The Bitcoin Federal Association congratulates all five board members on their election and thanks the members for the trust they have placed in the association.

The new board introduces itself

The new board brings together diverse professional experiences and areas of expertise. From association work, entrepreneurship and finance to communication and political networking, and from Bitcoin payments to organizational development, the new team covers a broad spectrum.

Larry Terwey – CEO

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Larry Terwey brings more than 25 years of professional experience in the fields of digitalization, IoT, robotics, and artificial intelligence. His professional focus is particularly on partner management, network development, and strategic collaborations. He also has experience as a supervisory board chair and executive board member, as well as in local politics.

He has been involved with Bitcoin since 2014. At the German Bitcoin Association, he aims in particular to increase political visibility, foster collaboration with companies and associations, and expand national and international networking.

Jens Leinert – Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors

Jens Leinert has been a member of the board since the Bitcoin Federal Association was founded and has now been elected to another term.

He has more than 20 years of experience in online payments and has been deeply involved with Bitcoin since 2013. Since 2017, he has focused exclusively on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. As an entrepreneur, he focuses in particular on integrating Bitcoin and Lightning as payment methods and on developing corresponding solutions for merchants and businesses.

Within the federal association, he intends to continue advocating for improved tax and regulatory frameworks, greater use of Bitcoin as a means of payment, and the interests of Bitcoin companies. This also includes applying the lessons learned from the proHaltefrist initiative to other regulatory issues, such as DAC8 or the digital euro.

Yvonne Strathmann – Chief Financial Officer

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Yvonne Strathmann holds a degree in social pedagogy and has many years of experience in the automotive industry as well as in organizational development and executive leadership. Even before her election, she was active in the Bitcoin Bundesverband, including on the Education Committee and in member services. She is also involved with the proHaltefrist initiative.

Her priorities include, in particular, clear and transparent organizational structures, careful financial management, close communication with members, and effective collaboration within the Bitcoin community. She also aims to further advance the association’s national and international networking efforts.

Fardad Hooghoughi – Executive Board Member

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Fardad Hooghoughi is a lawyer with many years of experience in politics and organized association work. His areas of expertise to date include, among other things, drafting bylaws, lobbying, membership recruitment, and press and public relations.

At the Bitcoin Federal Association, he aims in particular to professionalize the organizational structures, raise the association’s profile among policymakers, the media, and the general public, recruit new members, and engage existing members more closely. Another priority is building relationships with policymakers, government agencies, and other relevant institutions.

Sebastian Rehbein – Board Member

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Sebastian Rehbein is an entrepreneur with experience in a variety of fields, including public administration, project management, finance, budget planning, taxes, strategy, and public relations. He has been actively involved with Bitcoin since 2013.

His priorities for the board’s work include ensuring a solid financial foundation for the association, placing greater emphasis on the needs of businesses, and expanding public relations efforts and visibility. The Bitcoin Bundesverband aims to be recognized by businesses, the media, policymakers, and other associations as a competent point of contact for Bitcoin-related issues.

A Shared Goal: Further Developing the Bitcoin Federal Association

Despite their different professional backgrounds, the five board members’ visions share many common priorities.

The upcoming term will focus in particular on professionalizing the association’s structures, increasing member engagement, expanding its financial and organizational foundation, and raising the Bitcoin Federal Association’s profile in the business community, political circles, and the public eye. Networking with companies, other associations, and political institutions also plays an important role in the plans of several board members.

Another key focus will be on more effectively coordinating the interests of Bitcoin companies in Germany and representing them in dealings with policymakers and government agencies. This will involve, among other things, regulatory and tax frameworks, Bitcoin as a means of payment, lessons learned from the proHaltefrist initiative, and future issues such as DAC8 and the digital euro.

At the same time, the Federal Association is intended to increasingly serve as a platform where companies, members, and various segments of the German Bitcoin community can come together, exchange knowledge, and develop joint projects.

Retreat to Kick Off the New Term

The new board will meet for a retreat very soon.

The goal is to define the priorities for the upcoming term, assign responsibilities within the Executive Board, and plan the first joint projects and initiatives. The aim is to get started on operational work promptly after the election.

The Bitcoin Federal Association will regularly keep its members and the public informed about the next steps and key priorities.

Thanks to the outgoing Board

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. The term of the outgoing Board of Directors ends with the General Meeting.

The Bitcoin Federal Association would like to thank all outgoing board members for their dedication and hard work over the past two years. The previous board laid important groundwork, particularly during the association’s early stages, and helped establish the Bitcoin Federal Association as an advocacy group for Bitcoin companies and the Bitcoin community in Germany.

The new board intends to build on this work and further develop the association in terms of organization, finances, and content over the next two years.
Moving Forward

Together into the Next Phase

The unanimous election of all five board members represents a clear mandate from the general assembly to the new board team.

Now the collaborative work begins: further developing our structures, involving members and companies more closely, expanding our public and political presence, and actively helping to shape the framework conditions for Bitcoin in Germany.

The Bitcoin Federation congratulates Larry Terwey, Jens Leinert, Yvonne Strathmann, Fardad Hooghoughi, and Sebastian Rehbein on their election and wishes the new board a successful start to their new term.

More information about the Board of Directors:
Board of Directors of the Bitcoin Federal Association