Börsen-Zeitung — The Interview
Bitcoin Insights — The interview by Björn Godenrath and Philipp Hartmannsgruber about the Bitcoin Bundesverband in the Börsen-Zeitung.
This issue features the interview with Björn and me:
“A man of conviction pushes the Bitcoin Bundesverband”
Once Philipp Hartmannsgruber understood, there was no turning back. Today, the 33-year-old is the driving force behind the establishment of a Bitcoin interest association. Together, the aim is to educate people about the largest digital currency and lobby for companies involved with Bitcoin.
Philipp Hartmannsgruber first heard about Bitcoin in 2013. A friend had told him about buying Bitcoin for 1 US dollar and then selling it for 3 US dollars. In 2016, something really clicked for him when it came to Bitcoin as a technology, system and means of payment — and in 2017 he dedicated his master’s thesis to the topic. Then he started working in the financial industry. The 33-year-old’s stations included Ventum Consulting, CM-Equity, DSGV and Warburg Bank.
Influenced by his liberal-libertarian convictions, he joined the Young Liberals in his native Bavaria home and is (still) a member of the FDP. Four years ago, his inherent connection between business, political parties and communication led him to work for the Bundesblock (Blockchain Bundesverband), where he has been a board member for the last two years. He recently stepped down from this position because he is now fully focused on another project: together with founders and entrepreneurs from the Bitcoin scene, Hartmannsgruber launched the Bitcoin Bundesverband. “There were no Bitcoin entrepreneurs in the Bundesblock and I am disappointed about the lack of development of blockchain technology. I also now have a Bitcoin-only attitude,” Hartmannsgruber told Börsen-Zeitung.
Bitcoin-only investors do not diversify and invest exclusively in Bitcoin. Hartmannsgruber documents his Bitcoin investments via X/Twitter. For example, he has set up Bitcoin savings plans via the Strike app (as hourly purchases), 21bitcoin (weekly) and Trade Republic (monthly) — he was heavily criticized by ideologically driven Bitcoiners for not being able to transfer the assets to his own wallet with the latter and using it anyway. The fact that he takes a relaxed and pragmatic view of this speaks in his favor: he is not a hard-core Bitcoin maxi and advocates widespread adoption — also because he sees the current monetary system as being at risk. However, a look at the loss of purchasing power of the euro may also encourage people to buy Bitcoin or gold.
“With currently 44 founding members, we have narrowed down the number of board candidates to ten for seven board positions. Together, we want to promote acceptance and understanding of Bitcoin in politics, science, industry and society.” Philipp Hartmannsgruber
His comrades-in-arms at the Bitcoin Bundesverband include Daniel Wingen (founder of Tidebinder, a Lightning start-up) and Alex von Frankenberg, who is Managing Director of HighTech Gründerfonds (HTGF) but provides private support and is currently on a sabbatical to spread the good news about Bitcoin in other regions of the world. Hartmannsgruber acts as the group’s mouthpiece from Berlin and got the whole process off the ground quickly: “The founding meeting will take place on September 26. With 44 founding members at present, we have narrowed down the number of board candidates to ten for seven board positions. Together, we want to promote acceptance and understanding of Bitcoin in politics, science, industry and society.”
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t
Hartmannsgruber would like to establish a political advisory board, but the foreseeable mechanisms make him refrain from doing so. As the AfD represents up to 20% of voters, it would be difficult to ignore them for such a committee. However, if the AfD were included, everyone else would leave the committee. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t …
Joana Cotar, a former AfD politician, is one of the supporters. However, she can take credit for having fought against the right wing of the party and left the party in the wake of this twist. Hartmannsgruber is a supporter of Cotar, even if he does not share all of her positions. Above all, however, Cotar had launched the “Bitcoin in the Bundestag” initiative — and a successor would have to be found for the coming legislative period, as Cotar is leaving parliament.
Old association assets
What hardly anyone (outside of the close-knit German Bitcoin scene) had on their radar until now: the Bundesverband Bitcoin e.V. (German Bitcoin Association) was founded years ago as an interest group. However, its activities have fallen asleep. The last general meeting was held in 2018, says Hartmannsgruber. And there is another special feature: the members had paid their contributions in Bitcoin over the years, so that the association now has assets of 8 Bitcoin, which corresponds to almost 0.5 million euros. These assets could now be transferred to the Bitcoin Bundesverband: This is because the articles of association stipulate that “In the event of dissolution of the association, the assets of the association shall be transferred to an international organization with a similar focus.” As the Bitcoin Bundesverband pursues similar goals and also wants to have an influence on European regulation, this condition would at least be fulfilled.
This would of course be welcome start-up financing — although Bitcoin-only strategists generally rely on buy and hold. However, the funds could be lent out or invested in another profitable way.
This article was originally published in German by Börsen-Zeitung (all rights reserved) and has been translated by me into English.
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