A Collateral for Generational Riches: Bitcoin
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- Bernegger sees Bitcoin as digital gold with long-term value.
- Bitcoin-backed loans could strengthen its scarcity.
- He favors Bitcoin long-term despite holding Swiss francs.
Bernegger disclosed his perspective during an interview with CoinShares. He purchased his first Bitcoin in 2012, a year after discovering Satoshi Nakamoto’s white paper. He mentioned that he did not see it as an investment at the time.
That perspective changed when he saw how growing demand and Bitcoin’s fixed supply positioned BTC to play a role similar to that of gold in monetary history. He explained that he began viewing BTC as digital gold designed for the digital economy.
Bernegger believes that borrowing against Bitcoin could develop into a major market trend, even though the practice is still at an early stage. He expects an increasing number of holders to use their Bitcoin as loan collateral to meet financial needs rather than sell their assets. If this approach becomes more widespread, it could keep more coins out of active circulation, strengthening Bitcoin’s scarcity.
For early adopters such as Bernegger, self-custody remains an important way to safeguard Bitcoin holdings. However, as cryptocurrency connects more with conventional financial services, investors are prompted to combine personal wallets with accounts held through regulated institutions to use digital assets as collateral and access other financial products.
This development reflects Switzerland’s pioneering role in the cryptocurrency industry, with Bernegger involved long before Bitcoin gained mainstream recognition. He explained that Ethereum’s emergence in Zug around 2015 helped build the country’s reputation as Crypto Valley. By the latter part of the 2010s, Switzerland had established itself as a prominent destination for digital asset businesses.
Bitcoin’s Longevity Parallel
Bernegger established another venture in 2020. He also co-founded the longevity venture builder Maximon that year, alongside his involvement with the Cryptocurrency Finance Group, which was acquired by Deutsche Börse. He noted that the thinking behind extending human healthspan reflects the patience and perseverance required to hold BTC through its price fluctuations.
Bernegger argued that Bitcoin’s significance extends beyond its market price. In his view, an idea that was once regarded as marginal has gradually attracted major financial institutions and some of the world’s wealthiest investors, who increasingly consider it a long-term store of value. Although he refrained from identifying himself as a Bitcoin maximalist, he explained that he has not yet seen another cryptocurrency achieve a comparable level of real-world impact.
When asked to choose between Bitcoin and the Swiss franc at the end of the interview, Bernegger revealed that he still holds his fiat currency in francs, describing himself as fortunate to be somewhat insulated from the widespread depreciation affecting global currencies. Nevertheless, he maintained that Bitcoin remains his preferred choice for the long term.
