Sergej Kotliar

Sergej Kotliar is the Founder and CEO of Bitrefill, a company that enables users to purchase a wide range of goods and services using Bitcoin, primarily through digital gift cards. Established in 2014 and based in Stockholm, Sweden, Bitrefill has become a significant player in the cryptocurrency space, facilitating transactions in over 100 countries and pioneering innovations in the Lightning Network, a layer-2 scaling solution for Bitcoin transactions.13

Background and Education

Sergej holds a Master of Science in Media Management from the Stockholm School of Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Media Technology from KTH Royal Institute of Technology. He has been involved in programming since his teenage years, which laid the foundation for his career in technology and digital currencies.24

Career Highlights

• Bitrefill: Since its inception, Kotliar has led Bitrefill to become one of the largest crypto e-commerce platforms globally. The platform aims to empower users by enabling them to live on Bitcoin through an intuitive purchasing process.13
• Previous Ventures: Before founding Bitrefill, he co-founded Rabble Communications AB and Banterfly, both focused on mobile applications and digital solutions.45
• Thought Leadership: Kotliar is recognized as a thought leader in the cryptocurrency community, particularly regarding Bitcoin's practical applications and its potential to create circular economies.3

Personal Insights

In interviews, Kotliar discusses the importance of enabling practical uses for Bitcoin beyond ideological appeals, emphasizing the need for diverse strategies to enhance adoption among various user demographics.3 He is also involved with Wheely's Café as a board member and continues to contribute to digital strategy consulting related to cryptocurrencies.2

Overall, Sergej Kotliar's work at Bitrefill reflects a commitment to integrating Bitcoin into everyday transactions, making it accessible and usable for a broader audience.