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Daniel Vogel on cryptocurrency

From The Aviation Principle That Built A Unicorn - with Daniel Vogel (Bitso) · · The J Curve Podcast

“I believe Bitcoin is better money. I hold Bitcoin personally, and a company building in that space should be congruent — that's why we chose to hold crypto on Bitso's balance sheet to both signal conviction and participate in the industry's growth.”

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On , Daniel Vogel, Managing Director at MIDCAP FINANCIAL INVSMT CORP, spoke about cryptocurrency during The Aviation Principle That Built A Unicorn - with Daniel Vogel (Bitso) on The J Curve Podcast.

The Aviation Principle That Built A Unicorn - with Daniel Vogel (Bitso)
Watch on YouTube
The Aviation Principle That Built A Unicorn - with Daniel Vogel (Bitso)
The J Curve Podcast
Watch on YouTube
When a Silicon Valley job couldn't outrun a bigger ambition: Daniel Vogel built Bitso -- one of Latin America's first crypto unicorns. In 2014, crypto still meant Silk Road and skepticism. Daniel left a comfortable Bay Area role, returned to Mexico and launched Bitso -- a crypto exchange in a market where millions lacked formal bank access. Ten years later, Bitso is among Latin America's largest digital-asset platforms, a cross-border payments engine processing billions in remittances. But this isn't just a unicorn story -- it's about grit, conviction and reinvention. Behind every "first crypto unicorn" headline is a founder who spent a decade fighting regulators, skeptics, market crashes and cultural resistance to risk -- and still built trust in one of the world's most misunderstood industries. What stood out about Daniel wasn't just scale -- it was the depth of his conviction and the discipline behind his obsession. He speaks about curiosity as a lifelong engine, leadership as a process of reinvention, and composure as a skill sharpened when the Central Bank nearly shut the company down on Christmas Eve. 🎙 What we discuss: •⁠ ⁠The pilot's mindset of leadership -- what flying small planes taught Daniel about control, composure and crisis management. •⁠ ⁠The risk paradox -- how a risk-averse culture birthed a contrarian builder. •⁠ ⁠The product decision that killed the competition -- why owning the tech stack mattered. •⁠ ⁠Turning regulation into a moat -- how engaging regulators became a strategic edge. •⁠ ⁠The end game of crypto -- why AI agents will transact before humans do. •⁠ ⁠The paradox of rivalry -- how competition became Bitso's greatest source of discipline. Timestamps: 00:00 -- Intro: The pilot who built a billion-dollar startup -- Daniel Vogel's story of conviction and control 01:20 -- Growing up in Mexico: How a culture of risk-aversion shaped a contrarian founder mindset 04:50 -- Curiosity & early tech spark: Breaking things young and learning how systems work 08:00 -- The Bitcoin discovery: From fascination to conviction about crypto's future in LATAM 11:30 -- Leaving Silicon Valley: The regret-minimization moment that started Bitso 13:40 -- The janitor story: The conversation that revealed the remittance opportunity 15:20 -- Building Bitso in 2014: Launching crypto amid Silk Road headlines 17:10 -- Product decision that killed the competition: Owning the tech stack as Bitso's secret weapon 20:10 -- UX and trust: Building credibility in a skeptical market 22:00 -- The good side of competition: Why rivalry drives innovation and expands markets 24:10 -- Engaging regulators early: Turning compliance into a moat 26:40 -- Leadership evolution: Reinventing yourself as the company scales 30:10 -- The Christmas Eve crisis: When Bitso nearly shut down -- and the composure it required 33:20 -- The pilot's mindset: What flying small planes teaches about control, fear, and crisis 36:00 -- Sharpening the saw: Avoiding burnout and staying intellectually curious 39:30 -- Crypto and politics: How regulation will shape the next decade of innovation 42:10 -- The end game of crypto: Why AI agents may transact before humans do 45:00 -- Lessons for founders: Building calm, trust, and conviction in volatile markets 46:30 -- The pilot mindset: What flying small planes teaches about control, fear, and crisis management 49:00 -- Sharpening the saw: Why founders must pause, learn, and reinvent themselves 53:00 -- Crypto & politics: How U.S. regulation and elections shape the future of innovation in LATAM 55:00 -- Holding Bitcoin on the balance sheet: Philosophy, conviction, and long-term bets 57:00 -- The future of remittances: What's holding crypto back from replacing legacy rails 59:00 -- The end game of crypto: When AI agents start transacting before humans 01:01:00 -- Bitso's legacy: Redefining the financial system and inspiring the next generation of LATAM founders 01:07:00 -- Rapid-fire round: The best and worst founder advice, tech predictions, and the one question Daniel wishes people asked more often MORE FROM THE J CURVE: 📧 GET INSIDER ACCESS Subscribe to The J Curve Insider: blog.thejcurve.com 🎧 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vU5be4... 💼 CONNECT WITH US Follow the J Curve Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vU5be4... Follow The J Curve on LinkedIn:   / thejcurve   Follow Olga Maslikhova on LinkedIn   / olgamaslikhova   Follow The J Curve on Instagram:   / thejcurvepodcast   Follow Olga on Instagram:   / olgamaslikhova   💡 LOVE THIS CONTENT? • Hit subscribe + the notification bell 🔔 • Share this episode with fellow entrepreneurs • Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway • Rate us 5 stars if this added value to your journey #VentureCapital #startups #AI #SMB #LatinAmerica #Mexico
Daniel Vogel

About Daniel Vogel

Managing Director · MIDCAP FINANCIAL INVSMT CORP

Daniel Vogel, CEO of Bitso, has been active in promoting the adoption of stablecoins and digital assets in Latin America. In August 2025, he co-hosted the Stablecoin Conference 2025 in Mexico, which he said drew over 1,700 attendees, exceeding initial expectations. Vogel stated that more than 10% of remittances from the United States to Mexico now flow through stablecoins, up from zero three years ago, and described Bitso's goal as being a provider of infrastructure for digital assets and stablecoins that businesses can use for importing, exporting, or moving money. He also noted that while the "Genius Act" in the United States is providing regulatory clarity for stablecoins, such clarity is still needed in many parts of Latin America, and described Bitso as the only player in the region that can handle both the technology and regulatory aspects. In earlier appearances, Vogel has discussed the broader potential and challenges of cryptocurrency. In a 2024 talk at Web Summit Rio, he argued that traditional money is "broken" as a store of value, citing examples of financial crises in Argentina and Brazil where savers lost access to their funds. He stated that Bitcoin is "better money" and that Bitso holds crypto on its balance sheet to signal conviction. Vogel has also identified the three biggest challenges for the crypto industry as regulatory engagement, user experience, and consumer education. He has described the collapse of FTX as "unfortunate," saying it combined the worst aspects of traditional finance and crypto, and has advocated for cryptographic proofs of solvency to minimize the need for trust in custodians.

Profile compiled from Daniel Vogel's verified public interviews and appearances. See all quotes & transcripts →

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