Ilya Volkov is the co-founder and CEO of YouHodler, a Swiss and EU-based Web3 platform providing smart fintech solutions that bridge fiat and crypto financial services. With a diverse background in philosophy, logic, risk management, and fintech, Ilya has been a driving force in the crypto industry, actively contributing to its evolution and growth.

Early Life

Ilya Volkov was born on November 17, 1981, to a family of engineers. From a young age, he was inspired by his older brother, a talented computer scientist who worked for IBM for a decade. This early exposure to technology and innovation would later shape Ilya’s career path and entrepreneurial spirit.

Education

Ilya’s educational journey began at Moscow State University (MSU), where he studied philosophy and logic from 1998 to 2004. His main focus was on Set Theory and Meta-Epistemology, which laid the foundation for his understanding of computer science and artificial intelligence. After years of working in the fintech industry, including commercial finance and trading various financial assets, Ilya decided to deepen his knowledge of risk management. He joined a program led by Nassim Nicholas Taleb at the Real World Risk Institute, further developing his skills in handling the complexities of the financial world.

Professional Journey

Ilya Volkov’s professional journey began as a junior market research analyst at a business consulting agency. His talent and dedication quickly earned him a promotion to a leadership role in the research department. Later, he joined the Management Board of a Commercial Finance company at its startup stage, focusing on product development and marketing. By 2008, the company had become the largest in the industry in Eastern Europe, with total assets of $1.96 billion.

In 2010, Ilya joined the Libertex Group as a managing director, managing various areas, including products, communications, and geographic expansion. His extensive experience in the fintech industry would prove invaluable in his future endeavors.

Beginning of the Crypto Journey

During the global economic crisis of 2008, Ilya founded a startup named B2B Open Barter System. The main goal was to support businesses in surviving the global lack of liquidity by introducing a universal digital currency, similar to today’s cryptocurrencies. Interestingly, the company was created the same year that Bitcoin’s whitepaper was published. Although the idea was ahead of its time and not yet fully accepted by the market, it provided valuable lessons for Ilya’s entrepreneurial journey.

In 2016, with Ilya’s active participation, Libertex became one of the first brokers to introduce crypto trading to its customers in 120 countries, marking an important milestone in his crypto journey.

Vision and Philosophy

Ilya Volkov believes that blockchain and crypto are not a revolution but a natural evolution of the financial markets. This perspective wasn’t widely held during the ICO boom of 2017 or the subsequent crypto winter, but it has become clearer as the industry has matured. Discussions about crypto’s mass adoption, the massive inflows of traditional financial institutions and banks into the market, and the growing acceptance of crypto ETFs are testament to Ilya’s vision.

This belief also forms the foundation of YouHodler‘s mission: to develop and provide innovative fintech solutions that bridge fiat and crypto, making them accessible to users worldwide.

Contributions to the crypto industry

As a board member of Switzerland’s Crypto Valley Association (CVA), Ilya actively leads the development of one of Europe’s most active and productive industry associations. One of his recent contributions was the launch of the Web3 Banking Symposium, a regular industry event that connects traditional financial institutions with the crypto space. This initiative reflects Ilya’s commitment to promoting collaboration and innovation within the industry.

Legacy and Future Prospects

Ilya Volkov believes that accessibility and user-friendliness are at the core of any technology’s success, and crypto is no exception. He recognizes that many of blockchain and crypto’s functionalities have become complex, forming a barrier to mass adoption. Drawing inspiration from successful projects like Starlink, which makes internet access simple and accessible by incorporating new technology, Ilya believes that the crypto industry needs to focus on making itself more accessible and user-friendly. This can be achieved through technological innovation or cross-industry partnerships with established institutions like banks. This vision aligns with YouHodler‘s product strategy for the coming years, as the company continues to develop solutions that bridge the gap between traditional finance and the world of crypto.

Contact and Social Media

Ilya Volkov is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is active on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, where he shares insights and updates on the latest developments in the crypto and fintech industries.