Janine Grainger, the founder of NZ’s biggest crypto company, explains what crypto is and why she got involved.
Janine, who studied finance and economics at uni, has had a diverse career that’s included projects involving water supply in the Marshall Islands and bringing the Cricket World Cup to New Zealand. Verve had the pleasure of chatting to Janine about her current role as co-founder and CEO of Easy Crypto.
How did you get into the crypto business?
I first invested in cryptocurrency in 2014. It was the idea that attracted me, not the money-making potential. I remember at the time thinking that the concept made so much sense. We had this ‘global village’ with the internet, with everyone connected and able to share information, but we don’t have a global payment system or a global way of transferring value. It seemed like a no-brainer. Easy Crypto was born because a lot of my friends and family were wanting to get involved but they found the technology daunting and were unsure how to get started. My brother Alan and I developed Easy Crypto to help make it easy for people to gain access to digital assets.
How do you explain crypto to the uninitiated?
Cryptocurrency is a form of currency that’s fully digital and can be sent directly between people, without any intermediaries. It allows you to send money instantly anywhere in the world without the need for a bank or a credit card to process a transaction for you.
With low-to-no fees and no barriers to entry, cryptocurrency is an incredibly powerful way to democratise financial services by making digital payments and other financial products and services easily accessible to more people.
As a potential investor, why would I choose to go with Easy Crypto as opposed to another crypto start-up company?
Easy Crypto focuses on making crypto for humans by simplifying the cryptocurrency experience and making it easy for anyone to get into the crypto space, regardless of their prior knowledge or background.
We have a truly user-centred approach to our services, making sure customers’ issues are addressed by a team of humans who have genuine concern about their issues.
But whichever provider you use, make sure they are properly registered and regulated, so that your funds are protected.
Currently we are looking at a slowing property market and turbulent times for traditional share market investing – has crypto been affected in the same way? Is it a medium all investors should be looking at?
Yes, the cryptocurrency market has slowed in line with the macro environment, however, over time I think we should start to see cryptocurrency become less tied to the traditional financial markets. Crypto is becoming a more common component of a well-diversified portfolio. I personally believe any modern diversified investment portfolio should have at least 1% invested in cryptocurrency and it should be treated just like any other investment, in that it carries risk and the potential for returns.
The demographics of crypto investors is interesting: until recently it seemed quite macho. Has it evolved?
When I started in crypto it was very much a male-dominated space, but that is definitely changing. At Easy Crypto our female investors are increasing steadily and now make up well over a third of our customer base. Interestingly, the skew is more pronounced in younger age groups, for those over 40 years old it’s much more evenly split.
There are now many gateways into the crypto space – NFTs, gaming, and the creative industry are among the many entry points for those unfamiliar with crypto to start learning and generate curiosity, which helps diversify the demographic of crypto users.
The good news is that because of the decentralised nature of cryptocurrency, all have equal opportunity to participate and we’re trying to ensure that all groups have the education and advice they need to access this space, understand it, and leverage the benefits it can provide.
Is there a leadership lesson that you’ve learnt that’s unique to being a female leader?
One thing that has surprised me about being visible as a female leader is how important it is for other women. I’ve had staff, customers, and strangers tell me that seeing my journey has inspired them. There’s a responsibility that comes with that, but also a challenge for us as a society; clearly we don’t have enough women in leadership yet.
How do you unplug from work?
I’m lucky to live near the beach, so popping out for a walk with the dogs is my favourite way to destress and disconnect from work.
What’s the best work-related advice you’ve ever recieved?
It’s hard – harder than you ever imagine – but you’re not alone. Ben Horowitz in The Hard Thing about Hard Things has an amazing chapter on ‘The Struggle’. For anyone going through the difficulty of launching or running a business, Google ‘the struggle’ – it’s challenging but comforting to know you’re not alone.
What is your biggest indulgence at home?
I love my whiskies and have a fantastic collection – indulging in a nip of single malt is a great end to the day.
