Interview With Borja Martel Seward, Co-Founder and CEO Roxom
In this edition of the founder spotlight, we feature Borja Martel Seward, Co-Founder and CEO of Roxom. This Argentinian-Spanish entrepreneur and angel investor emphasizes the importance of developing financial tools that leverage Bitcoin’s unique properties, aiming to create a 24/7 market. He believes that as Bitcoin becomes more integrated into global finance, platforms like Roxom will facilitate this transition by providing innovative financial services tailored to Bitcoin users.
Let’s hear from Bojra Martel Seward about how Roxom influenced the cryptocurrency landscape in Latin America.
What inspired you to create Roxom, and how did the concept of a Bitcoin-denominated securities and commodities exchange come about?
Throughout history, the strongest currencies have driven the world’s leading capital markets. The Dutch guilder led to the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, the British pound to the LSE, and the USD to Wall Street. Despite Bitcoin’s growing dominance as a global currency, it lacks a dedicated capital market.
Recognizing Bitcoin’s potential to become the ultimate global settlement currency, we saw an opportunity to build Roxom as the platform for what could become the most significant capital market in history.
Roxom combines centralized and decentralized elements. Can you explain how this hybrid approach benefits users and enhances trading efficiency?
Roxom integrates both traditional and decentralized markets to offer a comprehensive trading experience. On the centralized side, we provide access to traditional securities and assets. On the decentralized side, we will start on the tip of the iceberg by facilitating Bitcoin trading against other cryptocurrencies and gradually transition towards a decentralized, DeFi-based platform.
Congratulations on raising $4.3 million in funding! How do you plan to utilize this capital to further Roxom’s mission?
Thank you! The $4.3 million will be instrumental in building our initial infrastructure and product, attracting users, and establishing a strong market presence. It will also prepare us for a larger funding round in the near future, enabling us to scale and solidify Roxom’s position in the market.
How does Roxom handle integrating various asset types, such as stocks, bonds, ETFs, and commodities, within a Bitcoin-denominated framework?
Although this sounds incredibly complex, it’s actually simpler than what one could imagine. Integrating different asset types into a Bitcoin-denominated framework is similar to how other global exchanges operate with multiple currencies.
For example, Euronext lists US assets denominated in euros, and Wall Street lists foreign assets through ADRs. At Roxom, we use a similar approach, pricing assets in Bitcoin to maintain consistency and simplify trading for our users.
Can you describe the military-grade security measures Roxom employs to protect users and their investments?
We designed the platform from the ground up to manage volatility and market fluctuations through advanced algorithms, real-time data processing and robust risk management tools. We use data driving analytics to monitor market conditions, allowing us to predict liquidity and trading needs as well as counting on a robust liquidity pool.
We will also implement client configurable, automated safeguards, such as circuit breakers and stop-loss mechanisms, to protect users from extreme market swings.
How do you foresee Roxom evolving in the next few years, especially in expanding its features and market presence?
We plan to expand our features by integrating more asset classes, including global equities, commodities, and bonds, all priced in Bitcoin. We’re focused on enhancing our algorithmic trading tools, introducing sophisticated risk management options, and providing advanced analytics for our users.
Our ultimate goal is to establish Roxom as the truly Bitcoin-native market, where companies can IPO directly in Bitcoin. We aim to become the equivalent of “Wall Street for Bitcoin,” expanding our global user base, forging strategic partnerships with major financial institutions.
How does Roxom’s technology handle volatility and market fluctuations?
We designed the platform from the ground up to manage volatility and market fluctuations through advanced algorithms, real-time data processing and robust risk management tools. We use data driving analytics to monitor market conditions, allowing us to predict liquidity and trading needs as well as counting on a robust liquidity pool.
We will also implement automated safeguards, such as circuit breakers and stop-loss mechanisms, to protect users from extreme market swings.
Can you share insights into how Roxom manages its cap table, particularly in light of the recent funding round?
Our cap table strategy focuses on building long-term partnerships with the best possible investors, rather than just securing large amounts of capital. We prioritize relationships that align with our vision and can significantly contribute to our long-term success.
Can you discuss any challenges you faced while developing Roxom’s platform and how did you overcome them?
Developing Roxom’s platform has had a few key challenges. Ensuring scalability while maintaining high performance is a major hurdle, which we’re addressing by building a robust, distributed architecture. Compliance and security are also critical, so we’re implementing robust security practices and adhering to international regulations.
Last but not least, liquidity. Liquidity for Bitcoin denominated markets is a challenge since most of the pairs available in Roxom have not existed until today. Because of this, educating market makers and liquidity providers on what the future looks like, in terms of Bitcoin Markets has been a challenging but wonderful endeavor.
Lastly, what advice would you give to others in the industry looking to innovate and revolutionize traditional financial markets with Bitcoin?
Focus on long-term thinking. Visualize the future you want to create and identify the problems that need solving. Build solutions that address these challenges, and always keep the bigger picture in mind. Innovation requires not just addressing current issues, but also anticipating and shaping the future.
