The head of XTB, one of Europe's fastest-growing retail trading platforms, laid out an unusually candid competitive vision during a recent panel discussion at Invest Cuffs Warsaw, declaring his company's intention to become "Europe's Robinhood" while simultaneously predicting the American brokerage will fail to gain traction on the continent.
Omar Arnaout, CEO of the Warsaw-listed trading firm (WSE: XTB), also commented on another strong competitor on the Old Continent: Revolut.
Why XTB’s Arnaout “Hates” Revolut?
During the Invest Cuffs Warsaw conference, which brought together executives from several Polish companies, Arnaout discussed XTB's regional position and shared surprisingly frank views on his direct competitors.
When the conversation turned to Revolut, Arnaout didn't hold back. "I hate them because they've grown so much, but they're just excellent," he said, acknowledging that he personally uses the app and that XTB's team studies Revolut's product development daily.
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The executive positioned his company's strategy around creating what he called a "super investment application" comparable to how Revolut brands itself as a bank in your pocket.
"We want to be the best investment application, regardless of needs, whether active or passive," Arnaout explained, adding that the platform must offer comprehensive product coverage to compete effectively.
XTB's growth trajectory supports this ambition. The company took 20 years to reach its first million clients but expects to add one million new accounts in 2026 alone, according to Arnaout. This acceleration coincided with the firm's 2020 expansion into stocks and ETFs, moving beyond its original focus on contracts for difference.
Robinhood Won’t Win Europe
Despite his admiration for the UK-based fintech , Arnaout drew a sharp distinction between XTB's ambitions and another competitor, Robinhood, and its European prospects. Speaking about consumer preferences, he framed the competitive landscape in generational terms.
"If you asked anyone from 20 to probably 45 years old who would be their first choice, in the United States it's obviously Robinhood," he said. "In Europe, I hope that in two or three years the obvious choice will be XTB."
While Arnaout believes XTB is positioned to dominate European retail trading , he expressed skepticism that Robinhood can replicate its U.S. dominance abroad.
"I think Robinhood probably won't achieve success in Europe," he stated flatly during the discussion.
The CEO did not elaborate extensively on specific barriers Robinhood might face, but his comments reflected broader competitive dynamics. XTB has spent years building localized product offerings across European markets, including instruments tailored to specific countries alongside global securities.
Competitive Vigilance and Market Leadership
Arnaout's candid assessment of competitors extended beyond Revolut and Robinhood to include Trade Republic, another platform XTB monitors closely. The executive emphasized that his team analyzes what makes successful competitors effective and incorporates those insights into XTB's own development.
The company invests heavily in technology to maintain its competitive edge, now employing approximately 550 people in its IT division compared to a single computer enthusiast when Arnaout joined in 2007.
He acknowledged that XTB didn't invent its approach but rather observed successful models and "did it much better and took the project much more seriously".
"There can only be one largest investment firm in Europe, only one second largest firm," he said. "If we're outside the top three, honestly it's a waste of time".
The CEO said XTB applies this standard to every country where it operates, prepared to exit markets where the firm cannot achieve a top-three ranking.
