When Money Finally Caught Up With the Internet
In a digital world where messages, photos, and data move instantly, money used to be the slowest traveler.
Banks made global transfers complicated — and profitable for themselves.
Hidden fees, vague exchange rates, and week-long waiting times were “just how it worked.”
Then came Wise, a fintech that didn’t just challenge the system — it rebuilt it.
Now, millions of people and businesses move money across borders faster than ever, with full transparency and trust.
1. How Two Friends Sparked a Financial Revolution
In 2011, two Estonian expats in London, Taavet Hinrikus (early Skype employee) and Kristo Käärmann, discovered they were both losing money on international transfers.
Their solution was elegant and simple:
- Taavet paid Kristo’s U.K. expenses in pounds.
- Kristo sent euros to Taavet’s Estonian account.
No international transfer. No hidden cost.
That small workaround evolved into Wise — a fintech built on fairness and logic, not financial jargon.
2. How Wise Works: Local Money, Global Flow
Traditional transfers rely on SWIFT, a messaging network from the 1970s.
Every transaction hops through multiple banks, adding delays and fees along the way.
Wise designed a system for the internet age:
- It built local bank accounts around the world.
- When you send money, Wise matches transfers on both ends.
- The money itself rarely crosses borders — only the value does.
This allows Wise to complete transactions in seconds, often 8x cheaper than banks.
The result? A borderless payments network that feels effortless — because it actually is.
3. The Transparency Revolution
Wise built its reputation on something old-fashioned: honesty.
Every transaction shows:
- The real mid-market exchange rate — no markup.
- The exact fee, before you send.
- The delivery time, tracked in real time.
No vague promises. No hidden margins.
In an industry built on secrecy, Wise made clarity the product itself.
4. The Wise Account: A Global Financial Identity
The Wise Account gives users the ability to hold, send, and spend across borders without needing multiple bank accounts.
With it, you can:
- Manage 40+ currencies.
- Receive local account details in 10+ countries.
- Spend worldwide with a Wise debit card at the real exchange rate.
- Send money instantly to 170+ countries.
For people who live, work, or trade internationally, Wise turns financial geography into an option, not an obstacle.
5. Wise for Business: The Global Operating System
Wise Business helps modern companies operate globally without the banking burden.
It offers:
- Instant payments to teams and suppliers across borders.
- One dashboard for all currencies.
- Bulk transfers and payroll automation via API.
- Integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite.
From freelancers to international corporations, Wise provides the backbone for borderless business.
6. Wise Platform: The Technology Behind the Banks
What many users don’t realize is that Wise’s technology runs beneath some of the biggest financial apps.
Through Wise Platform, the company provides its infrastructure to other fintechs and banks.
Current partners include:
- Google Pay
- Monzo
- N26
- GoCardless
- Deel
That makes Wise the hidden network powering global payments across the modern financial ecosystem.
7. Regulation and Reliability: The Foundations of Trust
Wise didn’t grow by cutting corners — it grew by mastering compliance.
It’s licensed and regulated by:
- FCA (UK)
- FinCEN (US)
- MAS (Singapore)
- ASIC (Australia)
- National Bank of Belgium (EU)
Customer funds are kept in segregated accounts, separate from company finances.
Every transfer is protected by encryption, two-factor authentication, and real-time monitoring.
Wise built innovation on top of regulation, not against it.
8. Numbers That Define the Movement
- 16+ million customers worldwide
- $10+ billion moved every month
- 170+ countries supported
- 40+ currencies available
- Publicly traded (WISE.L) on the London Stock Exchange
- Profitable since 2017
Unlike many fintech startups, Wise isn’t burning money — it’s earning trust and profit simultaneously.
9. The Wise Effect: A New Standard for Honesty
Before Wise, customers rarely questioned how much banks charged.
After Wise, they demanded clarity.
Its radical transparency forced global players like PayPal, Western Union, and Revolut to reveal hidden markups.
Wise didn’t just build a better system.
It changed what fairness means in finance.
10. The Human Stories Behind the Numbers
Every Wise transaction represents something deeply human:
- A worker supporting family across the world.
- A small business expanding into new markets.
- A student paying tuition abroad without hidden fees.
Wise isn’t just moving money — it’s connecting lives through fairness.
11. The Mission: Money Without Borders
Wise’s mission remains as clear as day one:
“Money without borders — instant, convenient, transparent, and eventually free.”
Over 55% of Wise transfers already arrive instantly.
The company’s next step: direct connections to central banks and global payment systems for real-time transfers everywhere.
Wise is building a future where money moves as easily as information.
12. Wise vs. Traditional Systems
| Feature | Wise | Revolut | PayPal | Western Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange Rate | Real mid-market | Marked-up | Marked-up | Marked-up |
| Transparency | 100% clear | Partial | Limited | Hidden |
| Transfer Speed | Instant–1 day | 1–3 days | 1–3 days | 1–2 days |
| Supported Countries | 170+ | 30+ | 200+ | 200+ |
| Profitability | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Wise isn’t trying to be everything — it’s trying to be honest, and that’s what wins loyalty.