Switzerland is a “tipping point” for cryptocurrency adoption in Europe and continues to be the “central point of the next stage of institutionalization,” said Dr. Dirk Klee, CEO of Bitcoin Suisse.
The CEO divulged why Switzerland remains the first place for cryptocurrencies in Europe and will continue to attract institutional investors in an exclusive Cointelegraph interview in Davos, Switzerland.
We have boots on the ground in Davos! our reporter @gazza_jenks talks to Dr. Dirk Klee, CEO of @BitcoinSuisseAG on Switzerland and the adoption of cryptocurrency in the @wef. #CTWEF23 pic.twitter.com/ka00dvWpVz
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) January 18, 2023
In a conversation with Cointelegraph reporter Gareth Jenkinson, Klee explained:
“A lot of trust has been destroyed and eroded in the last year and we want to be kind of the focal point of the next stage of institutionalization, you know, making the place more accessible, more user-friendly, but also more secure.”
Founded in 2013, Bitcoin Suisse is one of the oldest cryptocurrency and Bitcoin (BTC) companies specializing in asset storage, including “custodial solutions deep in the Swiss mountains,” Klee claimed.
Switzerland is a known safe haven for cryptocurrencies in Europe. The landlocked country is recognized for its role in starting Ethereum (ETH) and is home to Crypto Valley, a favorable environment for blockchain and cryptocurrency companies.
Switzerland also boasts the Bitcoin and crypto-friendly city of Lugano, which hosts an annual Bitcoin conference and has even onboarded McDonald’s to accept Bitcoin Lightning.
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However, even in Switzerland, confidence in cryptocurrencies took a hit in 2022, particularly in light of the FTX debacle and its contagion effects on cryptocurrencies: “It is a setback for the industry. It’s destroyed a lot of trusts and, you know, it’s left a lot of investors hurt as well,” Klee explained.
In such an environment, it is useful to remember the historical Swiss values. Switzerland remains a “safe place to do business”.
“Swiss finish, Swiss quality is a narrative and it’s a sign of quality that this industry needs because, you know, you need to have a place of trust.”
Thousands of cryptocurrency enthusiasts have flocked to the cryptocurrency and blockchain events at the World Economic Forum. Hosted at the Alpine headquarters in the Davos ski resort, it seems the general bear market hasn’t fazed the Swiss allure.
