She turned a $3,000 Bitcoin curiosity into one of New Zealand’s biggest crypto exits.Meet Janine, founder and CEO of Easy Crypto, who successfully navigated the turbulent crypto market—overcoming regulation hurdles, market crashes, and intense skepticism—to build and exit one of New Zealand's most notable crypto startups.
From early challenges of securing banking relationships to eventually selling to Australia's SwiftX, Janine candidly shares the rollercoaster journey, valuable insights into fintech innovation, and the future of digital currencies.
In this episode, you'll hear surprising truths about running a crypto business, why banks initially turned her away, and how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reshaped crypto adoption. Plus, discover Janine's bold predictions on stablecoins, digital currencies, and the future of decentralized finance.
Key Topics:
💰 Building and Exiting a Crypto Startup
⚖️ Navigating Regulation and Banking Challenges
📉 Surviving Crypto Market Volatility
🌍 International Expansion & Mergers
🔗 Why Stablecoins Matter
🚨 Avoiding Crypto Scams
💡 Future of Crypto & Blockchain
🤝 Power of Networks in Entrepreneurship
🚀 Resilience & Lessons for Startup Founders
🌐 Crypto Adoption & Global Trends
🤝 Connect with Janine:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-grainger/
Easy Crypto: http://easycrypto.com/
🔗 Learn more about NZVC:Website:
https://www.nzvc.co.nz
Mark Pavlyukovskyy - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/
Hendrik Remigereau - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction & Easy Crypto Exit
02:12 - Overcoming Crypto Market Crashes
03:14 - What Easy Crypto Actually Does
05:11 - Early Customers & Product Evolution
09:40 - Janine’s Personal Crypto Journey
11:17 - Navigating Crypto Volatility
19:12 - Regulatory and Banking Challenges
28:30 - Launching NZ Dollar Stablecoin
38:10 - Early Career & Path to Crypto
41:10 - Starting a Crypto Business While at a Bank
46:42 - Decision to Go Full-Time on Easy Crypto
48:51 - Fundraising Insights & Challenges
51:45 - What's Next After the Exit?
53:03 - Industries Janine is Excited About
54:13 - Lessons for Startup Founders
55:48 - Building a Startup in New Zealand
57:39 - Global Trends in Crypto Adoption
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