Citywealth Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Lee Birkett, Moneybrain.com
This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Lee Birkett, founder of Moneybrain.com.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role
As the Founder of Moneybrain, my role is to lead our talented team in driving the democratisation of finance through blockchain and tokenisation. I focus on strategic growth, overseeing product development, and ensuring we stay at the cutting edge of fintech. Key initiatives include our native real world digital asset, BiPS, and our FCA-regulated peer-to-peer lending platform, JustUs.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My mornings begin by catching up on LinkedIn messages and staying updated on global events through Sky News or Bloomberg on YouTube.
The rest of my day is a blend of strategy meetings, engaging with investors, and collaborating with our compliance and tech teams to refine and innovate our products.
LinkedIn is my primary channel for connecting with stakeholders, so I try to either comment on someone’s post or share my own thoughts daily.
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
Recently, a long-standing client requested a decentralised digital wallet to participate in high-stakes online poker games.
To support this, we created a whitelisted GBP faster payment IBAN within the Moneybrain App, allowing them to transfer hundreds of thousands of pounds from their UK bank to the Moneybrain exchange and acquire dollar stablecoins.
It’s remarkable to see millions of dollars in stablecoins settle live on the blockchain within seconds, offering unparalleled speed and finality.
What challenges do your clients face, and how are you helping them to overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges our clients face is accessing efficient international banking solutions. Many nations are introducing regulatory hurdles to prevent capital flight, making cross-border transactions cumbersome.
Digital currencies and assets are solving this by bypassing those frictions, enabling fast and seamless transactions.
We’ve recently launched Moneybrain Corporate to provide clients with their own private digital asset banking solutions, tailored to their needs.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
Successfully navigating 15 years of regulatory challenges to launch a global digital asset exchange and custody business in Jersey, British Isles, stands as my proudest professional achievement.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Positivity and the ability to listen are essential.
A leader must have a clear vision but remain flexible enough to adapt calmly to unforeseen challenges. Empathy is equally important and understanding the needs of your team, clients, and stakeholders builds trust and drives meaningful results.
Who do you most admire and why?
It’s hard to pinpoint just one person, but Tim Berners-Lee stands out for the transformative impact of the World Wide Web. His invention has revolutionized the way we live and work, bringing immeasurable good to the world.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
I recently enjoyed a fantastic winter getaway to the Royal Hideaway Corales Resort in Costa Adeje, Tenerife—a truly unforgettable experience that I highly recommend.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
In a dream world, I’d be working in Formula 1. The role I always imagined was Head of Sports Acquisition at the BBC—imagine managing a £250 million annual budget and receiving invitations to top sporting events!
Realistically, I’d likely be in sales of some kind, as I love working with people and building relationships.
How do you relax after a long day?
I unwind by scrolling through YouTube, enjoying rugby podcasts and car channels—two of my favourite escapes.
Citywealth Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Peter Brigham, Rosemont Monaco SAM
This week's 60-second piece is dedicated to Peter Brigham, Managing Director at Rosemont Monaco SAM.
Citywealth Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Clifford Ng, Zhong Lun Law Firm LLP, Hong Kong
This week's 60-second piece is dedicated to Clifford Ng, Co-Managing partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm LLP, Hong Kong.