“I’m not worried about the bitcoin dip”

we have with Anycoin-Founder Bram Ceelen spoke about current market events, EU crypto regulation and Anycoin’s business focus.

BTC-ECHO: You recently expanded to Austria and got hold of an FMA license there. Why is the focus on Austria?

Bram Ceelen: Right from the start, we had a focus on the German-speaking community. However, the regulations have developed a little faster than elsewhere. That’s why we had to temporarily close the German business. We therefore thought that Austria could be a very worthwhile addition to Anycoin’s value proposition. The German-speaking community will always be important to us.

BTC-ECHO: German customers cannot currently trade on your platform. When will Anycoin be released for Germans again?

Bram Ceelen: I can’t say that at the moment. However, we are working very actively to launch it in Germany as well. We hope that we will soon be able to welcome German customers to Anycoin.direct again.

“Exchanges can be very complex – especially for newcomers to space”

BTC-ECHO: You have big competition in Europe. With octopuses or Coinbase US exchanges are also flocking to the German market. Also Bitpanda occupies an ever-increasing market share in Europe. As an investor, why should I trade on Anycoin?

Bram Ceelen: Exchanges can be very complex, especially for newcomers to space. We try to make our platform more like a webshop. There is an explained step-by-step order process. We explain which wallet the customer should use or whether it makes sense to use our custody solution, the Anycoin Vault to use. We also have excellent customer service that can also answer basic questions about cryptocurrencies.

BTC-ECHO: What innovations can we expect from you? For example, will you integrate the Lightning network?

Bram Ceelen: Of course, we follow the technical developments in the sector closely. At the moment, however, I can’t say very much about concrete implementations. For example, we are working on new order types. However, we are currently focusing on regulatory progress. For example, we are aiming for different licenses to expand into other countries. We are always pleased whenever the legislature passes new regulations and we do get involved in the legislative process.

“I’m not that concerned about that, but of course we’re following [die EU-Regulierungen]”

BTC-ECHO: Let’s delve into that. Increasingly strict regulations are currently in the pipeline in the EU. Above all, the Transfer of Funds Regulation (TFR), which may imply a ban on unhosted wallets, reads very negatively for the European industry. Concerned about the state of regulation?

Bram Ceelen: I’m not that concerned about that, but of course we’re following it. It’s important for us to understand the regulator’s goal. With TFR regulation, the goal is obviously to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. Of course we support that 100 percent. We also see our role in providing input to the regulator so that this goal can also be achieved.

For example, we have developed a wallet verification system for this purpose, which has already been approved in the Netherlands and Austria. We think that even with the current TFR draft, it will still be possible to withdraw coins to one’s own wallet – but this may require more steps. But that’s all possible.

“Many investors see Bitcoin and Co. primarily as an investment”

BTC-ECHO: You recently implemented the Vault feature. Customers can have their Bitcoin stored by you. How big is the demand for such custody solutions?

Bram Ceelen: Yes, we have actually noticed a lively demand for such solutions. The user profile is already different compared to that of 2017. At that time, many investors were still interested in the technology. People wanted to know how it all works. Today we find that many investors see Bitcoin and Co. primarily as an investment. People no longer put as much effort into managing their BTC themselves. And that’s where technology is merciless: Make a mistake and your coins are gone. The demand to outsource this problem has been increasing for years.

BTC-ECHO: Let’s take a look at the current market environment. Bitcoin is currently falling quite sharply. Does this affect the volume you trade?

Bram Ceelen: As long as there is volatility, there is trading. So we are not noticing a slump in volume. I’m personally not concerned about the dip. This has happened before in the history of cryptocurrencies. In my view there is nothing to worry about in the long run, it’s the normal roller coaster ride. But this is especially true for Bitcoin. However, we are seeing more and more customers who are not aware of the risks of the smaller projects. For example, if you look at the top 50 from 2014, you will see big differences from today. In two years, the top 50 will look different again. So there will always be currencies that go under. For Bitcoin and Ethereum, however, the crypto spring will break out again – the only question is when. Currently, the high correlation to tech values ​​also plays a role. But this correlation will one day break.

BTC-ECHO: Thank you for the interview!