FintekNews is pleased to bring you #BlockchainProfiles – featuring thought leaders within the blockchain and digital currency space. For the next feature in this series, we’d like you to meet Justin Hartzman of CoinSmart, which is breaking down the barriers of complex and confusing crypto transactions, and offers simple solutions, learning tools for all levels, and 24/7 client support.
NAME: Justin Hartzman
TITLE: Co-Founder & CEO
COMPANY: CoinSmart
WEB ADDRESS: http://coinsmart.com
How did you personally become involved in blockchain?
As an internet and marketing futurist, keeping up with all the newest trends in the market is part of my every day. From the early days, I felt that blockchain was going to be the next wave to what we’re calling web 3.0, so I knew that I needed to get involved.
What does your firm do/offer within the blockchain sector?
We offer the opportunity for retail and wholesale investors to participate in the economy of blockchain by buying or selling the cryptocurrency of their choice on our exchange, as well as options to easily convert fiat to crypto and crypto to fiat.
What is your role within your firm and what do you do there on any given day?
I am the co-founder and CEO of CoinSmart. There are actually 3 co-founders, we are childhood friends and have had other successful exits from previous companies that we have started together as well. Specifically, my role is to be a jack of all trades, while understanding and pushing vision. Ultimately, ensuring that I’m hiring A+ players for my team is critical in order to execute on that vision. I also play an active role as lead OTC broker for the company.
What area/s of blockchain do you believe will grow the most in the coming 5 years?
This is a ‘wait and see’ game. There is so much opportunity and where something needs to be tracked either privately or publicly, blockchain is the perfect vehicle for that, as well as the movement of capital in inexpensive ways.
What do you believe the next major innovation in financial technology will be and why?
The merging of fiat and cryptocurrency into a seamless way of transacting that is not only secure but also trusted. This allows for a stable coin or cryptocurrency to emerge into real world usage, which will help lead the way to mass adoption.
What are the biggest problems facing the blockchain industry in the future?
The number 1 problem would be security. Secondary to that, there are not enough developers to keep up with the growing demand, and getting an individual up to the high level technology standard required is time consuming. Last, existing institutions will have to accept blockchain as the backbone of their practices.
What has been the biggest success in your firm to date?
Building trust amongst our user base by providing world class customer service, which is something that others in our space do not deliver. We proudly maintain a 98%+ satisfaction rate from our users.
What has been the biggest failure in your firm and how did you adapt?
Wrong hires that have led to delays. It’s all about hiring A+ players and not just anyone off the bench. It’s about getting the right team members who are passionate about the project and dedicated to the mission of making crypto accessible.
What blockchain leader do you admire the most and why?
I would have to say I definitely admire Vitalik Buterin’s discipline and vision. Bitcoin laid the groundwork for blockchain but he was the one to truly understand its potential.
How do you feel consumers (or if more relevant for your firm – businesses) are adapting to the facet of blockchain that your company operates within?
Making cryptocurrency accessible is our mission at the company and we see it moving slightly slower than anticipated due to the bear market we are currently experiencing. However, we are building a product to support mass adoption as it happens and firmly believe cryptocurrency will be a part of everyone’s portfolio in the future.
If you were to personally invest in just one blockchain firm (other than yours), which one would it be and why?
Unfortunately, being in the position that I am, I’m unable to give any advice related to investing, but what I can say is that I tend to lean towards ideas that will help bring blockchain and cryptocurrency to the masses.
A seasoned business leader and entrepreneur, Justin’s passion for innovation has seen him lead numerous companies from start-up to successful exit. In addition to leading CoinSmart, Justin is also co-founder of Needls, an Ontario-based company that uses Data Science to automate social media advertising processes for small to medium enterprises worldwide.
