“Think beyond product. Careers are built on solving real user problems, not just launching new features. Whether you’re an engineer, marketer, or strategist, anchor your thinking in the challenges of everyday users, retail investors, advisors, and business owners who are trying to preserve and grow their wealth responsibly.”- Peter Curk.

We are excited to welcome Peter Curk, Chief@ ICONOMI. We hear their executive leadership story in their own words, their successes, their challenges and their insights. Let’s begin…

Let’s start by getting to know you. Can you tell us a little about yourself, your
background, and what you do today?

Whenever I’m asked this question, I always describe myself as a father first and foremost. Of course, I’m also a passionate entrepreneur, with a whole range of personal interests, including reading and Moto Guzzi driving, but my family will always be my priority.

Professionally, I am the CEO of the crypto portfolio management platform, ICONOMI, which launched in 2016. Having worked in various areas of fintech and customer care–Deloitte, Dia Vit, Big Bang – it became clear to me (and ICONOMI’s founders, Tim and Jani) that there was a disconnect between the crypto space and what the vast majority of would-be investors wanted. Our role at ICONOMI is to try and bridge that gap.

What does ICONOMI do? Who do you serve, where are you based, and how can people engage with your product or service today?

ICONOMI is a platform built to simplify crypto-asset investing for both individuals and businesses. Our mission is to make crypto investment easy and accessible, even for those with no prior experience. At the same time, we take a regulation-first approach, prioritising strong infrastructure and user protection at every step.

We’re based in the UK and we’re in the process of applying for MiCA registration, so we can extend our customer base into the EU. Anyone interested can find us online:
https://www.iconomi.com/

What is your mission, and which values shape your decision-making as a leader?

Our mission is to help people invest and manage their crypto investments without needing to be experts. Digital asset investments and management shouldn’t be complicated. There has always been this almost snobbery in the crypto space.

It began as an ‘alternative’ investment model, which is what makes it so appealing. But when you try to exclude people simply because they lack the technical know-how, you don’t just discriminate against would-be investors, you limit your business model. So, our overarching mission is to make crypto investment simple, secure, and transparent for retail and institutional users.

Our mission really reflects my personal values. For me, transparency and honesty are everything. They guide the majority of my decisions. If we can’t achieve something openly and honestly, then we probably shouldn’t try to achieve it.

What sets your approach or product apart from others in your space?

I think what makes ICONOMI different from other crypto platforms is our drive to simplify the investment and management processes for our customers. We’re not just here to encourage investment – we’re here to educate and support.

Our Copy-trading feature, for example, is designed to help users mirror the trades of experienced asset managers automatically because crypto investing can be really daunting and confusing in the early days. There’s so much to learn, and mistakes are easily made. Copy Trading removes some of that complexity while allowing users to learn and benefit from expert strategies they’re unlikely to have discovered alone.

Our commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance is, I think, also unusual in the crypto space at this time. With regulation finding its way into the space, that’s going to change pretty soon, but for now, I’m happy to view ICONOMI as a leader in this area.

How long have you been operating, and what key milestones or moments of pride stand out so far?

ICONOMI launched in 2016. In that time, ICONOMI has grown from a simple investment platform to something much more sophisticated. We’ve expanded ICONOMI’s asset offerings, improved security features, enhanced its regulatory framework, and introduced business solutions. Each of those things represent a milestone and a moment of pride. We’re all enormously proud of what ICONOMI has achieved so far, but we’re equally excited about what we can do in the future.

What trends, behaviours or shifts are you seeing in your industry that others might not be talking about yet?

We’re seeing a silent but significant shift: crypto is slowly being absorbed into traditional wealth management through infrastructure. While headlines still focus on ETFs or memecoins, the real transformation is happening quietly in the background. Independent financial advisors, family offices, and even SMEs are starting to treat crypto like any other asset class; something to allocate, track, report on, and manage with compliance in mind. But the tools to do that at scale, especially in Europe, haven’t kept up. Most platforms either target degens or institutional whales, leaving a wide gap in the middle.

What we’re seeing and building for is the rise of the crypto middle class. Professionals who want diversified exposure, automation, and security without managing wallets or understanding DeFi intricacies. They don’t want to trade. They want to invest. This shift is being accelerated by regulatory clarity in Europe (MiCA), which is pushing crypto into the hands of advisors and accountants, not just early adopters.

From your experience, what are the biggest opportunities and challenges for businesses in your sector right now? If someone wants to try your product, collaborate or invest, what is the best next step?

The biggest opportunity right now is regulatory clarity, especially in Europe. With MiCA in effect, crypto is finally being pulled into the financial mainstream. For businesses that are ready, this isn’t a threat; it’s a moment to lead. Advisors, asset managers, and fintech platforms that adopt crypto services early in a compliant, user-friendly way can tap into a rapidly growing client demand without having to build infrastructure from scratch.

But this is also where the challenge lies. Most traditional firms don’t have the internal capacity to offer crypto services. The learning curve, custody requirements, reporting obligations, and compliance fears create too much friction. Many are still sitting on the sidelines, watching.

That’s where ICONOMI comes in. We offer a plug-and-play platform that lets professionals manage crypto for their clients, with secure custody, built-in compliance, and full portfolio management tools. It’s a crypto infrastructure as a service.

If you’re an advisor, fund, or fintech company looking to offer crypto to clients, the best next step is simple: Book a demo with our team. We’ll walk you through the platform, help you assess fit, and show how fast you can go live. For individuals curious about ICONOMI, just download the app or sign up online. You can invest in curated crypto strategies in minutes, and no prior experience is needed.

Looking three to five years ahead, how do you see AI or emerging technology changing your industry? How are you preparing for that future?

Right now, AI is being used very poorly for portfolio management, but I don’t think it will be too long before it will be able to provide highly detailed, bespoke advice for investors. At ICONOMI, we’re already looking into AI-powered tutoring/mentorship for our customers. It holds enormous potential, both for them and us as a business. 

I also think there’s significant scope for AI to play a part in supporting regulatory compliance within the crypto space. Something which, again, could support both investors and crypto companies alike. Overall, I think this could be a very good thing for the sector.  

For anyone looking to break into your industry or progress in their career, what advice would you give?

Our industry isn’t just about technology or markets but about connecting systems, people, and standards that weren’t designed to work together.

My advice?

Speak both languages. Understanding both traditional finance and crypto is no longer optional; it’s essential. At ICONOMI, we look for people who can explain a smart contract to a portfolio manager and outline FCA requirements to a strategist. Bridging those worlds is where the real value lies.

Get compliance-literate. This industry rewards bold ideas, but only those that play by the rules. If you want to build something lasting, study the regulatory frameworks. 

Think beyond product. Careers are built on solving real user problems, not just launching new features. Whether you’re an engineer, marketer, or strategist, anchor your thinking in the challenges of everyday users, retail investors, advisors, and business owners who are trying to preserve and grow their wealth responsibly.

Lastly, move fast, but don’t skip the hard parts, go deep on fundamentals, ask uncomfortable questions, and challenge passive thinking.

What three tools make your business run better, and why are they essential to your daily success?

• ICONOMI itself. We use our own platform every day. It’s more than dogfooding. It gives us first-hand insight into the user experience. Whether it’s testing new features, tracking strategy performance, or managing portfolios, being active users ourselves keeps us connected to the product and our community. It also fuels faster feedback loops and better decisions.
• ClickUp. This is our team’s brain. From strategy docs to product roadmaps to internal onboarding, it’s where alignment happens. In a regulated and fast-moving space like crypto, clarity and documentation are non-negotiable. ClickUp gives us structure without slowing us down.
• Slack. It powers our internal coordination across teams, especially crucial as we operate across jurisdictions and time zones.

Each of these tools helps us stay agile, compliant, and user-focused, which is the trifecta in this industry

To wrap up our Chief@ questions… We believe great leadership advice can spark the next generation of leaders. What’s the one piece of advice you’d give someone aspiring to start or lead a business, and why?”

There are a couple of different things I’d say to anyone looking to start a new business. The first is that starting a new business is hard. Especially in finance. If you’re going to navigate your space, you have to have a strong strategy to start with. But you also need a willingness to adapt. Things won’t always go your way, so resilience and a willingness to change are essential if you’re going to survive. 

Equally, it’s important to surround yourself with the right people. It sounds ruthless, but I always use the phrase, ‘hire slow, fire fast.’ If someone is the wrong fit, you can’t afford to let them destroy the dynamic of your business. While the right people can give you and your business the competencies, insights, and dedication you didn’t even know you needed to move to the next phase of development. 

“Thank you Peter, it has been great learning more about your leadership story and ICONOMI.”

To learn more about ICONOMI, Visit: ICONOMI

Company LinkedIn Page: ICONOMI

Company YouTube Page: ICONOMI

Company X/Twitter Page: x.com/iconomicom

Want to connect with Peter? Check out their Social Media Profile  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petercurk/