Alex Borutskiy is a blockchain entrepreneur and co-founder of IME Lab LTD and iMe, an app that combines a self-custodial crypto wallet with a Telegram-based messaging platform. ^[1][2]

Education

Borutskiy graduated from Saint Petersburg State University with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Economic Cybernetics in 1999 and 2002. He also earned his Ph.D. in Business and Managerial Economics from the North-West Insitute of Economy in 2002. He later received his second Master’s in Business Administration and Management from The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) in 2012. ^[3]

Career

Borutskiy began his career as deputy general director at Ecofor.com from 1998 to 2001, focusing on producing and selling energy-saving equipment for industrial clients. From 2001 to 2003, he was CEO of IT Entertainment Co., where he managed software development projects, including mobile applications and video streaming software for government agencies in Saint Petersburg. He then served as managing director at the Saint-Petersburg Project Center until 2008, where he led software projects for public institutions such as the Ministry of Natural Resources. ^[4][5]

From 2010 to 2015, Borutskiy worked as a senior expert at the Innovation and Development Agency and later managed the Innovation Cluster, overseeing tech innovation projects. From 2012 to 2017, he was CEO of AI Technic s.r.o., directing software development, mobile applications, and smart contracts. In 2016, he became COO at Avela Media, leading media analytics and AI-powered monitoring. He founded TreeRise in 2017, focusing on eco-friendly startups, and co-founded BLOK.FARM, working on blockchain benchmarking and data analysis. ^[4][5]

In 2017, Borutskiy founded BLOK.RED, a platform supporting blockchain startups with consulting and strategic guidance. He also served as an ambassador for Hedera Hashgraph from 2018 to 2020, promoting blockchain technology across Eastern Europe. In 2019, he co-founded IME LAB LTD, developing a Telegram-based messaging platform with a crypto wallet. ^[4][5]

Panels

Mass Adoption

At Crypto Expo Dubai 2022, Borutskiy discussed the mass adoption of cryptocurrency, DeFi, and NFTs. He emphasized that adoption primarily occurs in developing countries, driven by grassroots use rather than top-down influence from governments or financial institutions. Borutskiy introduced iMe, a messaging app with an integrated non-custodial crypto wallet that allows users to send crypto as easily as a photo. Another team member, Victoria, highlighted iMe’s unique position as the only app that combines a wallet with Telegram, enabling easy crypto transactions directly within chats. They also discussed iMe’s partnerships, security features, and upcoming expansions, including more blockchain integrations and a new NFT marketplace. The presentation highlighted iMe's mission to bridge mainstream and crypto communities by providing user-friendly access to crypto features within a familiar messaging environment. ^[6]