According to CoinLaw, more than 81% of financial institutions are currently either researching or already implementing blockchain solutions, a significant jump from 67% in 2020.
This trend demonstrates that the traditional financial system is eager to integrate with the Web3 industry. However, this transformation requires not only technological readiness but also leaders who are able to adapt quickly, act on the edge of regulatory requirements, and create products that are in real demand.
Jovi Overo, CEO of Vault, is one of these leading experts. In this interview, he shares his advice for young entrepreneurs, reveals the secrets of effective leadership in the crypto industry, and explains how modern technologies and partnerships between banks and crypto companies are changing the way users view digital finance.
— You’ve been in the fintech industry for over 18 years. Given your vast experience in this field, what advice would you give to young entrepreneurs who want to take their first step in the crypto or fintech space?
Forget waiting to be ready. Build it dirty, build it fast, and let reality punch your product into shape. Strategy is cheap. Execution is key. In crypto and fintech, you’re either moving at speed or you’re irrelevant. Don’t chase buzzwords. Solve problems, and money moves through.
— To achieve significant results in this industry, it’s important not only to have the right strategy but also to build a strong team. Which hard and soft skills do you prioritize when selecting candidates? What principles do you follow to create a team that can bring your vision to life and perform effectively in this field?
Hard skills… API literacy, payments architecture, legal / compliance combat-readiness, and someone who can ship products without asking permission. Soft skills? Hunger. Ambiguity tolerance. Pain tolerance. The principle is simple: I hire people who act like co-founders, or I don’t hire them at all.
— In your opinion, what are the key qualities and skills that a crypto company leader should possess to succeed in this dynamic industry? What do you think makes an effective crypto leader stand out?
A great crypto leader is a wartime leader in a broken regulatory trench. The best lead with vision but punch through chaos with clarity and grit. They don’t chase hype. They turn hostile regulation, payment friction, and liquidity gaps into a product. That’s leadership in this game.
— About 60% of financial institutions are already partnering with fintech companies and other third-party providers to meet their customers’ digital banking needs. In your view, how can a fintech company best capture the interest of traditional banks, demonstrate the value of crypto, and gradually build their trust? What strategies work most effectively to bridge the gap between traditional and digital finance?
Speak their language, but play your game. Don’t pitch decentralization, balch blah blah, but pitch operational risk reduction. Don’t promise the future, prove the revenue. Trust is built when you absorb complexity they can’t touch and make them money doing it. You don’t need their blessing. You need their volume.
— What do you see as the main barrier to a full integration of traditional finance and crypto — is it technology, regulatory hurdles, or perhaps the mindset of the key players?
Mindset. Not tech. Not even regulation. Traditional finance is run by people who grew up believing banks are the system and crypto is the rebellion. Not any longer. The moment they realise crypto isn’t a threat, it’s a new infrastructure layer, everything changes. We’re not replacing them. We’re rewiring them. Plant a seed and let it grow.
— Today, some of the most notable crypto cards include the Bybit Card, WhiteBIT Nova, Crypto.com Card, and others. In your view, how much growth potential does this segment have? Are crypto cards truly ready to break out of their niche and become a mainstream product, or are they still mainly a tool for enthusiasts?
The product isn’t niche. The positioning is. The problem? Most crypto cards sell features to crypto bro’s instead of utility to normal people. The breakout comes when cards stop shouting “crypto” and start delivering real value with invisible rails. By the time the user realises it was a USDC rail, they’re already hooked. Make Crypto Boring Again should be the slogan.
— When you’re working on a new product, what do you prioritize more — launching it quickly to the market or thoroughly refining the idea? How do you usually find the balance between speed and quality?
Perfection is the enemy of momentum. You want product-market fit? Ship it, break it, fix it. If you’re not embarrassed by your v1, you launched too late. Words I live by! You don’t learn in planning. You learn in the market. Take off those stabilisers and ride free!
— Nowadays, it is increasingly common to see traditional banks and neobanks forming partnerships with crypto exchanges. In your opinion, how does this cooperation between the banking sector and crypto companies affect end users’ behaviour? Does it help increase trust in crypto and possibly change the way a broader audience perceives crypto assets?
Massively. When legacy banks let crypto into the reception, retail sees legitimacy. That partnership lowers fear, increases usage, and kills the boogeyman effect. But the trust transfer cuts both ways — if the crypto partner fails, the bank loses face. So only strong operators survive this integration.
— Today, Crypto-as-a-Service (CaaS) is becoming increasingly popular among businesses that want to adopt blockchain technology without diving deep into the technical complexities. In your opinion, how significant is CaaS as a key driver for the mass adoption of crypto in the business?
CaaS is the bridge to mass-market crypto. Most businesses don’t want to “go on-chain.” They want payouts faster, compliance offloaded, and new revenue channels. CaaS is the Trojan Horse; it packages all that in one API and lets them onboard without becoming crypto-native.
This is how you move the market: quietly, at scale.
— The crypto market is increasingly attracting the attention of institutional investors, and exchanges are actively developing comprehensive services to ensure liquidity and stable operations for large clients. Based on your experience, what is more important for institutional investors: a wide range of services covering diverse needs, or deep expertise in a specialized niche? How does this influence their choice of partners and service providers?
Depth. Always depth. They want confidence in your custody, your compliance, and your counterparties. You win institutions not by being everything, but by being the best at one thing they absolutely need. Niche is power when you’re bulletproof.
Also Read: Exclusive Interview With the Head of Global Communications and Partnership at WhiteBIT
