’s App Store, has already attracted several thousand users. Features tailored to the local market include UPI payments, e-money wallets, domestic prepaid cards, multi-currency cards, virtual cards and disposable cards. Revolut said the phased rollout will allow it to gather user feedback and test core services before expanding access.

Navigating India’s Digital Payment Ecosystem

India represents one of the world’s most competitive fintech markets, driven largely by the government-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI). According to official data, UPI processed 23.2 billion transactions worth approximately ₹29.9 trillion ($313.8 billion) in May alone. Processing volumes of this scale present a significant growth opportunity for international fintech firms, while also placing them in direct competition with local banks and established payment providers.

Building A Robust Local Presence

Revolut’s efforts to enter India date back to 2021. To strengthen its local presence, Revolut appointed fintech executive Paroma Chatterjee to lead operations in India and acquired Arvog Forex in 2022. It later secured a prepaid payment instrument licence from the Reserve Bank of India, allowing it to expand services including remittances and multi-currency accounts.

Looking Ahead

Access to the beta programme is currently limited to a small portion of the approximately 450,000 users on Revolut’s waitlist in India. Revolut plans to gradually expand onboarding in the coming months. Interest in the platform has continued to grow, with nearly 820,000 app downloads recorded in India since launch. India forms part of Revolut’s broader expansion strategy across high-growth markets. The company has previously identified countries including Thailand, Vietnam and Brazil as key drivers of future user growth and transaction volumes as it works toward its targets of reaching 20 million users and processing at least $7 billion in transactions by 2030.

Keve Welcomes New Cyprus Business Development Organisation

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) has welcomed Parliament’s unanimous approval of legislation establishing the Cyprus Business Development Organisation, describing it as a major step toward improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, startups and self-employed professionals.

Expanding Access To Finance

The legislation creates a new public body aimed at addressing financing gaps by supporting businesses that struggle to secure funding through traditional channels.

According to Keve, the initiative could strengthen entrepreneurship, boost competitiveness and support Cyprus’ green and digital transition. The chamber has long argued that SMEs rely too heavily on bank financing, limiting investment, expansion and innovation.

Keve Calls For Swift Implementation

Keve said it helped shape the legislation through the consultation process and called for the organisation to become operational as quickly as possible. It also pledged to continue working with the Finance Ministry and the organisation’s management to support implementation.

How The Organisation Will Operate

Approved by Parliament on Tuesday, the legislation establishes Cyprus’ national business development body under the supervision of the Finance Minister, while the Central Bank of Cyprus will oversee anti-money laundering compliance.

The organisation will design financing programmes, provide loans and conduct studies to identify weaknesses in the financing market.

Cyprus will provide €60 million in initial capital. Over time, the body will also be able to raise funding from European and international institutions and benefit from state guarantees linked to approved strategic priorities.

Recovery Plan Milestone

Creation of the organisation is one of the final milestones under Cyprus’ Recovery and Resilience Plan and is required for the country to receive the plan’s ninth and final payment. Appointment of the board of directors remains the last outstanding step.

Before approving the bill, the Finance Ministry revised the draft following consultations with MPs and stakeholders. The changes removed provisions allowing the organisation to establish companies and narrowed the list of eligible beneficiaries by excluding small mid-cap companies.

Lawmakers also strengthened governance rules by introducing stricter board suitability requirements, conflict-of-interest safeguards, enhanced reporting obligations and borrowing limits. A seven-member board appointed by the Cabinet will oversee the organisation, while a transitional board will serve for two years until it becomes fully operational.

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