I recently went one-on-one with Petr Kozyakov, co-founder and CEO of Mercuryo.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Petr: My background in payments goes back to the late 2000s, when I joined a small payments company as one of its first employees. Wearing many hats and learning how to build from scratch shaped how I approach business today.
With Mercuryo, we started as a small group of founders and developers who set out to design a simple, user-friendly platform to make cryptocurrency products as accessible as those in everyday finance. The first version of our app provided something of a blueprint for the amazing products and services that we are now delivering. The real test came as we scaled, moving from a startup in 2018 to a global payments infrastructure company powering fiat-to-crypto services for more than 200 partners.
Navigating our talent pool was another challenge. Startups are intense by nature. There is a lot of pressure and a lot of uncertainty. And even the most talented people can burn out. We had moments where key engineers felt they just didn’t have the energy to continue. That really made me reflect on how important it is to build not just a company, but a healthy culture.
Like all startups, along the way, we’ve had some setbacks, but our commitment to compliance and practical use cases has helped us stay resilient and grow into a global payments ecosystem bridging TradFi, Web2, and Web3.
How did you come up with your business idea, and know your business idea was worth pursuing? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with and test business ideas?
Petr: In 2018, I was in Bali trying to make a payment to the US. Traditional options failed, but after some effort, I sent a payment using digital tokens, and it arrived in just 15 seconds. That was a revelation that led me to this journey.
Additionally, having worked in payments since the late 2000s, I saw crypto volumes rising across services in 2017. It was clear to me that crypto could play a much bigger role in payments. With that insight and the payments expertise of the team, we launched Mercuryo to make digital assets simple and accessible for both businesses and individuals.
In terms of advice, I recommend that others who are looking to test new business ideas focus on real pain points and combine them with their domain expertise. If you can solve a real problem better and faster than existing options, you’re onto something worth pursuing.
Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?
Petr: In growing Mercuryo, I’ve learned that you need to meet the business where it’s at. In the early days, partnerships and sales were critical to gaining traction and scaling quickly. As we matured, the focus shifted more internally, building the right teams, processes, and infrastructure to support sustainable growth.
A key step was moving from being reactive to proactive. Not just responding to customer requests but anticipating their needs and building solutions ahead of time. Equally important is understanding the stage your business is in and aligning priorities accordingly.
My advice is to keep learning constantly. Don’t just focus on mistakes, learn from small successes too, and build on them. Growth isn’t one big leap; it’s a series of stages that require you to adapt, refocus and keep evolving.
Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?
Petr: The best sales and marketing come down to product experience. If onboarding isn’t easy, if buying crypto takes too many steps, or if transfers take more than a few seconds, it’s simply not a service people will stick with.
Adam: What are the most important trends in technology that leaders should be aware of and understand? What should they understand about them?
Petr: One major trend is that crypto has shifted from being niche to a true consumer product. Users now expect speed and simplicity. If the experience isn’t seamless, they won’t adopt it. This makes the user journey critical, whether it’s onboarding, making a payment, or obtaining access to funds; people expect a smooth experience. Companies that prioritise UX will set the standard, while those that overlook it risk being left behind.
Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Petr: In my opinion, effective leadership is about more than delegating tasks; it’s about engaging with your team. For us at Mercuryo, that means regular discussions, not just about business goals but also about successes and failures, so people feel heard and connected.
Another defining quality is protecting culture. Even the most talented individual isn’t the right fit if they clash with the values of the team. Great leaders create an environment where people can thrive together, and they don’t compromise on that.
Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?
Petr: My best advice on building and managing teams is to stay close to the work while also creating an environment where people feel supported. I like to be involved in the early stages of new products because that “zero to one” phase is where trust and momentum are built.
Just as important is making collaboration feel natural across time zones and cultures. At Mercuryo, we’ve worked to ensure Zoom or Teams isn’t only about tasks, but also about connecting as people. When teams feel that sense of belonging, they’re stronger, more resilient, and more motivated to achieve big goals together.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Petr: First, keep learning constantly, not just from failures but also from small successes, and use those lessons to keep improving. Second, focus on building a healthy business that solves a real problem, makes sure people actually use your product, and generates revenue from it. Lastly, take compliance seriously from day one. Whatever industry you’re in, understand the rules, embrace regulation, and build within that framework, and it will make you stronger in the long run.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Petr: The best advice I’ve ever received is not to waste energy fighting to prove a point. It rarely makes sense. Instead, channel that energy into building something together; collaboration is far more productive than conflict.
