In the world of cryptocurrencies, where there is no room for half-measures, Janusz Zieliński has grown into one of the leaders of the Polish blockchain scene. His story is a tale of courage, determination and willingness to take risks, which drove him to cross new boundaries. From a housing estate to London - a road full of challenges Janusz Zieliński, raised in Poznań's Jeżyce district, decided at a young age to break away from an environment that did not give him any prospects for development. Life on the estate was full of difficult situations that shaped his personality - from witnesses to thefts to painful events, such as the death of an old friend. In 2013, with a backpack full of dreams, he set off for London. Without a certain plan, without connections, only with a return ticket "just in case", he threw himself into the deep end. Renting a bed in a hostel, saving around £1,600 and a modest job on a forklift were the beginning of his emigration adventure. It was this moment when, on the streets of London, surrounded by the skyscrapers of the City, he understood that the world had something more to offer him. His interest in cryptocurrencies began even before London, in 2012. These were the times when the world of blockchain was just taking its first steps, and Janusz was one of those who believed in the financial revolution. He bought his first bitcoin for about PLN 30. He explored then unknown areas of the Internet, such as Silk Road - a platform that changed his perception of digital money. Although he lost a few bitcoins due to the closure of Silk Road by the FBI, his interest did not fade. On the contrary - he became even more involved in the world of digital currencies. Janusz went through difficult times on the cryptocurrency market. One such moment occurred when, after investing his savings, the market dropped by 80-90%. He wanted to sell everything and withdraw from the investment, but... the exchange server crashed. Thanks to this accidental obstacle, he remained in the industry. Today he runs Ari10, a cryptocurrency exchange company that generates a monthly turnover of around PLN 70 million. His goal is to simplify and popularize cryptocurrencies in Poland. Ari10 is not only online and offline exchange offices, but also mobile applications that allow for quick purchase of cryptocurrencies. Janusz successfully develops a network of stationary exchange offices, and also cooperates with Mennica Skarbowa, enabling the exchange of gold, silver and diamonds for cryptocurrencies. The challenges for Ari10 do not end with the Polish market. Janusz predicts that the upcoming European regulations will transform the entire cryptocurrency industry, eliminating smaller companies from the market. Janusz is ready for these changes and sees them as an opportunity for further development, and his company is constantly growing, aiming to exceed a billion zlotys in turnover. EPISODE PARTNERS: ????WiseGroup: https://wisegroup.pl/ ???? MIZZOX https://mizzox.com/ ☕BIGBEANS https://bigbeans.pl ????NIKALAB https://nikalab.pl/maciej ????Audio quality guaranteed by RØDE https://bit.ly/3V8Try2 ????Studio chairs provided by YUMISU®: https://bit.ly/yumisu_zsz 00:00 - In this episode 00:59 - Official introduction to the broadcast and introduction of the guest. 01:37 - Janusz designing his life. 02:15 - The decision to go against the flow. 03:31 - Emigration to London 07:01 - Janusz's studies 08:13 - Life in Jeżyce, Poznań. 09:18 - Difficult situations in youth. 10:22 - Decision to leave the 'estate'. 11:28 - Breakthrough moment and writing down a list of goals. 12:35 - Achieving goals from the list. 14:48 - Meet the broadcast partners. 16:09 - Back to the conversation: Janusz's beginnings in cryptocurrencies. 19:01 - Discussion about Silk Road and its impact on Bitcoin's popularity. 20:35 - The story of losing two Bitcoins after Silk Road closed. 21:13 - Purchase of the first Bitcoin in 2012. 22:21 - Struggles with the first drops in Bitcoin's value. 23:37 - The beginnings of Janusz's cryptocurrency business. 25:36 - Creating a local cryptocurrency community. 27:27 - Partnership with Mennica Skarbowa. 29:30 - Company development and number of employees. 30:22 - Company turnover and margins. 31:00 - Upcoming EU regulations and their impact on business. 35:14 - The impact of Janusz's psychological characteristics on running a business. 38:48 - Personal health experience that changed Janusz's life. 42:45 - Returning to work after health problems. 43:32 - Balance between personal life and running a business. 44:20 - The importance of support from loved ones in difficult moments. 46:10 - How has the health crisis affected Janusz's life? 48:12 - Changing priorities and what is most important now. 49:00 - Reflections on the future and further plans. 51:15 - Advice for younger entrepreneurs. 52:30 - The importance of perseverance in life and business. 53:15 - Why is it worth