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Revolut introduces Learn & Earn feature

The financial app Revolut has introduced a Learn & Earn feature.

The courses help customers understand cryptocurrencies and the broader ecosystem, such as blockchains, tokens, and protocols. The tool is called Learn and Earn and allows users to get familiar with crypto.

Users complete videos or cards and answer questions designed to test and expand their knowledge to learn. Once completing a lesson, they receive a small amount of cryptocurrency as a reward.

It is available to Revolut’s 20 million users through the app, and after taking the classes and passing a quiz, they can earn up to $15 in dot tokens.  

Talking to Emil Urmanshin, cryptocurrency General Manager at Revolut, explains, “Revolut’s mission is to provide the best products and services when it comes to money management, and an essential part of that is improving financial literacy. We know from speaking to our customers that there’s an appetite for learning more about cryptocurrencies, so we decided to partner with Polkadot to design and launch these short, free courses to help them (customers) become more familiar with crypto concepts.”

What users learn

The first course, ‘Crypto Basics,’ covers how cryptocurrencies differ from fiat money, what a decentralized system is, how cryptography works, and the risks. 

As part of the second course, each student will learn about Polkadot, the multichain network connected to blockchains to create Web3.

Participants learn about Polkadot’s native token, dot, as well as Polkadot’s use cases, Polkadot’s governance system, and the Polkadot Relay Chain, which connects specialized and public blockchains to create a seamless network through visual materials. 

“We want to improve knowledge of cryptocurrencies so people can better understand the associated risks and rewards. The first two courses we’ve launched help achieve that,” explains Urmanshin. 

Cryptocurrency on Revolut 

Revolut allows users to buy and sell a range of cryptocurrencies

A purchase or sale of cryptocurrency on Revolut can be made through the cryptocurrency section of the Home tab on the Revolut app or the Wealth section of the Hub. Users go to the Wealth tab and the cryptocurrency section to add a cryptocurrency account. Tap the Invest button, select the cryptocurrency they want to buy and then tap the Buy button to get started.

Specifically for Earn and Learn, the reward they receive for completing a lesson will be shown in the Revolut app before starting each lesson.

The reward amount they receive will be denominated in fiat currency (like GBP or Euros), but the reward will be in a cryptocurrency token — dot. The amount of cryptocurrency rewarded will be calculated using the exchange rate at the time of the reward. Users may read through and complete a lesson multiple times but can are only eligible to earn the reward associated with that lesson once. 

Financial literacy

Cryptocurrency has introduced consumers to various new financial markets and instruments, accessible via digital channels without intermediation, advice, and monitoring by an authorized body. Thus, using crypto assets easily and securely presents multiple opportunities for traditional banks, fintechs, and mainstream consumers. 

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Equally, financial markets and instruments were already considered complex before the emergence of crypto by most non-expert users, and therefore, concerns have been raised around financial literacy. According to the University of Glasgow,  cryptocurrency attracts a large volume of new investors and speculators; therefore, inexperienced investors are often unable to make informed financial decisions, which has become a significant issue.

In addition, a report commissioned by Opinium for Interactive Investors found that young crypto investors fund their investments through a “cocktail of debt,” including credit cards, loans, student loans, and other lending methods.

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Emil Urmanshin, cryptocurrency General Manager at Revolut.

As a result, the Earn & Learn platform comes at a time when there is an increasing need for financial literacy.

“We hope the courses empower our customers to make the best financial decisions and inspire an appetite to learn more about crypto and other financial products,” Urmanshin expands. 

Long term

Revolut will be launching additional courses covering more and deeper aspects of crypto. Outside of crypto, they also hope to use the platform to introduce courses on other topics to help further improve financial literacy. 

  • Helen Femi Williams

    Helen Femi Williams is a freelance journalist and podcaster interested in fintech, politics, economics, and their intersections. She is the host of the letsgetlitical podcast, a fortnightly show interviewing guests from all different sides of the political spectrum, in partnership with the Mozilla Foundation. Prior to this role, she worked as an innovation consultant developing insurtech and fintech products and ideas for brands, startups, and major corporations. She studied International Relations at the University of Nottingham (UK and Malaysia).