Wallester has officially opened its new headquarters in Tallinn’s Golden Gate building, marking a strategic milestone in the company’s rapid expansion. Since its founding in 2016, Wallester has scaled from a local startup into a leading European fintech and licensed Visa Principal Member, providing businesses across the EEA and the UK with card-issuing platforms, real-time expense management, and embedded finance solutions. The relocation reflects both the growth of its flagship platforms – Wallester White-Label and Wallester Business – and its ambition to consolidate Tallinn as a hub for innovation while serving a global client base.
The new headquarters strengthens Wallester’s ability to capture opportunities in the fast-growing European payments market. Modern payment infrastructure is in high demand as businesses seek scalable, programmable financial solutions. By expanding its workspace and team, Wallester positions itself to accelerate product development, increase card issuance volumes, and support enterprise clients building embedded finance capabilities. The expansion also underlines Estonia’s role as a fintech hub, showcasing how local talent can power solutions at European and global scale.
A Gala Evening That Showcased What Wallester Has Become
The HQ launch was marked by a professional gala attended by partners, clients, and industry leaders. While the evening celebrated the milestone, the focus remained on Wallester’s growth story and business trajectory. Executive chef Erik Prosvirin and world champion oyster shucker Anti Leppik provided curated culinary experiences, creating an engaging yet professional reception.
Speeches highlighted Wallester’s performance, market strategy, and ecosystem partnerships. Sergei Astafjev, Co-Founder and CEO, underlined the strategic importance of the new office:
“The Golden Gate headquarters is a base for scaling our platforms, expanding our international client reach, and accelerating product innovation. It reflects Wallester’s growth trajectory and our commitment to delivering best-in-class payment infrastructure from Estonia to the wider European market.”
Juris Paegle, Country Manager Baltics at Visa, also addressed the audience, emphasizing the strength of Visa’s partnership with Wallester and the critical role of modern issuing platforms in driving European payments innovation.
Wil Tham, Head of Commercial Segment, EMEA North at Amazon Web Services, reflected on the collaboration between AWS and Wallester, highlighting the company’s technical strength, customer focus, and rapid European expansion.
The celebration continued with a live pavlova presentation at 19:00 – a theatrical highlight that had guests gathering around the chefs’ table – before the evening shifted into a relaxed lounge setting. Groups explored the new workspace, reconnected with the team, and enjoyed a night that perfectly captured Wallester’s culture: ambitious, collaborative, warm, and deeply rooted in Estonia’s fintech landscape.
A New Workplace for Product-Driven Growth
Over the past year, the European payments landscape has shifted rapidly. Regulatory expectations have tightened, digital-first financial services have widened their reach, and businesses have raised their standards for transparency, real-time control, and operational efficiency. This environment has amplified the need for reliable, compliant, and scalable payment infrastructure—particularly for companies managing distributed teams, diverse revenue streams, and cross-border operations. Wallester’s role in this space has become increasingly relevant as organisations reassess how they handle expenses, issue cards, and streamline financial workflows.
The Golden Gate office was designed to support Wallester’s business priorities: sustainability, collaboration, and innovation. The workspace includes modern meeting facilities, open creative zones, and engineering-friendly areas, aligning directly with the growth of Wallester White-Label and Wallester Business.
The expansion enables the team to increase capacity across engineering, product, compliance, and operations. Wallester now employs over 200 people, with 156 in Estonia, and offices in Latvia, France, and the United Kingdom, reflecting a truly international footprint. The company is actively recruiting, with 34 positions currently open to support ongoing product development, card issuance, and customer expansion.
A Year of Recognition – and Rising Expectations
The new headquarters opens at a moment of strong performance across the business.
In 2024, Wallester recorded €17.2 million in audited revenue, achieving 87% year-over-year growth, and remains on track to exceed these results in 2025.
The company has also received several major industry awards, including:
- FT1000 Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies — 1st in Estonia, 7th in Fintech across Europe
- Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe 2025 – 6th place
- Baltic Fintech Awards 2025 — Fintech Growth Story of the Year
- PayTech Awards — Best Spend Management System
- Europe Fintech Awards — Fintech of the Year
Taken together, these achievements underscore what the new headquarters symbolises: Wallester’s transition from a high-growth startup to a sustainable, long-term leader in European payment infrastructure.
Contributing to Estonia’s Digital Future
Wallester’s expansion goes beyond business metrics. The company continues to play a meaningful role in Estonia’s digital economy by creating jobs, driving technological development, and collaborating with institutions such as Holm Bank, Placet Group, Visa, Amazon Web Services, the Estonian Investment Agency (EIS), e-Residency, and Finance Estonia.
Wallester also supports community and youth initiatives, including the Naerata Ometi NGO, athlete Emili Nurk, and the Vortex Volleyball Team – reinforcing its commitment to Estonia not only as a headquarters location but as a home.
Outlook and Strategic Focus for 2026
The Golden Gate headquarters is a platform for Wallester’s next phase of growth. In 2026, the company will focus on:
- Scaling White-Label and Wallester Business platforms to meet increasing enterprise demand.
- Expanding card issuance and transaction volumes across Europe.
- Strengthening international teams to support product innovation and client success.
- Enhancing strategic partnerships with Visa, AWS, and local financial institutions to drive embedded finance adoption.
- Launching key new features that will drive business growth and support customer needs.
The office embodies Wallester’s commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and international expansion, positioning the company to consolidate its leadership in the European fintech landscape.
