Co-Founder and CEO of Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Kristo Käärmann is the co-founder and CEO of Wise, a company transforming global payments and money transfers with a transparent, low-cost model.
40 years
1985-09-16
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, University of Tartu Master’s degree in Economics, London School of Economics (LSE)
University of Tartu (Estonia), London School of Economics (LSE)
Full Name: Kristo Käärmann
Nickname: Kristo
Country/State: Estonia
Date of Birth: 1985-09-16
Languages Known: Estonian, English
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Food Habit: Vegetarian
Religion: Not public
Hobbies: Technology, finance, entrepreneurship
School: Not Publicly Known
College: University of Tartu (Estonia), London School of Economics (LSE)
Degrees Obtained: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, University of Tartu Master’s degree in Economics, London School of Economics (LSE)
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 70 kg
Parents: Not Publicly Known
Siblings: Not publicly disclosed
Marital Status: married
Wife: Not Public
Children: 0
Current Position: Co-Founder and CEO of Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Skills:
Net Worth: Estimated net worth: $1.5 billion (2025 estimate)
Awards & Achievements: Co-founder and CEO of Wise, one of the world’s leading money transfer services Recognized for pioneering low-cost international money transfers Featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 and other prestigious entrepreneurial lists
Kristo Käärmann is the co-founder and CEO of Wise, a company he co-founded in 2011 to revolutionize the international money transfer market. Prior to founding Wise, Kristo worked as a consultant and entrepreneur. He and his co-founder, Taavet Hinrikus, saw the inefficiencies in traditional banking and decided to create a solution that would allow people to send money internationally at a lower cost. Wise has since become one of the most successful fintech companies globally, serving millions of customers. Kristo is known for his leadership in scaling Wise, his focus on transparency, and his commitment to making financial services more accessible.
March 2025: Wise announced a partnership with major banks to allow users to transfer funds directly from their bank accounts, bypassing traditional intermediaries, with both Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus quoted in the press release.
May 2025: Taavet Hinrikus appeared in a panel at the World Economic Forum discussing the future of global payments and blockchain in financial services.
July 2025: Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus spoke about Wise's growth and their plans for expanding into emerging markets at a fintech summit in Berlin.
September 2025: Wise reached a new milestone, processing over $100 billion in international payments, with a special report from both founders highlighting their mission of financial transparency.
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