Interview with Peter Curk of ICONOMI
Investment platforms face unexpected challenges: converting viewers to active participants, rebuilding trust after past issues, and understanding true investor demographics. Peter Curk discusses the “lurker gap,” regulatory pressure, design psychology, and why 2026 demands a disciplined, mainstream growth approach.
The activation crisis seems to be crypto’s hidden challenge. 50% of registered users never activate their accounts. What’s the single biggest barrier preventing these “watchers” from becoming investors, and how should platforms address it in 2026?
The biggest barrier is fear of making the “first irreversible move”. People register, browse, and stop right before KYC and the first deposit because that moment feels like: “If I mess this up, I lose money.” And in crypto, they’ve been trained to expect traps.
On our side, you see it in the “lurker gap”. That’s not a lack of interest. That’s hesitation. 
In 2026, the fix is simple: make the first step reversible and boring. Let them simulate outcomes on their amount, set a plan, and only then ask for the full commitment. Progressive KYC, smaller “starter deposit” rails, and one-click recurring buys beat another education article.
As crypto platforms now compete directly with ISAs, ETFs, and robo-advisors for long-term capital, what’s the one thing traditional finance does better that crypto needs to learn from?
TradFi is better at making long-term investing feel normal. ISAs and ETFs don’t feel like a “decision.” They feel like hygiene.
TradFi is better at making long-term investing feel normal. ISAs and ETFs don’t feel like a “decision.” They feel like hygiene.
Crypto still often feels like you’re joining a subculture, with extra cognitive load and extra perceived risk. In the UK especially, the bar is now higher: promotions must stand on their own, be fair/clear, and present risk with real prominence, not tucked in captions. If you’re serious about long-term capital, you have to communicate like a grown-up financial service every time.
Your data shows that the 35-54 age group dominates AUM, yet the industry still seems to design for younger users. What specific changes do crypto platforms need to make in 2026 to properly serve their most valuable demographic?
Design for the people who actually fund the platform. Because our deposits are “middle-aged and capital-rich,” with first deposits skewing hard to 35–64 and 55–64, putting in the biggest sums. 
So in 2026, stop leading with hype, memes, and “what coin is up today.” Lead with clarity, control, and outcomes. Make fees obvious. Make risk obvious. Make performance reporting something you’d show your accountant. And give them fewer choices with better defaults. Most high-AUM users don’t want to “trade.” They want to set a plan and not babysit it.
2025 brought EU regulations and broader institutional adoption. Now that crypto has moved into the establishment, what’s the biggest risk the industry faces in trying to balance its disruptive origins with mainstream acceptance?
If the industry tries to keep the rebel tone while selling mainstream retirement-like products, people feel the mismatch fast.
The biggest risk is trust whiplash. If the industry tries to keep the rebel tone while selling mainstream retirement-like products, people feel the mismatch fast.
Mainstream acceptance means: tighter rules, tighter language, tighter UX. If you keep marketing like it’s 2021, you’ll attract the wrong users, get hammered on compliance, and you still won’t win the ISA/ETF money.
Beyond education, what role does platform design and user experience play in converting passive observers into active participants?
It’s not a “nice to have.” It’s the conversion engine. Watchers don’t need another glossary. They need the product to answer: “What happens if I do nothing?” and “What happens if I start with 200GBP?” And they need that answer on one screen.
With B2B investment growth emerging as a trend, how do you see the corporate adoption of crypto evolving in 2026, and does this require a fundamentally different approach than retail investment?
Yes. It’s a different sport.
B2B is already behaving like a real revenue driver for us. In 2026, corporate adoption moves through “safe” use cases first: treasury allocation policies, advisor-led distribution, and controlled product wrappers. Retail wants inspiration. B2B wants process, approvals, and a pack they can hand to compliance without getting laughed out of the room.
As regulation tightens and competition with traditional finance intensifies, crypto’s next growth phase will depend less on hype and more on clarity, trust, and product design. For Peter Curk, that means making investing feel structured, reversible, and responsibly boring. Without losing crypto’s core innovation.
Executive Profile
Peter Curk is CEO of ICONOMI, a leading platform in digital asset management. With a background in finance and blockchain, Peter is passionate about making crypto investing accessible for everyone. Under his leadership, ICONOMI has grown into a trusted name in the industry, offering innovative solutions for individuals and institutions.
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