Introducing Christoph Hartgens: The Latest Member of the Qubic Grants Program Committee

We can now officially welcome Christoph Hartgens to the Qubic Grants Program Committee. With a career spanning traditional finance, digital innovation, and the world of crypto, Christoph brings a wealth of experience that will help advance Qubic’s growth.

This post will discuss how Christoph’s extensive career aligns with Qubic’s vision. His insights, gathered over decades in the finance and tech sectors, make him the perfect addition to our committee, where his background will help shape the future of Qubic’s grant initiatives. You can welcome Christoph, via the Qubic Discord, @stoefi, and check out his Linkedin.

From Banking to Digital Transformation

Christoph’s career began in banking and trading as a derivatives market maker from 1987 to 1997. After a decade in high-stakes trading, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding several companies focused on online trading portals for equities, derivatives, and structured products. From 1997 to 2012, he led these companies as COO and CEO, helping modernise financial trading platforms long before fintech was a trend.

In 2013, he returned to banking as Chief Digital Officer at Switzerland’s largest private bank. There, Christoph played a key role in introducing cryptocurrencies to ultra-high-net-worth clients, pushing the bank to invest in Switzerland’s first regulated crypto bank. 

But when the bank stopped short of fully integrating crypto into advisory and portfolio management, Christoph decided it was time to dive deeper into the crypto space.

A Full Commitment to Crypto… and Qubic

Christoph had been involved in crypto since 2014, but in 2021, he left traditional finance behind to join Qubic. His goal was to experience an entire crypto cycle, from one Bitcoin halving to the next, and to be part of a project from the ground up. Qubic provided the perfect opportunity for this, allowing him to grow alongside the project while also becoming a Computor, a miner, and a member of the Qubic community.

From Miners to Laundry Dryers

Christoph’s personal journey into Qubic mining also led to some surprising household benefits. While his wife was initially sceptical of the energy-intensive mining rigs, she eventually found an unexpected use for them: drying clothes. As Christoph jokes, “Even though she doesn’t really understand what mining is, she sees what mining is good for.”

Joining the Qubic Grants Program Committee

Now, Christoph brings his knowledge and passion for innovation to the Qubic Grants Program Committee. His understanding of both traditional finance and digital assets will enable him to help guide the committee’s efforts to fund and support new projects in the Qubic ecosystem.

The Qubic Grants Program is all about facilitating innovation, and with Christoph on board, we’re confident that the program will continue to grow, identifying and supporting the next generation of projects built on the Qubic network.

Looking Ahead

Christoph’s decision to join Qubic has been a natural progression and we’re delighted to have Christoph as part of the Qubic Grants Program Committee. We look forward to the impact he’ll make as we continue, as a community, to shape the future of decentralised AI and blockchain.

For more details on the Qubic Grants Program and its committee members, visit our blog. Want to build a project within the Qubic ecosystem? You can apply for a grant.

Are you excited to see what Christoph will bring to the Qubic Grants Program? How do you see Christoph’s experience helping shape the future of Qubic? Join the discussion and ask your questions in our Discord and Telegram.