BTCX turns teenager – 13 years of Bitcoin in Sweden!

On January 24, 2012, BTCX was launched as Western Europe’s first Bitcoin trading platform. At that time, there was only one cryptocurrency – Bitcoin – and the company was entirely focused on it. Bitcoin was then an unknown and niche technology, embraced by a small group of enthusiasts and visionaries.

Now, 13 years later, Bitcoin has grown into a global force, and BTCX has been part of the journey almost from the very beginning. To celebrate BTCX’s anniversary, we spoke with Christian Ander, founder and CEO of BTCX, about the early days, the biggest lessons learned, and his vision for the future. Join us as we look back on an incredible journey.

“Bitcoin was going to change everything – but I underestimated the resistance”

What inspired you to start BTCX 13 years ago? Christian Ander recalls a time filled with both opportunities and challenges:

When I stumbled upon Bitcoin in the spring of 2011, I immediately realized that this would change everything. A monetary system without banks, without borders, without central control – a digital freedom movement. But there was one big problem: it was almost impossible to get Bitcoin. I started BTCX to make it easier for Swedes to buy and use Bitcoin.

But the road ahead was far from easy.

I thought Bitcoin would quickly become a recognized part of the economy, but I underestimated how hard the financial system would fight back. We’ve seen it all – from bans and regulatory battles to institutional adoption and national strategies. Fidelity in the U.S. was an early adopter, and now a Japanese pension fund is considering saving in Bitcoin. Even the U.S. President is discussing a Bitcoin reserve.

One thing that has truly surprised him is Sweden’s stance: “What has surprised me the most is that Sweden really stands out as one of the most critical countries in the world”.

“We’ve seen many players come and go, but BTCX stands strong”

Running a Bitcoin company for over a decade has surely brought its share of challenges and triumphs. What lessons has Christian learned along the way?

If I could give one piece of advice to my 2012 self, it would be: Have patience and be ready to fight. When we started BTCX, there were no guidelines, no regulations, and no understanding from banks or authorities. We had to fight for every small step forward, and I wish I had known how strongly the traditional financial system would resist Bitcoin.

He adds: “Another important lesson? The value of having a strong team and never compromising on security. We’ve seen so many players come and go, but BTCX remains – built to survive, evolve, and continue driving Bitcoin forward.”.

“2037: We Won’t Even Debate Whether It’s Money or Not”

What does the future hold for BTCX and Bitcoin? Christian looks ahead to 2037 with optimism:

I believe that by 2037, Bitcoin will be as obvious as the internet is today. We won’t even debate whether it’s money or not – it will simply be part of the infrastructure. Many central bank currencies will have lost public trust, and people will turn to Bitcoin to preserve their purchasing power.

For BTCX, he envisions a continued leadership role: “We will remain a leading player in the Nordics, but also on a global scale. We will continue building on our vision to be a bridge between the traditional financial system and the decentralized economy. Looking back at the past 13 years and all that has happened, we can only imagine how much will change in the next 13 years.”

Christian concludes with a smile: “By then, BTCX will be as natural a part of Sweden’s financial system as any major bank is today. That’s something we’re looking forward to!”