Brazilian banking giant Nubank, one of the traditional financial institutions most committed to the bitcoin (BTC) ecosystem, has established itself this year as the most valuable digital bank or neobank in Latin America. According to data provided by the analysis and statistics firm C-innovation, Nubank, a neobank with a wide presence in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, has a market capitalization of around USD 60 billion. According to the company, during the first quarter of the current year Nubank obtained “impressive financial results.” Among them, net profits of USD 379 million and Total revenue of USD 2.7 billion over that period. At the same time, Nubank's customer base has grown significantly, according to c-innovation. Overall, They have more than 100 million users so far in 2024with a special expansion in Mexico and Colombia, where there are 5.5 million and more than 800,000 clients, respectively. In addition, Nubank added 4.8 million new customers in the fourth quarter of 2023, “which underlines its rapid growth and market penetration,” says the analysis firm. C-innovation highlights in its report that Nubank maintains “solid capital and ample liquidity”with excess cash flow of USD 2.4 billion and a loan-to-deposit ratio of 34%, according to the information. For the analytical firm, Nubank has had an “aggressive expansion” in Latin America. This is a strategic move that “takes advantage of large unbanked populations, significantly increasing their customer base and market share.”
Nubank's market capitalization is already close to USD 60 billion. Source: C-innovation. According to C-innovation, this digital bank is, so far, the most valuable in Latin America due to the fact that other institutions of its kind They do not reach the capitalization of Nubank.
For example, there is the neobank Revolut, which has a market capitalization of USD 26 billion. It is followed by Monzo, with USD 5.2 billion. Then OakNorth, with USD 5 billion; Starling Bank, with USD 1.9 billion and Allica Bank, with USD 800 million. When compared to traditional and non-digital banks in Latin America, Nubank is still below the large institutions in the region. In this category, Itaú Unibanco, from Brazil, is the most important financial institution, with total assets valued at more than USD 439.5 billion until 2023, according to Statista.
“Innovative solutions”
According to C-innovation, Nubank offers “innovative and customer-centric banking solutions.” These include instant credit approvals and fee-free accounts. Although c-innovation did not mention it, this digital bank has also incorporated another type of services that target a newer type of user, which is that of cryptocurrencies. As of 2022, this institution allows its users to buy and sell bitcoin (BTC) and cryptoassets.
Nubank also allows for the custody, sending, and receiving of cryptocurrencies. To do so, they even plan to integrate disruptive technologies such as the Bitcoin Lightning Network, the micropayment solution for the largest digital asset on the market. For the firm C-innovation, Nubank's services guarantee a «broad appeal» to that entity. In addition, they «boost customer retention and acquisition, which fosters the continued growth» of the financial institution.
“Significant opportunities and promising growth prospects”
In its report, the analysis firm highlighted that Nubank and the rest of the neobanks have a clear path to follow, which is marked by “significant opportunities and promising growth prospects.” As C-innovation sees it, “higher valuations for digital banks” are foreseeable as continue to innovate and expand their market presence.
Something that will also be boosted “by the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchains, which allow for more secure, efficient and personalized services, thus attracting both clients and investors,” says the specialized firm.
“Furthermore, improving regulatory frameworks are creating a more favorable environment for digital banks to operate and innovate, and clearer regulations around digital currencies and open banking initiatives are expected to further boost their growth potential,” said C-innovation, a statistics and analytics firm.