Revolut and Wise Alumni Secure $3M for Blockchain Payments Startup

Ex-Revolut/Wise Team Raises Pre-Seed Funding

Riva Money, a blockchain payments startup founded by former Revolut and Wise executives, has raised $3 million in pre-seed financing. The round was led by Project A Ventures with backing from angel investors at Revolut, Monzo, and JPMorgan.

Founders’ Vision: Bridging Traditional and Blockchain Finance

Co-founders Niklas Hoejman (ex-Revolut) and Mahendra Katoch (ex-Wise/Goldman Sachs) aim to disrupt international transfers by:
✅ Combining blockchain speed with traditional banking security
✅ Offering dual-rail payments: Stablecoin or fiat transfers
✅ Reducing costs by up to 70% vs. legacy systems

“We’re merging blockchain’s advantages with strong regulation to help businesses grow globally,” states CEO Hoejman.

Technology Differentiation

The platform’s hybrid model lets businesses choose optimal transfer methods based on:

• Urgency

• Cost targets

• Regulatory requirements

Strategic Regulatory Progress

Riva is pursuing key approvals:

1. UK/EU Payment Institution Licenses

2. MiCA Compliance for crypto services

3. Swiss VASP Registration

*These steps ensure secure, compliant operations across 40+ countries.*

Market Opportunity & Expansion Plan

The $150B cross-border payments market faces:

• High Costs: Average 6.5% fees

• Slow Speed: 60% take >24 hours

• Demand Surge: 25% YoY blockchain payment growth

With new funding, Riva will:

• Double engineering team by Q4 2024

• Launch in Europe (Q1 2025)

• Expand to Asia/North America (2026)

• Target 10,000+ businesses in 3 years

Investor Confidence

Project A Ventures (lead investor) cites:

“Riva’s hybrid model solves real pain points for global businesses while meeting strict compliance standards – a rare combination.”

Angels from JPM/Revolut add:

“Their team’s experience building at scale is unmatched in the blockchain payments space.”

Competitive Landscape Advantage

Unlike pure-crypto players, Riva offers:
🔹 Regulatory-first approach
🔹 Bank-grade security
🔹 Seamless integration with accounting systems
🔹 No cryptocurrency exposure risk for clients

This positions Riva to capture market share from both traditional providers and crypto-native startups.

#Paymentsblockchaincross-border transfersdigital paymentsfintechFundingRevolutStablecoinsstartupsWise