The global money transfer giant Wise is having its biggest month in years: a Nasdaq listing confirmed, Q4 income surging 24%, and a new UK current account taking aim at Monzo and Revolut.
Key Wise stats and dates to keep in mind before reading:
- 15.6 million customers globally (FY2025)
- operates in 70+ countries worldwide
- 24% income growth YoY
- £435m Q4 FY26 income
- founded: 2011 in London
- became unicorn in 2016 at $1.1B valuation
- reached $5B valuation in 2020 (private markets)
- went public on London Stock Exchange in 2021 with a valuation of over $11B
- May 11, 2026 – NASDAQ listing date
Wise Plc is making its boldest moves yet. On Monday April 13, the London-founded fintech announced a string of developments that together signal a company shifting gear from payments disruptor to full-scale financial institution, with one eye firmly fixed on the United States.
Nasdaq listing confirmed for May 11
Wise confirmed it will begin trading on the American market via Nasdaq on May 11, 2026. That will create a dual listing position for the fintech behemoth, fitting alongside its London Stock Exchange profile. CEO and co-founder Kristo Käärmann said the US listing will significantly raise Wise’s profile in America, where the company is targeting partnerships with more than 4,000 banks. As part of the transition, Wise will switch from IFRS to US GAAP accounting and begin reporting in US dollars — a major structural shift that underlines how seriously it is pursuing the American market.
Earnings beat: income up 24%, balances hit £22.6bn
Wise’s Q4 FY2026 trading update is covering calendar Q1 2026. The results illustrated by these financial records beat all analyst expectations, with income rising 24% year-on-year to £435 million. Customer balances, meanwhile, grew 33% to £22.6 billion. Today, personal accounts representing 63% of the total Wise sign-ups, up from a 50/50 split with business accounts just three years ago. Wise shares quite naturally rallied on the news, reflecting growing investor confidence in a profitable, fast-scaling fintech.
UK current account launch challenges neobanks directly
In late March, Wise launched a full UK current account paying a 3.26% variable interest rate, directly competing with Monzo, Revolut, and traditional high street banks. The account supports direct debits, includes a debit card, and features Wise Assets, a product that lets customers earn interest-like returns on everyday balances through government-backed investments, with full spending access at all times. CFO Emmanuel Thomassin noted that approximately £250 billion sits in UK accounts earning zero interest — precisely the customer base Wise is targeting. The product launched at a pop-up event on London’s Oxford Street with its flagship stores and busiest shopping traffic in Europe, signalling the company’s confidence in going mainstream.
What Wise updates mean for consumers and the market
Wise now operates in over 160 countries, serves 16 million customers, and processes £9 billion in cross-border transactions monthly. Its expansion from a currency transfer app into a primary banking account is a direct threat to both legacy banks and the fintech challengers that have dominated UK consumer banking. With its Nasdaq debut weeks away and strong growth metrics across the board, Wise is entering mid-2026 as one of fintech’s most consequential companies to watch.
