Hany Rashwan, Founder and CEO of Amun: An Egyptian Born Entrepreneur Talks Crypto
3/12/2019 · 65 min · transcript via mlx
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Key topics
— Hany Rashwan founded Amun to list the first crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) on a public stock exchange, specifically the Swiss Stock Exchange, offering physically-backed, 100% collateralized crypto exposure modeled after gold trading infrastructure.
— The company's basket index tracks the top five cryptocurrencies by market cap (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin), representing 75–80% of the crypto market and rebalancing monthly for diversification.
— Regulatory approval required visiting 28 jurisdictions globally; only Switzerland offered a suitable framework, though operationalization proved harder than securing regulatory sign-off due to legacy accounting systems that don't support crypto's decimal precision.
— Geographic arbitrage and regulatory differences across jurisdictions (Switzerland, Malta, Singapore leading) create opportunities for crypto adoption, especially in emerging markets where currency debasement and capital controls restrict financial access.
— Bitcoin's opportunity lies not in replacing the US dollar but in serving the 85% of the global population living in countries where their local currency is unreliable—a social and economic leveler for emerging economies.
— Regulators are more sophisticated and innovation-friendly than commonly assumed; crypto's marketing and communication failures have perpetuated negative narratives and delayed mainstream adoption.
Market & price signals
— Amun's Crypto Basket Index achieved its first million-dollar trading day within weeks of launch and became the top exchange-traded product on the Swiss Stock Exchange by trading volume within the first month, with roughly 20% of the instrument traded in a single day.
— During Turkey's currency crisis, Bitcoin purchases and sales surged 300–400% in dollar terms, with estimates suggesting 45% of Turks may become crypto buyers within five years.
— Historical currency depreciation in emerging markets (Egypt's pound declining from 2.5 to the dollar at Rashwan's birth to 16+ today) demonstrates the real-world imperative for alternative stores of value.
Actionable insights
— For Bitcoin holders seeking exposure through traditional finance, physically-backed, publicly-listed crypto ETPs offer regulatory compliance and institutional credibility without counterparty risk or debt-instrument complications; they represent a bridge for risk-averse investors.
— Regulatory arbitrage exists globally: reputable jurisdictions (Switzerland, Singapore, Malta) are establishing clear frameworks; building or investing in crypto companies domiciled in these jurisdictions can accelerate market access elsewhere, similar to how Canadian cannabis companies list on US exchanges despite federal prohibition.
— Long-term crypto adoption will likely accelerate in emerging markets experiencing currency debasement and capital controls rather than developed markets; geographic diversification and monitoring regulatory shifts in high-population regions (Africa, Southeast Asia) where Binance and similar platforms operate offers asymmetric return potential.
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