CEO Spotlight: 2025 – Laying the Foundations for Europe’s Bitcoin Future

For me personally—and for 21bitcoin as a company—2025 was a year that was defining in many respects. Not because we achieved isolated milestones, but because we demonstrated that strategic clarity, regulatory foresight, and technological excellence can be successfully combined.

A central milestone was obtaining the MiCAR CASP license in Austria. This license is far more than a mere formal prerequisite for doing business. It confirms that our business model, our governance structures, and our technical processes meet the highest standards. At the same time, it sends a clear signal to the market: Bitcoin can and should be approached professionally, transparently, and with a long-term perspective in Europe.

In parallel, we made targeted investments in expanding our team. With now over 30 highly qualified employees in Salzburg, Vienna, Munich, and remote, we have created structures that enable further growth—without compromising on quality or focus. Being named the No. 1 Start-up in Austria was a valuable confirmation of our work in this regard.

Technologically, 2025 was also a decisive year. We laid the groundwork for the most technically flexible and reliable Bitcoin platform in the DACH region. Our priority was not short-term feature optimization, but rather a robust, scalable infrastructure that meets regulatory requirements just as effectively as the expectations of demanding users.

A strategic step forward was the launch of our project: "Bitcoin as Loan Collateral," in collaboration with Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Bayern Mitte and Sopra Financial Technology. This project exemplifies our approach to integrating Bitcoin into existing financial structures—not as an adversary, but as a technologically superior complement. We see significant potential for new, regulated financial products in the European market here.

The trust of our customers confirms this course. Over 100,000 users now rely on 21bitcoin. November 2025, the strongest month in our company's history, underscores that our business model is not only viable but operationally scalable.

Additionally, in 2025, we were able to launch several unique collaborations and solidify long-term cooperation with close partners. These partnerships strengthen not only our visibility but, above all, our substantive positioning within the European Bitcoin ecosystem.

A significant part of this success is based on our outstanding team, our amazing community, and strong partners. My express thanks go in particular to EY Law Austria – Pelzmann Gall Größ Rechtsanwälte GmbH, Martin Hanzl, Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Bayern Mitte eG, Sopra Financial Technology GmbH, Blocktrainer, Nicole Nowak, Marc Guilliard, FC Red Bull Salzburg, the Electric Love Festival, as well as all other companions who share our vision and actively help shape it.

Looking ahead:

‍I am convinced that 2026 will be the strongest year yet for 21bitcoin—and a pivotal year for Bitcoin adoption in Europe overall. The foundations have been laid: regulatorily, technologically, and organizationally.

This is just the beginning.