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Nicolas Burtey
Nicolas Burtey
Nicolas Burtey is a technology entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Galoy, a company that develops open-source Bitcoin banking infrastructure. He is known for his work in driving Bitcoin adoption by providing enterprise-grade tools that enable communities, companies, and governments to build financial services on the Bitcoin and Lightning Network. His work with Galoy includes the development of the Blink wallet, formerly the Bitcoin Beach Wallet, which is a widely used custodial wallet designed to support the growth of circular economies. [1] [2]
Education
Burtey studied Mathematics and Computer Science at the Université de Franche-Comté (Université de Besançon) from 2001 to 2004, where he obtained a Licence, an undergraduate degree equivalent to a Bachelor's degree. Following this, he attended the École nationale supérieure Louis-Lumière in Paris from 2004 to 2007, earning a Master's degree in Cinematography and Film/Video Production, which provided him with a foundation in managing complex technical systems. [2]
Career
Burtey began his career working as a freelance software engineer from 2007 to 2011, developing his technical skills across a variety of projects. In January 2012, he founded Orah (originally named VideoStitch), a venture-backed company that developed software and hardware for creating and streaming 360-degree VR video content. He led the company as founder and CEO for over six years. In May 2018, Burtey transitioned into the blockchain industry by co-founding Harmony, a sharding-based protocol focused on scalability and decentralization. He was part of the founding team until late 2019.
In November 2019, Burtey founded Galoy to focus exclusively on building open-source, enterprise-grade Bitcoin banking software. As CEO, he has overseen the development of the company's core platform, which is designed to help organizations launch financial products on Bitcoin. Galoy is the developer behind the Blink wallet, which was initially launched in 2020 as the Bitcoin Beach Wallet to support the circular economy in El Zonte, El Salvador. This project gained international recognition and served as a proof-of-concept for community-based Bitcoin adoption. [2]
Interviews
Bitcoin Banks
In a February 2025 interview on the Stephan Livera Podcast, Burtey discussed his journey with Bitcoin since 2019, including his work on the Bitcoin Beach wallet and efforts to promote adoption in El Salvador. He described the evolution of Bitcoin banking, noting a shift from individual self-custody toward custodial solutions as many users find self-custody complex. Burtey explained the concept of Bitcoin banks, which allow users to create banking solutions without central permission, and addressed regulatory challenges that impact both Bitcoin-focused and traditional banks integrating Bitcoin services. He highlighted the growing interest among banks in offering custody and lending services, the importance of proof-of-reserve models for transparency, and the ongoing effects of El Salvador’s repeal of Bitcoin as legal tender. Burtey concluded by expressing optimism for the continued development of Bitcoin adoption in the region and invited listeners to engage on topics related to Bitcoin-backed lending. [3]
Bitcoin Future
In an August 2025 interview on the All In Bitcoin With CK podcast, Burtey discussed Bitcoin’s potential to disrupt financial systems over the next five to ten years, particularly noting slower adoption in Europe compared to regions like El Salvador. He described the challenges of building a company in the Bitcoin space, including limited funding and support, and contrasted European skepticism with optimism in countries actively adopting Bitcoin. Burtey highlighted lessons from The Sovereign Individual, emphasized Bitcoin’s ongoing viability as a medium of exchange, and discussed the role of stablecoins in facilitating early adoption for businesses. He addressed the impact of U.S. regulatory shifts on Bitcoin adoption and detailed Bitcoin-backed loans, including collateral management and associated risks. Burtey also introduced Lana, a software that enables banks to offer Bitcoin-backed lending products within regulatory frameworks, and reflected on the Adopting Bitcoin conference’s role in connecting entrepreneurs and fostering new collaborations in the ecosystem. [5]
Presentations
Merchant Adoption
In April 2024 at Economia Bitcoin, Burtey spoke on “Beyond Merchant Adoption,” emphasizing that the success of a local Bitcoin economy should be measured by active users rather than the number of merchants. He highlighted over 100 merchants in Berlin accepting Bitcoin and discussed the importance of transaction frequency and money velocity. Burtey advised against converting Bitcoin back to fiat to strengthen circular economies and instead promoted Bitcoin-native solutions and tools, such as stablecoins, to manage volatility. He suggested incentivizing suppliers to accept Bitcoin, shifting business perspectives from merely accepting Bitcoin to preferring it, and introduced upcoming Blink Wallet features to support transactions and peer-to-peer selling, including segregated accounts, while engaging with attendees on the challenges of retaining Bitcoin within the ecosystem. [6]
Bitcoin History
At Adopting Bitcoin 2024, Burtey opened the conference by reflecting on Ukraine’s significance and the broader journey of nation-building in the context of Bitcoin. He discussed the development trajectory of countries moving from third
- to first-world status, highlighting the challenges smaller nations face in achieving economic self-sufficiency and effective decision-making. Burtey emphasized the importance of workforce training to attract multinational investment, the need for countries to adapt to global economic pressures, and the role of efficient governance and market systems in supporting stability and growth. He also addressed opportunities to create integrated markets, promote open-source solutions that facilitate merchant transactions, and encourage Bitcoin adoption, concluding by thanking sponsors and attendees. [7]
Building Bitcoin Tools
At Adopting Bitcoin in November 2023, Burtey presented the Blink API, designed to facilitate Bitcoin transactions for corporations and individuals and bridge traditional fiat banking with Bitcoin adoption. He highlighted a partnership with a major distributor in El Salvador. He outlined the API’s role in simplifying corporate Bitcoin payments through familiar systems while ensuring reliability comparable to credit card transactions. Burtey emphasized the API's cost efficiency, its support for stable-set features to manage Bitcoin’s volatility, and the development of open-source tools that enable organizations to manage their own transactions securely. He also discussed the gradual adoption process for corporations —from initial API integration to full Bitcoin system implementation —and concluded by encouraging attendees to explore the API and available support resources. [4]
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