BREAKDOWN: Starting a Bitcoin Startup During the COVID-19 Crisis, Feat. Yan Pritzker
With companies closing, unemployment rising and investors spooked in the age of the pandemic, NLW speaks with Swan BTC co-founder Yan Pritzker about the experience of launching a startup in the hyper-competitive world of Bitcoin.
ABOUT
Yan Pritzker is the CTO and cofounder of Swan Bitcoin, an automated bitcoin only investing app aiming to be the best onramp to bitcoin. He is also the author of Inventing Bitcoin.
On this episode, he and NLW discuss:
- How immigrating from the Soviet Union taught Yan about capital controls
- Buying bitcoin at $30 in 2011
- Why the type of capital available shapes what type of startups entrepreneurs found
- Why venture capitals focused investments away from bitcoin
- The emergence of a bitcoin only startup scene
- Starting a startup during the COVID-19 crisis
- Why bitcoin’s scarcity is its most important property
HOST
CoinDesk is the world leader in news, prices and information on bitcoin and other digital currencies.
We cover news and analysis on the trends, price movements, technologies, companies and people in the bitcoin and digital currency world.

EPISODES
Mert Mumtaz on Why Internet Capital Markets Are "Finally Actually Happening" on Solana
Privacy, internet capital markets, and quantum commuting threats to crypto with Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz.
2 hours ago
Seeker Phone Moved $2 Billion in Just 4 Months - Solana Mobile GM
Unpacking the success of Solana Mobile's new device, Seeker, with GM Emmett Hollyer.
2 hours ago
THE MINING POD: How Coinbase is Quietly Driving Bitcoin's Hashrate Growth w/ Doug Wilson
Coinbase Asset Management’s hashrate loans allow miners to borrow against their entire mining facility.
Dec 16, 2025
The Blockspace Pod: Inside the $220M Bitcoin Infrastructure SPAC w/ Ryan Gentry
Ryan Gentry, CEO of Bitcoin Infrastructure Acquisition Corp, discusses his $220M IPO, the "aerospace mafia" thesis, a...
Dec 15, 2025

The Mining Pod
Feb 10, 2025

CoinDesk Podcast Network
The top stories and best shows in the blockchain world, delivered daily from the team at CoinDesk.
Dec 20, 2023

Markets Outlook
Tune in as CoinDesk runs down action in the crypto market and some of the most important recent industry development.
Dec 19, 2023

Unchained
Unchained, your no hype resource for all things crypto by former Forbes senior editor Laura Shin, author of The Cryptopians.
Dec 18, 2023
