Bunq, a Dutch Neobank tailored to digital nomads since its founding in 2012, has introduced Stocks, a new wealth-building platform designed to connect location-independent workers with stock and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from U.S. and EU companies. This launch is a partnership with the investment firm Ginmon.
In the initial stage, stock trading services will be available exclusively to bunq customers located in the Netherlands and France, with plans for broader expansion already in motion.
Driven by a desire to eliminate unnecessary complexities and the significant amount of bureaucracy often associated with the stock market, Ali Niknam, founder and CEO of bunq, aims to revolutionize the world of investments by making it accessible to everyone with $10 in their pockets.
“Investing in stocks should be as effortless as making a payment or checking your balance,” said Niknam. “That’s why we’ve designed the simplest way to start investing, allowing our users to buy shares of the world’s most exciting companies in seconds.”
Today, investing in the stock market is nothing like it was back in the ‘90s, when navigating through complex processes—such as handling tax forms and meeting high minimum investment requirements—was out of reach for mere mortals.
With this new, simplified approach, the idea of building wealth in a matter of “seconds” with very low entry amounts is sure to attract thousands of digital nomads who have been eager to invest but didn’t know how to enter the game.
The race to capture the attention and funds of the digital world’s inhabitants is heating up. Just one day before this major announcement, Revolut, another key player in the neobank ecosystem, unveiled its own standalone wealth management app, offering stock trading, bonds and contracts for a number of CFDs.
What’s special about these disruptive announcements is that, for the first time, banking companies are not solely targeting high-rolling investors. Instead, in the case of bunq, they are focusing on digital nomads who already use their financial services but don’t necessarily have massive fortunes.
This strategic financial move isn’t coming out of the blue. Bunq looks to draw a big chunk of the 47 percent of European digital nomads who are already actively in the investment world.
And that’s not all. According to their research, 41 percent of these remote workers are considering starting investments within the next year.
Another fascinating piece of data shows that over 50 percent of these digital nomads have already invested for the long term, with more than 57 percent investing while on the road.
Is It a Good Move to Invest in bunq Stocks?
Unlike traditional brokerages, bunq promises to eliminate complex processes, allowing investors to start playing with small amounts as they decide when to make a big move.
Is bunq a Legit Bank?
Bunq is a Dutch neobank founded in 2012, catering to digital nomads and travelers with over 14.5 million users to date. So, it’s safe to say this digital bank is a legitimate option.
Additionally, bunq is introducing Finn, an AI-driven assistant created to offer customized financial advice.
The Rise of Digital Nomads in the Post-Pandemic Era
With the explosion of digitalization of companies worldwide over the last two decades, digital nomadism emerged as a natural response to a new way of understanding work.
Although remote work started off slowly, it was permanently transformed by the 2019 pandemic, which had the power to change the world forever.
Currently, it is estimated that there are about 40 million digital nomads, including 17 million American workers—a figure that has increased over 131% since 2019, according to the prestigious Harvard Business Review.
Countries like Portugal, Spain, and Thailand have become hotspot destinations for these remote workers, who need outstanding digital infrastructure and a better work-life balance.
As of 2024, 61 countries currently offer digital nomad visas with the number steadily increasing almost every month.
Governors of depopulating villages in Europe have seen a unique opportunity to reverse population decline, paying up to €15K to digital nomads willing to relocate.
Some of these destinations include Extremadura, Asturias, Galicia, Andalusia and Tuscany, Italy.