Tag: finance

Wise vs Revolut Fees (2026): Which Is Actually Cheaper? 

If you’re choosing between Wise and Revolut, fees are probably your biggest concern.

Both fintech companies promise low-cost international spending and transfers — but their pricing models are very different. One focuses on transparency. The other blends banking features with subscription perks.

Here’s a clear breakdown of how their fees compare in 2026.

1. Exchange Rates: The Real Cost Difference

Wise: Mid-Market Rate + Transparent Fee

Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate (the rate you see on Google).
Instead of marking up the rate, it charges a separate, clearly displayed fee — typically between 0.35% and 0.7%, depending on the currency.

You see the exact fee before confirming the transaction.

What this means:
You always know what you’re paying.

Revolut: Near-Interbank Rate (With Conditions)

Revolut uses a near-interbank exchange rate and offers:

  • Free weekday currency exchange (within your plan’s limit)
  • 1% markup on weekends
  • Monthly FX limits on the free plan (e.g., €1,000 equivalent)

After exceeding the monthly allowance, additional exchanges incur a fee.

What this means:
It can be very cheap — but only if you stay within limits and avoid weekends.

2. International Transfers

Wise

Fees typically include:

  • A small fixed fee
  • A percentage-based fee

For example, sending €1,000 internationally might cost between €4 and €8, depending on the currency route.

Wise is often cheaper for:

  • Larger transfers
  • Regular overseas payments
  • Sending money outside Europe

Revolut

Revolut offers:

  • Some free transfers depending on your plan
  • Possible SWIFT fees for certain currencies
  • Limits on free international payments

Revolut works well for occasional smaller transfers, but costs can increase once limits are exceeded.

3. ATM Withdrawals

Wise

  • 2 free withdrawals per month (up to ~€200 total)
  • After that: ~€0.50 + 1.75%

Revolut (Standard Plan)

  • 5 free withdrawals per month (up to ~€200)
  • Then 2% fee

Higher-tier Revolut plans increase the withdrawal allowance.

4. Card Payments Abroad

Both are excellent for travel compared to traditional banks.

  • Wise: Small conversion fee applied transparently.
  • Revolut: No weekday FX fee within limits, but weekend markup applies.

If you travel mostly during weekdays and don’t exceed limits, Revolut can be cheaper for everyday spending.

5. Monthly Fees

Wise

  • No subscription plans
  • No monthly fee
  • Pay only when you use it

Revolut

  • Standard plan: Free
  • Paid plans: Plus, Premium, Metal (monthly fee)
  • Includes perks like insurance, airport lounge access, and higher limits

If you want an all-in-one banking app with extras, Revolut’s paid tiers may justify the cost.

So Which Is Cheaper?

Choose Wise If:

  • You send large international transfers
  • You want full transparency
  • You don’t want subscription fees
  • You care about always getting the real exchange rate

Choose Revolut If:

  • You travel frequently
  • You exchange smaller amounts
  • You stay within monthly FX limits
  • You avoid weekend currency exchanges
  • You want banking features beyond transfers

Final Verdict

There’s no universal winner.

  • Wise is usually cheaper for international money transfers and large currency conversions.
  • Revolut can be cheaper for travel spending — if you stay within plan limits.

For many people, the smartest move isn’t choosing one — it’s using both.

Why SaaS Stocks Crashed – And Why Most SaaS Companies Aren’t Going Anywhere

Over the past few years, SaaS stocks have been crushed.

Companies that once traded at 30x revenue fell 60–80%. Investors declared the “death of SaaS.” Growth-at-all-costs suddenly became a liability.

But here’s the reality:

SaaS isn’t dying. Bad pricing was.

Let’s unpack what actually happened.

The Zero-Interest Rate Bubble

Between 2015 and 2021:

  • Capital was cheap
  • Growth mattered more than profitability
  • Investors priced in perfect execution

Companies like:

  • Snowflake
  • Shopify
  • Zoom Video Communications

…were valued as if hypergrowth would last forever.

Multiples expanded beyond fundamentals. Revenue growth alone justified massive valuations.

That worked — until it didn’t.

What Actually Triggered the Crash

1. Rising Interest Rates

When rates rise:

  • Future earnings are discounted more heavily
  • Long-duration assets get hit hardest
  • Growth multiples compress

SaaS companies often promise profits far in the future. Higher discount rates crushed those valuations.

2. Slowing Growth

Enterprise customers tightened budgets.
Digital acceleration normalized post-COVID.
“Nice-to-have” tools were cut.

Even durable companies like Salesforce saw growth decelerate.

Markets repriced the entire sector.

3. Profitability Became Mandatory

The new environment demands:

  • Positive free cash flow
  • Efficient customer acquisition
  • Strong retention
  • Operating leverage

Companies that adapted survived. Others are still struggling.

Is the SaaS Model Broken?

No.

Recurring revenue remains:

  • Predictable
  • Sticky
  • High margin (at scale)
  • Operationally efficient

What changed is investor tolerance for inefficiency.

The Bottom Line

The SaaS crash wasn’t the death of the model.

It was the death of:

  • Growth without margin
  • Overfunded point solutions
  • Fantasy multiples

The next decade of SaaS will be smaller, leaner, and more profitable.

And that’s healthy

Grab is buying U.S. investing app Stash for about $425 million in a major cross-border fintech move 

Grab Holdings Limited, the Singapore-based super-app operator known for ride-hailing, delivery and digital financial services across Southeast Asia, has agreed to acquire Stash Financial, Inc., a U.S.-based digital investing and financial wellness platform, in a deal valuing Stash at roughly US $425 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, Grab will initially purchase a 50.1 % controlling stake in Stash at closing, with the plan to buy out the remaining equity over the next three years at fair market value. Payment for the deal will be made using a mix of cash and stock, with the exact mix at Grab’s discretion. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

What Stash does & why it matters

Stash is a U.S.-registered investment advisor and fintech platform that combines subscription-based investing, banking tools, financial education resources and an AI-driven Money Coach feature designed to help everyday consumers improve their financial habits and long-term wealth outcomes. It currently manages more than US $5 billion in assets and has over one million paying subscribers.

The company also offers StashWorks, an employee financial wellness programme used by U.S. employers to help staff build better saving and investing behaviours through guidance and tools.

Strategic rationale for Grab

This acquisition marks a significant expansion of Grab’s financial services footprint into the U.S. mass-market investing space – a market where it previously had no commercial presence. It adds a recurring subscription revenue engine and deepens Grab’s fintech capabilities, particularly in areas powered by AI and personalised financial guidance.

Post-closing, Stash will continue operating as an independent brand, retaining its current services, business model and leadership – including its co-founders and co-CEOs — while gaining access to Grab’s broader ecosystem and resources. Grab has also indicated it may explore introducing elements of Stash’s technology, such as the AI Money Coach, into its Southeast Asian markets over the longer term.

For Grab, this move diversifies revenue beyond its core ride-hailing and delivery businesses and bolsters its financial services roadmap – which already includes lending, payments and digital banking – at a time when the company is increasingly focused on sustainable, high-margin services.

Webull Opens their crypto trading platform in Australia – after US re-opening

WeBull is launching their crypto trading service in Australia – just after they re-opened the service in the US.

With companies like eToro – now making the majority of their revenues via crypto trading – it feels like this is going to be an easy revenue driver for WeBull.

via – Cointelegraph

Can you buy single shares of Xiaomi or do you need to buy 200 shares at a time?

It all depends on where you buy the Xiaomi stock.

Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1810.HK)

  • On the HKEX, stocks trade in “board lots” (minimum trading units).
  • For Xiaomi (1810.HK) the board lot is 200 shares.
  • That means if you buy directly in Hong Kong, you have to buy at least 200 shares (or multiples of 200).
  • Example: If Xiaomi trades at HK$15, the minimum investment is HK$3,000 (~US$380).

U.S. OTC Market (XIACF, XIACY)

  • In the U.S. OTC market, you can buy single shares (no board lot restriction).
  • So if you’re using a U.S. or international broker that gives access to OTC, you can buy 1 share, 10 shares, 37 shares — whatever you like.

How can I buy shares of Xiaomi and under what ticker symbol

Ticker Symbols & Where to Buy

1. Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Primary Listing)

  • Ticker: 1810.HK (often just “1810”)
  • That’s Xiaomi’s main public listing and the one most commonly used by investors. You’d buy this through a broker that provides access to Hong Kong markets.

2. Over-the-Counter (OTC) in the U.S.

  • Tickers: XIACF and XIACY
  • These are U.S. OTC representations (likely ADRs or Pink Sheet listings). They let U.S.-based investors access Xiaomi without needing a Hong Kong broker.

Intel gets new shareholders – Softbank and the US Government

SoftBank has invested $2 billion in Intel.

SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said in a statement that the “strategic investment reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role.”

This is mixed with the US Government also announcing that they will take a 10% stake in Intel.

Bunq – Dutch online bank – fined €2.6 million by Regulators for anti-money laundering controls

  • Fine imposed: Bunq, the Dutch mobile-only bank, was slapped with a €2.6 million fine (about $3.04 million) by the Dutch central bank, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).
  • Why: The regulator found serious flaws in Bunq’s anti–money laundering (AML) systems. Between January 2021 and May 2022, in four separate cases, Bunq failed to properly investigate and report suspicious financial activity.
  • Repeat issue: These weren’t isolated mistakes—DNB noted that Bunq had a history of similar compliance lapses and hadn’t addressed them adequately, even after previous fines and warnings.

Bunq’s response

  • Bunq disagrees with the ruling and has formally filed an objection.
  • They emphasized that they take their “gatekeeper” role seriously and are using advanced tech to continuously improve their systems and compliance.

via Reuters.

Nvidia Reports Earnings next week – where is this chart headed?

Nvidia earnings are reported next week. It will be very interesting to see how this chart continues to move over the coming quarters and years. I think it is all going higher, but I think we are starting to see a little bit of a slower growth, which hopefully will allow them some breathing space to stabilise a few things.

How does the current price of XIACF compare to its 52-week high and low

Based on the search results, I can provide the following comparison of XIACF’s current price to its 52-week high and low:

The 52-week range for XIACF (Xiaomi Corp Class B) stock is $1.40 – $2.64.

As of the most recent data available:

  1. The current price is $2.36.
  2. The 52-week high is $2.36, set on May 03, 2024.
  3. The 52-week low is $1.26, recorded in June 2023.

Comparing these figures:

  • The current price of $2.36 is at the 52-week high, just 0.00% below it.
  • The current price represents a 87.3% increase from the 52-week low of $1.26.

This indicates that XIACF is currently trading at its highest point over the past year, suggesting strong recent performance or positive market sentiment towards the stock.

How does RouteNote’s royalty payment process differ from other distribution services

RouteNote’s royalty payment process has some unique aspects compared to other distribution services:

  1. Flexible pricing models: RouteNote offers both a free plan and a premium plan. With the free plan, artists keep 85% of their royalties while RouteNote takes 15%. The premium plan allows artists to keep 100% of their royalties for a flat annual fee.
  2. Plan switching: Artists can switch between the free and premium plans at any time, allowing them to optimize their earnings based on their current performance.
  3. Payment schedule: Royalty payments are made automatically between the 15th and 20th of each month, provided the $50 minimum earnings threshold has been met.
  4. Royalty types: RouteNote collects various types of royalties, including performance royalties, mechanical royalties, YouTube micro-synchronization royalties, and neighboring rights.
  5. Delayed ingestion for compositional royalties: Compositional royalties can take 6-9 months to ingest due to RouteNote collecting from over 100 countries and societies, each with its own upload period.
  6. Combined payments: For artists who distribute through RouteNote, publishing royalties are paid alongside master/sound recording royalties.
  7. Transparent reporting: RouteNote provides monthly reports to artists, allowing them to track their earnings across different platforms.

Unlike some services that may have more complex pricing structures or longer payment delays, RouteNote aims to offer a straightforward and relatively quick payment process. However, it’s important to note that the actual speed of payments can vary depending on the type of royalty and the specific platforms involved.

How does RouteNote’s payment process differ for master recording royalties versus compositional royalties

RouteNote’s payment process differs in a few key ways for master recording royalties versus compositional royalties:

  1. Collection timeline:
  • Master recording royalties are typically collected and paid out more quickly, usually within 45 days after the end of the month they were earned.
  • Compositional royalties can take 6-9 months to be collected and paid out, due to RouteNote collecting from over 100 countries and societies, each with their own upload periods.
  1. Payment frequency:
  • Master recording royalties are paid out monthly, between the 15th-20th of each month, as long as the $50 minimum threshold is met.
  • Compositional royalties are paid on the same schedule, but due to the longer collection timeline, payments may be less frequent initially.
  1. Royalty types:
  • Master recording royalties come from streams and downloads of the actual recordings distributed through RouteNote.
  • Compositional royalties include performance royalties, mechanical royalties, YouTube micro-synchronization royalties, and neighboring rights.
  1. Payment combination:
  • For artists who distribute through RouteNote, compositional royalties are paid alongside master/sound recording royalties in the same payment.
  1. Revenue share:
  • For master recording royalties, RouteNote offers either an 85/15 split (free plan) or 100% to the artist (premium plan).
  • For compositional royalties collected through RouteNote Publishing, RouteNote takes a 15% cut of the publisher’s share.
  1. Reporting:
  • Master recording royalties are reported in more detail, with breakdowns by platform and country.
  • Compositional royalty reporting may be less granular due to the complexities of collecting from multiple societies worldwide.

While the basic payment process is similar, the key differences lie in the collection timeline, types of royalties, and the way RouteNote handles the revenue sharing for each royalty type.

Constellation Software Revenue by Segment – 2019 – 2024

I came across this amazing chart of the growth of Constellation Software and their revenue by Segment.

As you can see Constellation has been on an amazing growth story since the very beginning and it doesn’t look like it is going to slow down any time soon.

I just wish I could invest in them from the UK, but no broker is really offer an option to buy their stock! If they had this I’m sure it would go even higher faster!

Amit Interviews Robinhood CEO and Co-Founder, Vlad Tenev. Robinhood Gold Economics and more.

The other day I just came across Amit on YouTube and noticed that he sat down and interviewed Robinhood CEO and Co-Founder, Vlad Tenev.

It’s a great interview and really worth the watch.

My favourite part is them talking about the new Robinhood Gold and the economics behind the product.

My Thoughts on Google (GOOGL) and Their Market Share and Investment Opportunity

A lot of people have been giving Google a really hard time of late over their troubled entry into AI – with their chat interface Gemini. Additionally, there are investors out there that think OpenAI, Perplexity and others will start to disrupt their search business which is their main revenue stream via ads.

I don’t think this is going to happen and here is my take:

  • Google has 93% market share in search and 50% in total digital marketing. These are not going anywhere.
  • Cloud is growing 30% YoY with margin expansion.
  • Forward PE of 19 is reasonable compared to industry average and to its historical median.

I think I will be buying more for my own investment portfolio.