BitBay Rebrands to Zonda, Hires New CEO and CTO
Jakob Lundqvist, former Enterprise Architect and head of development at Bitcoin Suisse AG, has joined Zonda as Chief Technology Officer.
Jakob Lundqvist, former Enterprise Architect and head of development at Bitcoin Suisse AG, has joined Zonda as Chief Technology Officer.
Zonda Announces Jakob Lundqvist as CTO
The executive move follows the firm’s rebrand from BitBay and the appointment of chief executive Przemysław Kral last month.
Jakob Lundqvist joins Zonda from Bitcoin Suisse AG, a Swiss financial services provider offering prime brokerage, staking, storage, lending, and other crypto-financial services.
There, he was a key player in building the new system landscape for Bitcoin Suisse by adding vital architecture for various core systems.
His extensive career in software development includes several start-ups in Europe and the US, having also founded a few such as The Licensing Project, a New-York based creative licensing archive.
The new CTO will help Zonda democratize the access to digital currencies in Eastern Europe, where it is well established, but also across the globe as the firm aims for worldwide expansion. Zonda is working closely with regulatory bodies in order to build compliant infrastructure.
Przemysław Kral, Chief Executive Officer of Zonda, said: “Zonda is building a uniquely customer-centric cryptocurrency exchange with simplified tools for the next-generation of cryptocurrency users, and Jakob’s expertise is perfectly suited to creating that platform. His talent for designing best-in-class software architecture is invaluable, but it’s his passion for both the business and our shared people-first philosophy towards product design that make us so pleased to be welcoming him aboard.”
Jakob Lundqvist, the appointed Chief Technology Officer at Zonda, added: “Zonda is going through a period of rapid growth and international expansion, and I’m excited to be joining the company at such an eventful time. Zonda is known for being the largest exchange in Eastern Europe, but it’s on course to secure a far greater presence on the global stage. For me, technology is the fuel that will drive that growth. It can be a great enabler when designed with care and passion, and that’s exactly what I plan to bring to Zonda in the next chapter of its growth story.”
BitBay Becomes Zonda, New CEO Przemysław Kral
Zonda Exchange is a fully regulated crypto exchange that has been operating since 2014, formerly known as BitBay.
The firm has a license with Estonia’s Finance Intelligence Unit (FIU) and anti-money laundering procedures in place. The authorization came in Autumn 2020 following the results of an audit.
The audit, which was carried out by an independent 3rd party, examined both crypto and fiat financial assets and statements to confirm their existence and current state on user accounts.
Income, revenue, and profit were all analyzed, alongside accounting practices, and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures, to confirm the company’s solvency, security, and fiscal responsibility.
From October 2019 to December 2020, the company generated 8,849,686 EUR in net revenue, resulting in a net profit of 6,491,835 EUR after tax. Additionally, the company also has a share capital of EUR 100,000.
The newly appointed board of directors includes Przemysław Kral as CEO; Kamil Sikorski as Chief Growth Officer; and David Sendecki as CCO and Money Laundering Reporting Officer.
The new CEO, Przemysław Kral, commented on the rebranding toward expansion: “We are standing on the doorstep of the future of finance, but too few people are being invited inside. That needs to change. We need to work together as an industry, not just to explore new horizons through innovation, but to bring people from all walks of life along for the ride.
“Uncertainty, unfamiliarity and distrust are preventing the majority from making the most of digital money, and there’s so much that an exchange can do to break down those barriers. Our new ambition at Zonda will be to develop the tools, the education programmes, and the regulatory framework, that will help our customers to trade and spend confidently from a position of strength.”
Reporting by Rick Steves. Filed 16 December 2021, 08:46 GMT.
Senior Reporter, Regulation and Fintech
Rick Steves has seen business and economics through many lenses. He joined the financial services industry in 2009, and has been a financial journalist since 2011.
