Zug, Switzerland; 3 April 2020 – Bitcoin Suisse, the Swiss crypto-finance market leader and technology pioneer, today announced the addition of Giles Keating, former Chief Economist and Global Head of Research at Credit Suisse, to its Board of Directors, effective May 1. In addition, Urs Bigger, a Member of the Board since November 2017, assumes the role of Vice-President.

A 30-year veteran of Credit Suisse, Giles Keating is an internationally recognized thought leader and market commentator with exceptional experience. He was Credit Suisse’s Global Chief Economist for Investment Banking and later Global Head of Research for the bank’s Private Banking and Wealth Management division. Giles Keating brings a wealth of knowledge in capital markets, investment banking and economic analysis – gained over a long career in financial services and research – to his new position.

In his expanded role as Vice-President, Urs Bigger, who previously served as Head of Legal and Compliance at Falcon Private Bank and Group Head of Compliance at Credit Suisse Group, continues to support Bitcoin Suisse with continuity and experience. Urs Bigger has been working at the forefront of developing legal and compliance frameworks for financial services firms, which provide crypto asset investments to their clients.

These changes in the Board of Bitcoin Suisse come at a time of growth and expansion for the crypto financial services company founded in 2013. With a staff of over 140 employees at offices in Zug (CH) as well as Copenhagen (DK) and Vaduz (FL), the firm has played a leading role in the growth of the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. Bitcoin Suisse applied for a Swiss banking license in October 2019 and plans to further expand its service offering.

Niklas Nikolajsen, Founder and President of the Board of Directors said: “Giles Keating is a stellar addition to our Board of Directors. His many years of experience at the highest level of financial services will help us tremendously as we move to the next level in terms of institutional grade offerings and international expansion. I am also very happy that Urs Bigger accepted the nomination to become our Vice-President and thus strengthen our corporate governance while continuing his excellent work in supporting our development – with his first-hand knowledge of our business and the industry.”

Giles Keating commented: “The outstanding team at Bitcoin Suisse is leading the crypto revolution forward both in Switzerland and internationally, and I am delighted to be joining the company and the Board.”

Giles Keating’s move to join Bitcoin Suisse comes at a time of unprecedented government intervention and tectonic shifts in the world economy. The degree of uncertainty and likely transformational changes in financial markets are not unlike the 2008 financial crisis which helped spur the creation of Bitcoin. He looks forward to bringing his exceptional understanding of markets and economics to bear and to help Bitcoin Suisse realize the potential of crypto assets and crypto-finance technology, especially to complement and create synergies with traditional finance.

Giles Keating added: “I’m joining the crypto journey just as proof-of-stake, new smart contracts and the Bitcoin halving are giving a major impetus far beyond short-term volatility, and towards true internet currencies for the new age of finance.” He will help drive the company’s strategic development to position Bitcoin Suisse as a long-term partner for global institutional investors and to grow the footprint of the firm with investors internationally.

Before joining Credit Suisse in 1986, Giles Keating was a Senior Research Fellow at the London Business School. He received an M.A. in Philosophy from St. Catherine’s College, Oxford and an M.Sc. in Mathematical Economics and Econometrics from the London School of Economics.

In addition to his time at Falcon Private Bank and Credit Suisse, Urs Bigger’s experience in legal and compliance includes work at Reuss Private AG and Julius Baer Group as well as with his own legal and compliance consultancy. He holds a Master of Law degree from the University of Zürich and completed postgraduate banking training at UBS.

As of May 1, the Bitcoin Suisse Board of Directors will have the following members:

• Niklas Nikolajsen, Founder and President
• Urs Bigger, Vice-President
• Giles Keating, member
• Luzius Meisser, member
• Dr. Arthur Vayloyan, CEO of Bitcoin Suisse and member