Revolut Appoints Nilesh Khatwani as Global Head of Institutional Sales for Crypto Expansion

Revolut has appointed Nilesh Khatwani as Global Head of Institutional Sales – Crypto, signaling a significant push into the professional digital asset space. Based in Dubai, Khatwani’s arrival follows the neobank’s recent regulatory milestones in the UAE and Cyprus, positioning the firm to challenge established crypto exchanges for institutional market share across international jurisdictions.

What was announced

Nilesh Khatwani joins Revolut to lead its institutional crypto sales efforts on a global scale. He transitions to the UK-headquartered neobank after a three-year tenure at the crypto platform Crypto.com, where he originally joined in 2022 as an Institutional Sales Manager before moving into a leadership role. His professional background also includes experience at major traditional financial institutions, including Société Générale (SocGen) and RBS. Khatwani will operate out of Dubai, a strategic location that aligns with the company's plans to expand its crypto services into several regions outside of its home market in the United Kingdom.

The appointment comes as Revolut secures critical regulatory approvals to operate in key global hubs. Earlier this summer, the company received in-principle approval to provide crypto services within the United Arab Emirates. This follows the granting of a CySEC MiCA license in Cyprus, which designates Revolut as a crypto asset entity and permits the provision of retail crypto trading throughout the European Union. To support these regional efforts, the company recently hired Georgios Vasiliou, the former CEO of Trading.com, to serve as the CEO of Revolut Cyprus. Khatwani’s role will focus on building out the institutional offering, moving the company beyond its established retail crypto base and toward a more comprehensive market presence.

"I’m looking forward to the opportunity to help grow Revolut’s institutional crypto business and play a part in building out what I believe can become a leading institutional offering in the market."

Nilesh Khatwani

The companies involved

Revolut is one of the world’s most prominent neobanks and fintech "super-apps," having evolved from a multi-currency travel card into a comprehensive financial services provider. Since its inception, the company has aggressively expanded its product suite to include stock trading, commodities, insurance, and a robust cryptocurrency exchange for retail users. With its headquarters in London, Revolut has consistently sought to disrupt traditional banking models by offering low-fee international transfers and integrated digital asset management.

The firm’s move into the institutional crypto sector marks a maturation of its business model, as it seeks to leverage its massive retail user base to attract corporate and professional investors. This strategy places Revolut in direct competition with both traditional investment banks and native crypto exchanges. The company’s recent focus on the UAE and the European Union via its Cyprus-based operations highlights a shift toward regulated, multi-jurisdictional growth. Revolut’s presence in the market is substantial, with a history of rapid scaling and a valuation that places it among the top tier of global fintech unicorns.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has tracked Revolut’s rapid diversification across various sectors, including its recent move to disrupt the German telecom market with the launch of Revolut Mobile. The company has also been active in the regulatory and infrastructure space, notably backing the CMA move to open Apple NFC access for UK fintechs to improve digital wallet competition. Beyond commercial expansion, the neobank has integrated social impact into its platform, recently partnering with the International Rescue Committee to facilitate global humanitarian donations. However, the broader ecosystem remains under pressure from external threats, as seen in reports warning that social media and telecom scam losses are projected to top $5 billion by 2031.

What this means

This hire signals that the era of "retail-only" fintech dominance is shifting, as neobanks like Revolut pivot toward the higher-margin institutional sector. By poaching talent from a crypto-native giant like Crypto.com and positioning leadership in Dubai, Revolut is acknowledging that the next phase of digital asset growth will be driven by regulatory clarity and professional-grade infrastructure. This move puts significant pressure on traditional prime brokerages and crypto-native exchanges that have historically owned the institutional relationship. The industry must now ask whether a retail-first brand can successfully pivot its reputation to satisfy the rigorous compliance and liquidity requirements of institutional desks.