Blockpit’s Regulatory Advantage: How to Use Compliance as a Growth Driver
While most crypto companies view regulation as a threat, some see it as an opportunity. In a recent episode of Category Visionaries, Blockpit CEO Florian Wimmer revealed how betting on increased regulation became their key competitive advantage.
Starting Where Others Fear to Tread
Austria might seem like an unlikely launching pad for a crypto company, but its strict regulatory environment proved to be the perfect testing ground. “Living in a quite heavily regulated country, Austria… it’s strict on taxation, actually is one of the first countries that has crypto tax law, like a specific tax law for crypto,” Florian explains.
This challenging environment provided unique insights into what other markets would eventually need. Instead of avoiding regulation, Blockpit embraced it, using Austria as a pilot market for solutions that could scale globally.
Regulation as a Growth Engine
Unlike many crypto startups that rely on market speculation for growth, Blockpit found a more sustainable driver. “Regulation is our driver, not so much the crypto market,” Florian notes. “It helps if the markets go up definitely in terms of traction. But regulation is really what’s building our path forward.”
This focus on regulation proved prescient. By 2026, all OECD countries will require crypto service providers to report detailed transaction data. As Florian explains, “Every crypto service provider will need to hand over the transaction data and tax information of all of their users to the respective government.”
Building Ahead of the Curve
Rather than waiting for regulations to be finalized, Blockpit actively participates in shaping them. “What we’re doing here is quite active at the policy making already. So we are sitting in the EU parliament, in expert parties, also in the member states and building a lot of relations with those players,” Florian shares.
This involvement gives them crucial insights into future requirements, allowing them to build solutions before their competitors even understand the problems. It’s a strategic advantage that can’t be easily replicated.
From Nice-to-Have to Must-Have
The evolution of their business model reflects this regulatory-first strategy. “We have a few proactive partners and clients that really want to offer these services but I expect most of them to really wait until the last day of regulation and implementation phases,” Florian notes.
This creates a perfect growth trajectory: early adopters provide revenue and product validation now, while incoming regulations will drive mass adoption later. It’s a strategy that turns regulatory compliance from a cost center into a growth driver.
Scaling Across Regulatory Environments
Expanding into new markets requires careful navigation of different regulatory frameworks. “Every regulation is different and you basically have to build a new framework for every country,” Florian explains. While this complexity creates challenges, it also builds valuable moats around their business.
Their approach involves working with local experts in each market, ensuring their solutions are not just technically sound but fully compliant with local regulations. This attention to detail has helped them expand into seven countries, including major markets like Germany, France, and the US.
Lessons for Founders
- Embrace Regulatory Complexity Instead of viewing regulations as obstacles, look for ways they create opportunities for new solutions.
- Build for Future Requirements Don’t just solve today’s compliance challenges – build infrastructure that anticipates tomorrow’s regulatory demands.
- Participate in Policy Making Getting involved in regulatory discussions can provide crucial insights and competitive advantages.
The Future of Regulated Crypto
Looking ahead, Blockpit aims to become the standard for crypto transaction reporting. “What we’re really wanting to build and what’s like the big North Side is like a standard, a reporting standard for on chain and off chain data,” Florian explains.
For founders building in regulated industries, Blockpit’s journey offers a valuable playbook. By embracing rather than fighting regulation, and building solutions ahead of requirements, they’ve turned compliance from a business constraint into a powerful growth driver.