Thanasis Noulas (Trade Republic): "Europe must not lose its lead in crypto"

You joined Trade Republic just over two years ago. What is your role here?

Our aim is to create a global company. When I say global, I'm not talking about size, but about its reach, its footprint.

Google, Meta, Uber, Stripe or Coinbase, are global companies. Everyone knows them and it's not a question of size, but of standards and the ability to impose themselves on their market.

I like to start with that because that's why I'm here in Berlin. I came to Trade Republic so that we could become a global company that transforms the way we invest.

Do you think Trade Republic will succeed in disrupting its industry like Uber or Netflix?

Every situation is different. I believe in Trade Republic's success because finance is a highly regulated industry. When you're in a less regulated environment, or even one that's not regulated at all, it's a lot more complicated to compete with the Americans who have a lot more capital.

The advantage of a regulated activity like finance is that it creates a common framework for everyone. You can't have an Uber or an Airbnb arriving and imposing its rules. This is an opportunity for European players.

How do you see Trade Republic?

We are a company that enables people to invest their money in the best possible way over the long term. This is a fundamental issue. Your money represents your work, all the time you've invested. In the United States, this subject is taken more seriously than in Europe.

Does Trade Republic give advice?