In this exclusive interview, crypto.news sits with Vladislav Martynov, a seasoned high-tech entrepreneur and blockchain pioneer. From his early days who founded a startup with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s parents, to his current role as a managing partner at BR Capital, Martynov shares his journey through the developing world of blockchain and offers insights into his future.
CN: Can you introduce yourself briefly?
VM: I am a high-tech entrepreneur who co-design my first startup in the late 90s with Dmitry and Maia Buterin, parents of Vitalik Buterin. We started selling an innovative Enterprise Resource planning system. After leaving that company, we pioneered one of the first SAAS-based CRM and membership management solutions in the early Cloud era in the early Cloud era. My fascination for disruptive technologies grew, especially after Dmitry introduced me to Bitcoin in 2012 and later, in 2014, the vision of his son Vitalik on Ethereum shared a decentralized, permissionless platform.
CN: That led you to where?
VM: Soon I became a member of the Ethereum Foundation advisory board to promote blockchain education and developer growth, co-founder of Blockgeeks and the Ethereum Competention Center. During the ICO Boom 2016–2017 I advised selected startups – exploring tokenization and stablecoins – but most failed due to unripe technology and markets. This inspired me to create BR Capital, a regulated fund aimed at Defi and Web3, where I now work as a managing partner to support startups and to attract capital worldwide with confidence and security.
CN: How does Br Capital work? Is there a strategic vision behind the fund?
VM: At BR Capital we combine VC Insight with hands-on building-on-Also-trading platform since 2017 has been proof thereof. Newcomers, including traditional finances, are interested, but navigate the complex layers of blockchain to reach the app podium. VCs with deep knowledge are the key to effective use of capital.
CN: What about the current investment climate for blockchain startups?
VM: The investment climate for blockchain startups is now more attractive than in previous cycles. Regulatory acceptance and institutional acceptance exceed the growth of the retail, shifting focus from infrastructure to practical web3 applications such as market places, rewards and privacy-enhancing social networks absent in earlier cycles. Technology has grown up, with progress such as Ethereum’s Layer 2 solutions that relax the web2-to-web3 transition. Moreover, younger generations find crypto-intuitive, related to touchscreens after the smartphones, while credit cards feel outdated. This mix makes the current cycle unique ripe for innovation.
CN: What advice would you give blockchain startups that are looking for financing in the current environment?
VM: Earlier cycles emphasized technology to the product. Now founders must give priority to the product, using web3 business models while determining Fundamentals: clear reasons to switch to web3, strong product market fit, solid UX and healthy financial management. Focus on delivering value, not just technology.
CN: Are there specific technologies or initiatives that you are currently looking at?
VM: Yes, different traps on. AI-reinforced safety to proactively protect against cyber threats, which strengthens resilience. Abstract accounts that simplify web3 access with safe, user-friendly digital identities. Zero Knowledge Proofs can enable the privacy retention of DEX-Bank cooperation, whereby trusted data exchanges are promoted. I also support initiatives that link web2 and web3, such as traditional settings that use crypto and defi, or web3 apps that improve Web2 UX with models such as Gamefi. Our investment in Pave Bank reflects this Pavenet-Laag integrates external services into a regulated banking environment, which uses Defi’s programmability for seamless money management.
CN: How do you think traditional financial institutions adapt to Defi, and what role will the regulations play?
VM: The first steps include offering crypto accounts, as Revolut has successfully done, although Defi integration remains. Subsequently, banks can use DEXs for cheap swaps, deportation (eg 4 % yield) and lending (eg 10 %+), the excellent of traditional interest rates, often zero on business accounts despite reimbursements. Pave bank and hopefully look at this at this. Regulation will form the competitiveness: efficient, reward -oriented banks will thrive; Outdated, expensive ones will falter.
CN: Are you claiming any cooperation options between Defi and Tradefi?
VM: Banks can integrate Defi services in crypto accounts, as noted in Q14. Traditional players can enable Real-World assets (eg real estate, raw materials) for Defi-Protocols to-fractional ownership and trade on DEXS, which means that investment options are diversified. Blockchain could also stimulate the security and transparency of Tradfi in contrast to centralized systems such as Bybit, which will falter during hacks, or traditional finances, frozen by events such as Buffett’s sale or the 2008 crisis, Defi and Crypto remain resilient.
CN: How do you see the regulatory climate in the next cycle, in particular with regard to the attitude of the new Trump administration compared to crypto?
VM: Worldwide supervisors have opposed Crypto, with only smaller countries exploring progressive laws, wary of American dominance. Both Biden and Trump have recently shifted to pro-Crypto positions, powered by young, technically skilled voters (25-30) who prefer Web3 and find crypto-intuitive. Traditional finances now see blockchain as the future internet, not to put in adoption. Trump’s personal experience with censorship, reinforced by his Blockchain-Savvy family, feeds genuine intention to lead this revolution in contrast to the political pivot point of Biden. His team, including the Ministry of Government Efficiency Outsider Elon Musk and named Crypto Tsar David Sacks, indicates action on legislation such as assets -tokenization and Defi integration. In combination with the recent news from the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve and the clarity about the regulations for digital assets, I expect a more supportive approach under Trump, unlikely that I will deteriorate from here.
CN: Finally, how can policy changes the growth and acceptance of blockchain technology in the US and worldwide influence?
VM: As I said, radical perspectives for and against blockchain are soothing and they come closer together, which leads to better discussions about tokenization, efficiency and transparency of the financial system.
I also think that as soon as the US increases the amount of the national reserve in Bitcoins and creates a considerable stock of crypto assets, there will be a domino effect: other countries will follow in the same direction. Many countries from Latin -America, the Middle East, Africa and even Europe have waited for more details of the Trump and the SEC government.
The current price volatility in the markets is a short -term chaos. Inevitably in view of the sudden shift to a very different policy in the US, with political meme coins, unclear policy on rates, revenge rates, etc. Time is needed to establish everything. In the medium term I am extremely bullish for the end of 2025, by that time we will have a clearer policy and then in the longer term.
