1 Reason Every Investor Should Know About Nu Holdings (NU)

Key Points

• Nu Holdings is a dominant fintech stock focused on the Latin American market.

• Its growing crypto offerings should get investors very excited about its prospects.

• 10 stocks we like better than Nu Holdings ›

Most investors still haven't heard about Nu Holdings (NYSE: NU). That's because the company operates in just three countries: Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. Despite limited awareness of it in the U.S., however, Nu dominates its local markets. More than half of all Brazilian adults are Nu customers, using its debit cards and banking services regularly.

But there's actually another factor that should make Nu a must-know name for investors everywhere: Its exposure to cryptocurrencies.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »

Nu is a crypto powerhouse

Nu is already a banking giant in Latin America. But over time, it could become a crypto giant. That's because the company is a digital-first bank. It operates no physical branches, allowing customers to access its services purely through a smartphone. That may not seem innovative today, but in 2013, when Nu first launched, it was a groundbreaking concept in Latin American markets.

A digital-first approach allowed Nu to shed costs, lower prices, and iterate new products rapidly. At the push of a button, the company could activate a new service for tens of millions of customers at once. Nu's crypto service, for example, was launched in 2022, and generated 1 million users in its first month!

Image source: Getty Images.

Since the launch of Nu's crypto service, we haven't received many updates with concrete subscriber numbers. But what we do know is that Nu has gradually added more and more options to its platform. Earlier this year, for instance, Nu added support for 11 new cryptocurrencies. Today, its customers can seamlessly exchange fiat currencies for cryptocurrencies at any time. This allows customers to easily pay with crypto at a restaurant or store -- an ability that crypto optimists have long dreamed of achieving.

Despite falling sales growth rates, Nu remains a bona fide growth stock. This year, sales are expected to grow by 35%. Next year, sales should grow by another 27%. If crypto usage takes off, we could see Nu maintain these high growth rates for years to come.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nu Holdings right now?

Before you buy stock in Nu Holdings, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nu Holdings wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $659,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,113,120!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,068% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of August 25, 2025

Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Nu Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.