Meet Michael Jerlis, Founder and CEO of EMCD and TechRound Blockchain32 Judge

Tell Us About EMCD

EMCD is a full-stack crypto platform with over 400K users worldwide. We run one of the top 10 Bitcoin mining pools globally, contributing more than 2% of the total hashrate. Beyond mining, we offer tools for growing and managing digital assets in one place.

Our core products include:

• Coinhold – a crypto savings wallet offering up to 14% APY
  
• A secure multi-currency wallet
  
• A P2P exchange with 100+ currency pairs
  

We see EMCD as more than a mining service, it’s an integrated ecosystem. In the near future, we plan to roll out 15+ new products targeting various user segments.

What’s New?

This past year, we focused on accessibility and scale. We localised 15 products into five languages – now supporting Spanish and Portuguese alongside Russian, English, and Chinese. Over the next six months, we’re preparing to enter 40 new countries.

The growth has been organic: nearly 50% of our user base joined within the last year.

Mining remains central. In Q4 2024, our pool’s hashrate increased by 7.3 EH/s – a 50% growth versus the previous period. This reflects both hardware expansion and trust from new miners.

Product Growth

Coinhold has seen strong traction, user count grew by 85% over the past year. Total value locked reached $50M, and Coinhold was named Best Savings Wallet of 2024 by crypto.news, a sign that users value both returns and reliability.

Our P2P platform also took off. Trading volume grew by 470%, and transaction count rose 400%. Platform security played a big role – users are choosing safe environments for direct exchange.

We invest more than $1.5M annually in infrastructure security. But our main investment is people: EMCD now employs 320 professionals across 27 countries. By the end of 2025, we aim to hold all company-wide meetings in English, aligning operations globally.

What’s Ahead?

We’re scaling both our investment and B2B product lines. AI and automation are major focus areas. We’re already applying internal investment strategies that mirror what we’ll soon offer to our users.

Internally, we’ve evolved. Data now drives all key decisions, and cross-team collaboration has improved product rollout and long-term planning. Our structure supports rapid scaling while staying agile.

What Advice Do You Have for Companies Entering the Blockchain 2025 Competition? 

Focus on ideas the market doesn’t fully appreciate yet. Great products often start where others hesitate. When we launched one of Europe’s first mining pools, the idea was doubted. Today, EMCD is among the global leaders. Early belief and persistence made the difference.

How Do You Suggest Entrants Should Stand Out From the Crowd?

Originality matters. Don’t replicate, create. Focus on long-term user value, not just short-term traction.

Execution depends on people. Build a team that understands the product and is committed to its growth. That’s the foundation for sustainable success.

Any Final Thoughts?

Setbacks are normal – treat them as operational hurdles, not reasons to quit. Stay focused, stay consistent, and keep working toward a clear goal. The outcome will reflect the effort.