8 Years of Leadership in Crypto Payments: Interview with Swapin CEO

Crypto payments have evolved significantly over the last decade, and few have had a front-row seat to this like Evald-Hannes Kree, CEO of Swapin. This year marks his 8th year leading the company, a journey filled with innovation, strategic pivots, and a commitment to simplifying crypto payments for businesses and individuals.

In this exclusive interview, we discuss Swapin’s growth, market trends, leadership insights, and the future of crypto payments.

Company Growth & Strategy

Q: 8 years is a long time in the crypto industry. How has Swapin evolved over this time?

Evald-Hannes: Crypto has changed immensely in the last 8 years. The industry today is completely different from when we started. Customer expectations, transaction types, and the role of crypto in everyday financial activities have all evolved. At Swapin, we’ve grown alongside these changes, ensuring businesses and individuals have access to simple, secure, and efficient crypto payment solutions.

Q: Swapin recently shifted its focus toward B2B solutions. What led to this decision?

Evald-Hannes: A few years ago, many predicted that crypto mass adoption among consumers would happen quickly, but the reality has been different. Businesses have become the biggest adopters of crypto payments – especially those that face challenges with traditional banking. Our main focus is now on B2B solutions because we are closely aligning with our clients’ needs.

Q: Which industries are driving this growth of crypto payments?

Evald-Hannes: More and more businesses are interested in accepting crypto payments securely and efficiently. The demand is coming from various industries, but some stand out, like real estate, luxury goods and services, and travel.

Q: What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned in 8 years of running a crypto payments company?

Evald-Hannes: Building a crypto payments company is far more complex than it might seem on paper. Everything takes longer than expected, especially when working within regulatory frameworks and financial licensing requirements. One of the critical aspects in this space is compliance, and ensuring that our solutions meet the highest security and regulatory standards has been a key focus for Swapin.

Q: What sets Swapin apart from other crypto payment providers?

Evald-Hannes: Many crypto payment providers focus on businesses and clients that already understand the crypto industry and how it works. Swapin is different because we make it accessible and easy for any business, even those with no prior crypto experience or knowledge. We help businesses accept crypto and receive the full invoiced amount in EUR directly in the bank account, without any complex integrations or technical knowledge. We make crypto payments as simple as traditional banking.

Leadership & Swapin Team

Q: Leading a crypto payments company isn’t easy. What leadership principles guide you?

Evald-Hannes: My principle is simple: put the customer first. Every decision we make is about solving real pain points for businesses and helping them. The best validation we get is when new clients come through recommendations from existing satisfied clients.

Q: How do you keep your team motivated, especially during volatile market conditions?

Evald-Hannes: We have a small, but very dedicated team with a strong internal culture. Everyone is involved in Swapin’s growth and success. We share both the challenges and wins as a team, and that keeps the team motivated.

Crypto Payments & Market Trends

Q: Crypto payments have grown significantly in recent years. What are the main drivers behind this?

Evald-Hannes: One of the biggest factors is awareness. As businesses see competitors accepting crypto, they start exploring it themselves. Positive word-of-mouth from satisfied businesses also encourages more businesses to adopt crypto payments. Additionally, customer demand is increasing – people want to pay in crypto, and businesses are now responding to that demand.

Q: Many businesses still hesitate to accept crypto. What are the biggest misconceptions?

Evald-Hannes: They’re not misconceptions – crypto is new, and businesses are right to be cautious. The main concerns they worry about are:

• Volatility – Businesses don’t want to hold crypto that can fluctuate in value
• Accounting & Compliance – Managing crypto transactions can be complex and very technical
• Liquidity Risks – They worry about converting crypto to fiat efficiently

But, the good thing is that Swapin eliminates these risks – businesses receive 100% of their invoiced amount directly in EUR, without having to handle crypto themselves or deal with accounting headaches. Once they understand this, the hesitation disappears.

Q: What payment trends should businesses pay attention to in 2025 and beyond?

Evald-Hannes: One key trend is the rise of stablecoins in global commerce. More businesses will start using stablecoins for international trade and settlements. As regulations evolve, we will likely see more mainstream adoption of stablecoin payments.

Vision for Swapin & the Future

Q: What’s your vision for Swapin over the next 5 years?

Evald-Hannes: We want to make our solutions even more professional and localized for different markets. Offer customer support and services tailored to each country and its language. Expand support for more currencies and banking networks across Europe.

Q: What would you say to businesses still undecided about crypto payments?

Evald-Hannes: Some crypto enthusiasts would say, “The train has already left the station.” But I disagree. I believe the real opportunity is just beginning. Businesses that start accepting crypto now will be ahead of the curve as adoption grows in the coming years.

Q: If we have this conversation again in another 8 years, what do you hope Swapin will have achieved?

Evald-Hannes: I hope that by then, we’ve helped thousands of businesses successfully integrate crypto payments into their operations. Our mission is to make crypto payments simple, accessible, and widely used in everyday business – and I believe we’re well on our way to achieving that.

Final Thoughts

Evald-Hannes Kree’s leadership has guided Swapin through 8 years of growth, challenges, and adaptation in the crypto payments industry. With a clear focus on B2B, user-friendly solutions, and solving real business needs, Swapin is positioning itself as a leader in the crypto payments space in the years to come.

Want to integrate crypto payments into your business?

Book a consultation with our team today!