3. Guido Buehler
The co-founder and CEO of Seba Crypto has one big advantage over traditional banks like Maerki Baumann: Buehler has a clean slate to design a new, streamlined banking platform without any legacy systems. According to the veteran banker, it cost Seba «just» $30 million to build it (the bank and 60 employees recently clinched approval from Switzerland's regulator).
And nevertheless, building a bank from scratch in a nascent market is beset with risks, and the $100 initial funding isn't nearly enough to establish Seba Crypto in the finance scene. The trend towards decentralized finance will continuously shift the breadth and depth of products and services banks can offer, according to Buehler.
His recipe? Slim, agile structures to remain flexible – and more confidence by firms and bankers alike to address the changes that a decentralized future will bring.
4. Niklas Nikolajsen
The Bitcoin Suisse head doesn't have any of the problems that Zwahlen and Maerki Baumann do in winning new business. «Clients have always found their way to us,» the Swiss-based crypto pioneer said. Founded in 2013, the token broker hasn't had any competition in Switzerland until very recently. Change is part of the game, according to Nikolajsen. «We've been disrupted many times in the last few years. Technology moves at a very fast pace.»
Services become decentralized and business models die, but Nikolajsen is certain that «people will always need expertise.» Bitcoin Suisse's next chapter is transforming from a crypto provider firm into a fully licensed and stock-listed crypto bank.
The «bitcoin evangelist» admits he doesn't have it all figured out, and welcomes competition from Switzerland's newly-licensed banks Seba and Sygnum. «I can learn a lot from them.»
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