Swissborg CEO: Community Ownership Key to Overtaking ‘Slow-Moving Dinosaurs’ of Finance

Swissborg CEO Cyrus Fazel is pushing back against “fintech fatigue” with a vision of radical simplicity and community ownership. His strategy centers on the Meta-Exchange, a liquidity aggregator that bridges CeFi and DeFi, connecting major exchanges and networks to deliver seamless and cross‑chain trading.

The ‘One-Tap’ Solution

In an era where “fintech fatigue” is setting in due to a fragmented landscape of wallets, bridges, and complex exchanges, Cyrus Fazel, founder and CEO of Swissborg, is betting on a different path: radical simplicity powered by community ownership. While centralized giants like Revolut and Robinhood dominate the retail landscape with massive capital reserves, Fazel believes the “slow-moving dinosaurs” of traditional finance are vulnerable to a more agile, community-driven model.

The core of Fazel’s strategy lies in the Meta-Exchange, a sophisticated liquidity aggregator designed to eliminate the technical hurdles that often stymie crypto adoption.

“Most people do not want 10 apps, five wallets, multiple exchanges, and complex bridges,” Fazel said in a recent discussion on the future of decentralized wealth management. “They want one app that just works. One tap. Best price. No headaches.”

According to Fazel, the liquidity aggregator functions as a bridge between centralized finance (CeFi) and decentralized finance ( DeFi). By connecting to five major CeFi exchanges and a growing list of decentralized networks—including Solana, Avalanche, Hyperliquid, Berachain, and BNB Chain—Swissborg provides a cross-chain liquidity layer that Fazel claims is the most powerful in any consumer app today.

Unlike traditional fintechs that prioritize shareholder returns, the Swissborg ecosystem is said to be built around its native BORG token. This utility-driven model shifts the focus from passive users to active participants through several mechanisms, including a rewards program that provides users with BORG cashback on trades.

Under this ecosystem, token holders have a direct say in the platform’s direction, from voting on new token listings to deciding on treasury-funded initiatives. Users can also unlock benefits, including zero fees and boosted yields, by locking their BORG assets.

“Community gives us values. Technology gives us power. Ease of use gives us the scale,” Fazel explained in written responses to questions from Bitcoin.com News. “This trifecta is what will allow Swissborg to outpace heavily capitalized competitors who lack the same level of user alignment.”

A Departure from Venture Capital

In the cutthroat world of fintech, the traditional path to scale often involves venture capital (VC), boardroom oversight, and a relentless focus on shareholder valuation. However, Fazel argues that the choice to bypass traditional VC funding in favor of a community-backed model is a moral and operational pivot that dictates a company’s DNA.

“When you raise from VCs, you work for a boardroom,” Fazel noted. “When you are raised by your community, you work for the people who actually use your product every single day.”

This approach mirrors the rise of other disruptive decentralized ecosystems where the focus has shifted from centralized data silos to user-owned infrastructure. In these models, the user is a stakeholder whose interests are protected over short-term exit strategies.

For platforms built on tokenized models, success is measured by value rather than valuation. The community-first philosophy manifests by moving away from artificial market makers toward organic, decentralized liquidity. This allows projects to prioritize technical integrity and user safety over the rapid, often unsustainable growth demanded by external investors.

By treating a user base as a “North Star” rather than a marketing demographic, these platforms build liquidity layers that Fazel claims are faster and cheaper than traditional finance offerings.

“The community does not ask us to maximize valuations. They ask us to maximize value,” Fazel said.

Regarding the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation in Europe, Fazel described the legislation as a “strong step forward” that levels the playing field.

“It forces the cowboys out of the market,” Fazel said, framing MiCA as a foundation that allows Europe to “lead in this industry, not follow.”

While critics have targeted the European Union’s aggressive regulatory stance, Fazel said MiCA may slow legitimate experimental projects but will not stop them.

“In the long run, trust always beats shortcuts,” he added. “Offshore platforms may win the race for a few years. But regulated, transparent, community-powered platforms win the marathon.”

FAQ 💡

• What is Swissborg’s Meta-Exchange? It’s a cross-chain liquidity aggregator connecting CeFi and DeFi for seamless crypto trading.
• How does Swissborg’s BORG token benefit users?

Holders earn cashback, vote on listings, and unlock zero fees with boosted yields.

• Why did Swissborg avoid venture capital funding?

Founder Cyrus Fazel chose a community-backed model to prioritize users over boardroom interests.

• How does MiCA regulation impact Swissborg in Europe?

Fazel says MiCA strengthens trust, slows experiments, but ensures Europe leads in crypto innovation.