The Bitcoin economy, built into every industry.
Bitcoin adoption won't arrive through a handful of dominant platforms. It arrives when thousands of disciplined, Bitcoin-native companies quietly replace fiat rails inside every industry they enter — remittances, lending, payroll, trade finance, insurance, capital markets, treasury, and every other place money moves.
Bitcoin Studios co-founds those companies from zero to revenue.
The Thesis
Bitcoin has already proven itself as a store of value. The next phase is different. It requires thousands of companies rebuilding the financial workflows of specific industries on Bitcoin rails. Remittance corridors, property finance, trade settlement, payroll, insurance, treasury management. Each of these is a standalone business with its own regulation, customer base, and unit economics.
Large platforms have opened the first layer of this market. They aggregate users, liquidity, custody, and attention. They have made Bitcoin accessible at scale. But they don't rebuild the actual money movements inside industries. That work falls to specialist operators who understand a specific market deeply enough to know where the workflow is broken, where Bitcoin fixes it, and where customers will pay for the improvement.
Bitcoin Studios builds that specialist layer. We find the operators, validate the workflow, and co-found the company. Each venture we build is a small, permanent piece of Bitcoin infrastructure embedded inside an industry that previously ran entirely on fiat rails.
The common thread across every venture is capital discipline. We don't fund ideas that need speculative momentum to survive. We build businesses that generate revenue because the product is cheaper, faster, or structurally superior to what existed before.
What We Build
Bitcoin Studios exists to turn broken financial workflows into profitable Bitcoin-native companies. We look for markets where Bitcoin changes settlement, collateral, custody, or treasury economics in a way customers will pay for.
Current areas of focus:
Remittance and cross-border settlement
Moving money across borders is still slow and expensive. Lightning and Bitcoin rails compress settlement from days to seconds and strip intermediaries out of the stack.
Bitcoin-backed credit and property finance
Bitcoin holders want liquidity without selling. Structuring credit products around Bitcoin as collateral unlocks that, and applying the same logic to property gives holders access to real assets without liquidating their best-performing one.
In development: Sound Property.
In development: Sound Property.
Trade and supply chain finance
Letters of credit, invoice factoring, and working capital products still clear on rails built for the 1970s. Bitcoin-native settlement compresses the cycle from weeks to days and opens SMB access in emerging markets.
Treasury and structured products
Corporates holding Bitcoin need custody, policy, reporting, and programmable instruments that traditional treasury software cannot handle. The institutional stack for Bitcoin-native balance sheets is still mostly unbuilt.
Parametric insurance
Bitcoin-settled, code-enforceable insurance products compress the claims cycle from weeks to seconds. Weather, trade disruption, flight delay, and agricultural yield are the obvious early markets.
Capital markets and programmable securities
Issuance, settlement, and collateral management for institutional instruments still run on permissioned rails built decades ago. Bitcoin-native infrastructure enables tokenised funds, sukuk, and structured products that settle directly on-chain and reach investors in markets conventional systems cannot serve efficiently.
Metered payments and agentic settlement
AI agents, paid APIs, and machine-to-machine services need programmable per-call payments that legacy rails cannot support at the required scale or granularity. Lightning and emerging Bitcoin protocols deliver fully settled micropayments with no counterparty risk, making per-transaction pricing economically viable for the first time.
How We Build Ventures
We co-found companies from day zero with operators who know a market well enough to spot a broken workflow worth rebuilding on Bitcoin. We validate demand fast, build to first revenue, and spin out what proves itself. Bitcoin Studios invests operating time, venture design, and execution support for a minority equity stake.
01
Idea Rapid-Validation
Once we confirm problem-founder fit, we kick off with a time-boxed sprint (4–6 weeks) to test your core hypothesis. Market research, quant surveys, landing page tests – whatever scrappy methods get signal. The Goal: Prove there's a real customer problem and willingness to pay before building heavy tech.
02
MVP & Early Traction
Assuming we see signal, our team (product, dev, growth marketers) works with you to design an MVP or prototype. We'll get a basic offering in front of users within weeks. The Goal: Acquire your first users or first revenue ASAP – often while still pre-incorporation.
03
Co-Founder Execution
We operate as true co-founders, not consultants. We invest our time and skills for sweat equity (a small equity stake). We handle company-building grunt work: product design, coding features, analytics setup, growth experiments, back-office setup. You focus on vision and domain expertise.
04
Spin-Out & Scale
We help incorporate a new company when the venture needs to accept payments or generate revenue. When it hits our success criteria, we then line up initial funding and spin it out as an independent business with you as CEO. Post-spin-out, we stick around as needed – on your board, with optional ongoing support.
No fees. We earn equity in the new venture, negotiated transparently. We're shoulder-to-shoulder, building from scratch with a focus on getting to revenue fast.
Our Stage-Gate System
We validate ruthlessly at each step. Our stage-gate model guides every venture from zero to spin-out, ensuring we invest time and resources only in ideas with proven potential.
Gate 1: Problem–Founder Fit
Goal: Confirm a real customer problem and that you have a unique edge tackling it.
Evidence: 50+ customer interviews plus quant survey pinpointing top pain point; early adopter enthusiasm.
Timebox: 2–3 weeks with 1–2 team members.
Kill criteria: The problem isn’t urgent, or the founder lacks a defensible edge to lead execution from day zero.
Gate 2: Solution Signal Test
Goal: Validate that your proposed solution resonates with target customers.
Evidence: 50–100 sign-ups on smoke-test landing page, or LOIs/MOUs from potential customers; individuals ready to pre-pay or pilot.
Timebox: 4-6 weeks with UX designer and marketer.
Kill criteria: No meaningful sign-ups or customer interest; solution doesn't resonate.
Gate 3: MVP & First Launch
Goal: Develop functional MVP and get it in hands of real users, aiming for first revenue.
Evidence: Working product and at least 1–3 paying customers or validated willingness to pay.
Timebox: 8–10 weeks for MVP build and initial launch with 1-2 engineers and product manager.
Kill criteria: Can't ship working product or zero revenue after build cycle.
Gate 4: Traction & Repeatability
Goal: Prove initial success wasn't a fluke – show repeatable usage or sales and path to scale.
Evidence: Reach agreed MRR or equivalent revenue within 3–4 months of launch, OR consistent user growth (e.g., 3+ consecutive months of 20% MoM growth).
Timebox: 3–6 months post-spin-out with dedicated core team.
Kill criteria: Flat or declining growth; can't reach agreed MRR threshold or show repeatable customer acquisition.
Gate 5: Spin-Out & Full Independence
Decision Point: The venture is ready for full independence and external funding. (Note: Legal incorporation may occur earlier, around Gate 3, to accept revenue).
Goal: Secure initial external funding and establish the venture as a fully independent company with its own CEO.
Kill criteria: No clear path to profitability or sustainable unit economics; inability to attract external seed funding.
If pass: The venture formally spins out. Bitcoin Studios remains a supportive equity partner, and our team members transition to new projects, leaving the fully independent company to scale.
Our First Venture: Sound Property
Sound Property is a Sharia-compliant property finance product that lets Bitcoin holders co-own UAE property without selling their Bitcoin. Structured as a Qualified Investor Fund under ADGM regulation, it uses genuine Diminishing Musharaka co-ownership rather than the interest-based structures that dominate Islamic mortgage markets.
The fund provides 100% of the property purchase price in cash. The co-owner contributes Bitcoin as their partnership capital. Ownership transfers gradually through tranche buyouts priced on total partnership value.
This is the first specialist venture in the Bitcoin Studios portfolio. Status: in pre-application with ADGM's FSRA, custody partners shortlisted, investor deck with strategic partners.
For Partners and Capital
Bitcoin Studios is building a portfolio of operating companies with a common edge: Bitcoin changes the unit economics of a specific financial workflow. Each venture is screened for founder fit, regulatory feasibility, customer pain, and path to early revenue before outside capital comes in.
We work with strategic partners who bring regulatory capability, distribution, institutional capital, or industry access to specific ventures we are building or preparing to build. Bitcoin Studios Fund I, planned for 2027, will co-invest alongside these partners into portfolio companies.
Founding Team
Bitcoin Studios is remote-first. We travel to where founders are, and incorporate each venture in the jurisdiction that best fits its product, regulation, and customer base — Delaware, BVI, Cayman, Singapore, UK, ADGM, DIFC, or other UAE free zones. Structure follows the venture.
Co-Founder & CEO
Robbie is a full-stack marketer and venture builder responsible for studio operations, go-to-market strategy, and early revenue generation. He previously helped scale several fintech startups from inception to thousands of users, focusing on positioning, acquisition efficiency, and sustainable unit economics. In his spare time, he organises Bitcoin Works, a growing community of Bitcoin builders, contributors, and enthusiasts.
Co-Founder & CTO
Davide is a backend engineer who cares about building payment and trading systems that don't fall over. He handles architecture, backend design, and getting our products from an idea to something real and running in production. He's worked across DeFi trading engines, credential systems, and high-throughput backend services, and has a bias toward simple, reliable solutions that ship fast.
If you're interested in working with Bitcoin Studios – whether as a Founder, an engineer on our build team, or an intern – get in touch.
Apply Now
Join Our Startup Studio
Bitcoin Studios works with a limited number of founders each year, evaluated on a rolling basis. If you have a compelling Bitcoin business idea and the domain expertise to build it, apply below.
Loading...
Everything you share is confidential and used solely to assess fit.
We'll review internally and reach out within two weeks if there's a potential match. We may invite you to a call or ask for more information. Our selection criteria prioritise founder domain expertise, problem clarity, and early evidence over polished pitch decks.
FAQ
Do I have to give up a huge chunk of equity?
No. Our model is to earn a minority stake in your company as co-founders, typically 15–20% range (exact number depends on how much heavy lifting we do, finalised when we incorporate (which happens when we hit first revenue)). You, as CEO/founding entrepreneur, will always have the largest stake and control.
We take just enough to make our effort worthwhile and signal to future investors that we're meaningfully involved. Remember, we're not charging cash – our equity share is in exchange for significant development, design, and growth work (often hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of value). We also vest our shares alongside you post-spinout.
Who owns the IP and product we build?
You and the new company do. During the studio phase, we build under Bitcoin Studios' umbrella for practical reasons, but once we spin the venture out, all intellectual property (code, designs, domains, etc.) is transferred to the new company.
If a project doesn't spin out (killed in validation), ownership of any code or assets will be discussed case-by-case – usually, if you want to continue independently, we'll let you use what was built. The founder(s) and the venture will hold the IP upon successful spin-out, clearly documented in our agreements.
What's the time commitment? Can I keep my day job?
In the very initial stage (problem validation sprint), founders can contribute ~15-20 hours/week. However, once we move past Gate 1 or 2, we expect founders to go full-time on the venture. Building a startup is intense; being all-in is required for success.
A typical week post-validation involves daily standups, working sessions with our team, customer calls, etc. We won't waste your time with long incubator-style "curriculum" – we're building, testing, selling continuously. Be prepared to jump in full-time as soon as there's a whiff of traction (usually within a few weeks).
What if the studio decides to kill the project, but I'm still passionate about it?
If Bitcoin Studios says "the metrics aren't there, we need to halt" and you still believe in the idea, you have two options: (1) Pivot together – convince us there's a smarter angle to try (we're open-minded, show us a reasonable plan), or (2) Part ways amicably – you take the idea and whatever you built and continue on your own.
We won't hold you hostage. We might retain a small equity right if you go on to build it into a company (because of our contributions), but we're not going to block you. If you prove us wrong later by making it work solo, we'll be the first to cheer you on!
How do you help with fundraising? Will you invest money as well?
We help with fundraising once a venture is spin-out ready. We ensure all prep is solid: pitch deck, financial model, data room with traction results. We then introduce you to relevant investors, including Bitcoin-focused VCs and angels who understand the space.
An introduction from us is a strong signal: investors know the venture has been through rigorous vetting and has our skin in the game. Bitcoin Studios Fund I, planned for 2027, will co-invest into each spin-out.
What if I already have funding or an existing team?
Our program is primarily designed for pre-seed stage – often solo founders or founding teams of two with an idea and maybe minimal funding. If you already raised a substantial round or have a full team, traditional accelerator or VC might make more sense.
That said, there are cases we'd consider: you raised friends & family round but are stuck on product-market fit – we could operate like an in-house SWAT team to reboot traction (for equity or revenue share). Or if you have technical team but lack go-to-market expertise (or vice versa), we could complement that. Be upfront with what you have and need.
Is this an accelerator or incubator? How is a studio different?
We're not an accelerator (3-month cohorts of many startups with small investment and mentorship ending in demo day). We're also not a passive incubator. A venture studio actually forms new companies by pairing with founders.
We don't have yearly cohorts or standard curriculum; we start ventures on a rolling basis. We don't just mentor – we execute (our team writes your code, designs your logo, crafts marketing copy). Think of us as co-founders for hire, with a playbook. By "graduation," you've built a product and signed customers.
How do you decide which ideas to pursue? Can I pitch you my idea?
We have two pipelines: internally-generated ideas (backlog of concepts we think are promising) and founder-brought ideas. For external ideas, please pitch us via the Founder Application Form above!
We decide based on:
- Bitcoin-native: Leverages Bitcoin or solves problem in Bitcoin/Lightning ecosystem.
- Monetizable: Can make money relatively early via known business models.
- Founder fit: Do you have an edge – deep understanding of customer or unique skill?
- Our bandwidth: 2–3 ventures/year initially.
What about legal, regulatory, compliance issues – will you help?
Yes. Many Bitcoin businesses touch on regulated areas: payments, exchange, lending, fund structuring. We have playbooks for legal entity setup, regulatory considerations, and connections to specialised law firms across multiple jurisdictions.
If your venture needs an ADGM licence, a Money Service Business registration in the US, or regulatory approval elsewhere, we identify that early and plan accordingly. We have advisors who are compliance officers and lawyers in the Bitcoin and fintech space, and we incorporate each venture in the jurisdiction that fits its product and customer base.
Why only Bitcoin? What about other blockchains?
We build on Bitcoin and its layers: Lightning, sidechains, and emerging protocols like RGB and Taproot Assets. We don't build on alternative blockchains or work with tokens. Every venture in the portfolio uses Bitcoin because it is the only digital asset with the liquidity depth, regulatory clarity, and institutional trust to underpin real financial products. Building on anything else means building on ground that shifts underneath you.
How long does the process take from first conversation to spin-out?
It depends on the venture, but the typical arc runs 12 to 18 months. The first 2–3 weeks confirm problem-founder fit. If that holds, a 4–6 week validation sprint tests whether customers will pay. MVP build and first revenue usually happen within 8–10 weeks after that. The remaining months are spent proving traction is repeatable before we spin the venture out as an independent company. Ventures that don't pass a gate stop early. The stage-gate system exists to compress timelines and cut losses fast.
I'm a strategic partner or investor, not a founder. How do I work with Bitcoin Studios?
We work with partners who bring regulatory capability, distribution, institutional capital, or industry access to specific ventures we are building. If you have a licence, a customer base, or domain expertise that accelerates one of our active verticals, we want to hear from you. For Fund I enquiries or broader partnership conversations, contact us at hello@bitcoinstudios.xyz with the subject line "Partnership enquiry".
Still have questions? Send us an email. We're happy to clarify anything else. If you've read this far, you're exactly the kind of thorough founder we'd love to work with.
The Bitcoin economy gets built company by company. Come build one with us.
Contact
Legal
Nothing on this site is investment advice, solicitation, or an offering of securities. We're a venture studio (co-founders) – not a fund or broker.
Bitcoin is volatile; building startups is risky. Any forward-looking statements are exactly that – forward-looking.
© 2025 Bitcoin Studios is a sub-brand of Northbound Digital LTD. All rights reserved.