Business

Sequans Communications unleashes the phenomenal gains of 4G and 5G chips

Published

5 years ago

July 9, 2021

Business models widely embrace IoT connectivity’s emerging concept (Internet of Things) to achieve flexible and agile connectivity to meet network performances required for devices’ efficient performances.

The technology of broadband networks has bought a radical improvement in connectivity and has constructively contracted the distances between two far-off users. In telecommunications, broadband is wide bandwidth data transmission that transports multiple signals and traffic types. There has been extensive work and development done for the efficient working of the broadband network. The novel innovation of 4G and 5G chips and modules aids in the working of the broadband system. These wireless chips are designed sophistically and encompass a microprocessor that provides the logic for sending and receiving data (including voice and video) on a telecommunications network. As a result, additional devices are not needed for these functions.

The ‘G’ in 4G and 5G stands for generation. These latest models chip are avant-garde and acquire complex yet high-tech systems to ease communication and make the process faster. They are a mode of electronic highway and succors to provide fast, uninterrupted, and streamlined internet supply. After manufacturing, these chips are delivered to IoT companies who use these chips in applications and devices to provide efficient and powerful cellular networks to their customers and users.

These a la mode chips can be used in various devices, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and other applications requiring fast and efficient internet access.

Ian Fogg from OpenSignal, a mobile data analytics company, articulates,

“Whatever we do now with our smartphones, we’ll be able to do faster and better. Think of smart glasses featuring augmented reality, mobile virtual reality, much higher quality video, the internet of things making cities smarter. But what’s really exciting is all the new services that will be built that we can’t foresee.”

The gains of these ultra-modern network chips are colossal. This wireless innovation reduces Wire Routing Congestion. Arteris network-on-chip interconnects fabric technology significantly reduces the number of wires required to route data in an SoC, reducing routing congestion at the backend of the design process. The distributed architecture of the Arteris network on chip interconnect fabrics allows for precise placement of pipelines (aka “register slices”) to efficiently resolve timing closure issues without affecting other areas of the chip.

Further, network chips acquire higher networking frequencies which simplify the hardware required for switching and routing functions. This thereby allows SoCs with chips to interconnect fabrics to reach higher operating frequencies. Moreover, chip technology makes it easy to swap IP blocks to create derivative chips or to respond quickly to engineering change orders (ECOs) during developments.

It eliminates the need for archaic routers and saves prodigious time, thereby excelling efficiency and productivity. It contributes to higher computer performance. The invention of 4G and 5G chips are transforming and highly developing the telecommunication industry. They are revolutionizing the networking industry and growing it at a fast pace.

Based in Paris, France, Sequans Communications plays an imminent role in providing constructive services to companies to enhance their networking and telecommunication. This is a fabless semiconductor company, a developer and provider of cellular IoT connectivity solutions, including chips, modules, and development platforms. They sell their chips and modules to cellular IoT device makers, ODMs, and OEMs directly and via key distributors.

Comprising a colossal experience of 17 years, Sequans is a phenomenal company that is providing 4G and 5G. Listed below are some of their high-tech chips;

Monarch 2 LTE Cat M1/NB1/NB2
Monarch N LTE Cat NB1/NB2
Monarch LTE Cat M1/NB1/NB2
Calliope 2 LTE Cat 1
Calliope LTE Cat 1
Colibri LTE Cat 4
Cassiopeia LTE Cat 4/6

Their module partners include Renesas, Telit, Thales, Skyworks. Platform partners include Microchip, Renesas, NXP, Kigen (ARM). Distribution partners include Digi-Key, Avnet, Richardson RFPD, and Mouser Electronics.

The rip-roaring company comprises an efficient team including CEO Georges Karam and CFO Deborah Choate. Their CEO articulates,

“In designing Monarch 2 GM02S, we have painstakingly refined every key feature of our original Monarch GM01Q module to deliver the world’s most advanced cellular IoT connectivity solution available today. The new Monarch 2 GM02S has been designed for the highest possible efficiency and lowest cost at every level—from chip to module—with no compromise on performance. This is evident in the module’s ultra-low power consumption and its advanced features that no other competing module in the industry provides.”

Business

Inside the $4.3B Quarter: What’s Fueling Black Banx’s Record Revenues

Published

4 weeks ago

January 16, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Every quarter brings fresh headlines in fintech, but few make the kind of impact achieved by Black Banx in Q2 2025. The Toronto-based global digital banking group, founded by Michael Gastauer, reported an extraordinary USD 4.3 billion in revenue and a record USD 1.6 billion in pre-tax profit, while improving its cost-to-income ratio to 63%.

These results not only highlight the company’s operational efficiency but also mark a pivotal moment in its journey from challenger to global leader. The big question is: what’s fueling such impressive financial performance?

Customer Growth as the Core Driver

One of the clearest engines of revenue growth is Black Banx’s expanding customer base. By Q2 2025, the platform had reached 84 million clients worldwide, up from 69 million at the end of 2024. This 15 million net gain in six months demonstrates both the attractiveness of its services and the scalability of its model.

Unlike traditional banks, which rely heavily on branch expansion, Black Banx leverages digital-first onboarding that allows customers to open accounts within minutes using just a smartphone. This approach is especially effective in regions underserved by legacy institutions, where access to affordable financial tools is in high demand.

More customers don’t just mean higher transaction volumes—they generate a compounding effect where network size, brand trust, and service adoption reinforce one another.

Real-Time Payments and Cross-Border Solutions

A major contributor to Q2 revenues is the platform’s real-time payments infrastructure. Black Banx enables instant cross-border transfers across its 28 supported fiat currencies and multiple cryptocurrencies, helping both individuals and businesses bypass the traditional bottlenecks of international banking.

For freelancers, SMEs, and multinational clients, this means faster liquidity, reduced foreign exchange costs, and simplified global operations. The demand for real-time financial services is growing rapidly—Juniper Research projects global real-time payments turnover to hit USD 58 trillion by 2028—and Black Banx is strategically positioned to capture a significant share of this market.

Crypto Integration as a Revenue Stream

Another key revenue driver is crypto integration. While many traditional institutions remain hesitant, Black Banx embraced digital assets early and has built infrastructure to support Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the Lightning Network. In Q2 2025, 20% of all transactions on the platform were crypto-based, reflecting strong customer appetite for hybrid banking services that bridge fiat and digital assets.

Revenue comes not only from transaction fees but also from value-added services like crypto-to-fiat conversion, staking yields (4–12% APY), and blockchain-enabled payments. For customers in markets with unstable currencies, these services act as a financial lifeline, further expanding the platform’s relevance.

AI-Powered Efficiency and Risk Management

Record revenues would be less impressive if costs ballooned at the same rate. But Black Banx has proven adept at balancing growth with efficiency. Its cost-to-income ratio improved to 63% in Q2, down from 69% a year earlier, thanks to heavy reliance on AI-powered automation.

AI now drives fraud detection, compliance, and customer onboarding—areas where traditional banks often struggle with cost inefficiencies. By automating these processes, Black Banx can process millions of transactions securely while maintaining profitability at scale. This level of efficiency is rare in fintech, where high growth often comes at the expense of margins.

Regional Expansion and Untapped Markets

Geography also plays a role in fueling revenues. Much of the Q2 growth came from Africa, South Asia, and Latin America—regions where demand for mobile-first banking continues to soar. In 2024 alone, Black Banx reported a 32% increase in SME clients from the Middle East and Africa, signaling the strength of its positioning in underserved markets.

By extending services to populations previously excluded from formal banking—migrant workers, rural communities, and small businesses—Black Banx taps into vast pools of latent demand. The strategy proves that financial inclusion and profitability are not mutually exclusive but mutually reinforcing.

Diversified Revenue Streams

Another factor behind Q2’s record revenues is Black Banx’s diversified business model. Income is not tied to a single service but spread across multiple streams, including:

Transaction fees from cross-border transfers and payments.
Crypto trading and exchange services.
Premium account features for high-net-worth clients.
Corporate services for SMEs and international businesses.

This diversification insulates the company against volatility in any single segment, creating stable revenue growth even in shifting market conditions.

Michael Gastauer’s Strategic Blueprint

Behind these results is Michael Gastauer’s long-term strategy: scale aggressively but with efficiency, innovation, and inclusion at the core. His vision has always been to create a borderless financial ecosystem, and Q2 2025’s performance is evidence that this vision is not only achievable but sustainable.

By balancing mass-market accessibility with premium features, and by blending fiat with digital assets, Gastauer has positioned Black Banx as a category-defining player in global finance.

The Road Ahead: Toward 100 Million Clients

Looking forward, the company’s goal of reaching 100 million customers by the end of 2025 will likely be the next catalyst for revenue growth. More customers mean more transactions, more data insights, and more opportunities to refine and expand its service offering.

If current momentum holds, the USD 4.3 billion quarterly revenue milestone could be just the beginning of an even larger growth story. The challenge will be ensuring systems scale securely while maintaining trust in an environment where privacy and compliance are paramount.

A Record That Signals More to Come

Black Banx’s Q2 2025 performance—USD 4.3 billion in revenue, USD 1.6 billion in pre-tax profit, 84 million clients worldwide, and a lean 63% cost-to-income ratio—is more than a financial milestone. It is a signal of how the future of banking is being rewritten by platforms that are borderless, crypto-inclusive, and data-driven.

What fueled this record-breaking quarter is not one innovation but a combination of strategies—scalable onboarding, real-time payments, crypto integration, AI efficiency, and expansion into underserved regions. Together, they form a model that doesn’t just challenge traditional banking but actively builds the foundation for global dominance.

For Black Banx, the road ahead is clear: the $4.3 billion quarter is not an endpoint but a launchpad for even greater scale and profitability.