The origin story of Revolut, and its co-founders Nikolay Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko, is today legend. Storonsky, a physicist-turned-City-trader, and Yatsenko, a software engineer, set out in 2015 to build what will likely stand as the UK’s biggest financial success story this century: the payment challenger app Revolut, so named for its mission to revolutionise global banking and drag it into the digital era.

The product started as a prepaid card offering fee-free currency exchange. From there, Revolut has grown into a financial ‘super app’ spanning current accounts, debit cards, stock and crypto trading, personal loans, insurance and business banking – and all run through its own in-house platform.

Revolut's valuation has ballooned by just over £20bn since it last appeared on our list. The company has clearly outgrown its "plucky startup" days. It has pulled in over 80 million customers worldwide, with annual revenues of around £4.5bn reported for the year to December 2025. The business also became a fully licensed UK bank in March 2026.

With an IPO not expected before 2028, Revolut is reportedly chasing a valuation of up to $200bn. All eyes are on CEO Storonsky as he weighs up a dual listing in London and New York.

Wherever Storonsky lands next, he may be landing solo. Yatsenko announced he was stepping down as chief technology officer effective July 2026 to take on a non-executive role as Revolut enters its “next phase of growth." A new era for the business has begun, then, with a new line-up at the top.