Daniel Haudenschild is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Synternet, a company focused on developing modular, interoperable data infrastructure for decentralized applications (dApps) across major blockchain networks. ^[2]

Education

Haudenschild studied Communicatios at Boston University. In 1994, he graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in English. Later, he attended Webster Vienna Private University and received an MA in Financial Accounting in 1997. ^{[3] [4]}

Career

Haudenschild began his professional journey in 1995 with a two-year volunteer role in Côte d'Ivoire, where he contributed to urban environmental management initiatives. In 1997, he joined Ernst & Young in Vienna as a Principal, focusing on business development and financial strategy for six years. He later moved to London, where from 2004 to 2008 he worked as an independent consultant for Barclays Bank, advising on banking operations and financial services.

Between 2008 and 2010, he served as Global Director for SAP Financial Services at HCL-Axon, leading global go-to-market efforts, business development, and program delivery across teams in London and Bangalore. From 2010 to 2017, he held a partner role in EY Switzerland's financial services advisory practice, leading finance performance improvement projects for clients in the banking and finance sectors.

In 2017, he became CEO of Swisscom Blockchain AG, where he oversaw enterprise blockchain solutions and helped build trust in distributed technologies. He then took on the CEO role at SIBEX from 2019 to 2021, managing decentralized finance infrastructure development. During this period, he also served as President of the Board at the Crypto Valley Association (2019–2022), supporting blockchain ecosystem growth in Switzerland.

From 2021 to the end of 2022, he was CEO of the ORIGYN Foundation, working on blockchain-based digital certification solutions. Since December 2022, he has operated independently as a consultant, board member, and advisor, contributing to digital assets, fundraising, artificial intelligence, and venture strategy initiatives. In January 2024, he became CEO of Synternet, where he leads the development of decentralized data infrastructure for Web3 applications. ^[5]

Interviews

From Partner to Founder

On the Crypto Valley Visionaries podcast, Haudenschild, who transitioned from a Big Four consulting career to become the founder and CEO of Sibex, discussed his journey into the blockchain space. Beginning in 2013, he recognized the potential of blockchain to revolutionize finance and enable trust on a global scale. His experiences in corporate environments, particularly as a partner at Ernst & Young, provided him with valuable insights into entrepreneurship and the challenges of navigating the startup landscape. Haudenschild elaborated on the lessons he learned about the importance of mentorship, the difficulties of securing venture capital, and the critical need for effective team dynamics in a startup. He emphasized the differences between corporate leadership and being a startup CEO, particularly the importance of motivation and collaboration in driving success. ^[6]

Synternet

Haudenschild participated in the Off-Chain Podcast, discussing his journey into the blockchain sector after two decades in global banking and consultancy. He reflected on his early enthusiasm for blockchain's potential to revolutionize financial infrastructure, especially with the inefficiencies in traditional systems reliant on tools like Excel. Haudenschild outlined his transition from a major audit firm to co-founding Swisscom Blockchain, where he contributed to integrating cryptocurrency capabilities for banks. He emphasized the importance of the decentralized data infrastructure offered by CET, which enhances the functionality of various blockchain applications through trustless and low-latency data provision. Additionally, he highlighted the significance of on-chain data availability for smart contracts and real-world applications, advocating for a collaborative environment for developers to innovate while benefiting from data royalties. He expressed a vision for the mass adoption of blockchain technologies and the industry's ongoing evolution. ^[7]

Presentations

Swisscom Blockchain

During the 2018 Crypto Valley Conference, Haudenschild discussed the Swisscom Blockchain's initiatives to facilitate blockchain technology integration within Switzerland's financial services sector, constituting a significant portion of the national economy. He highlighted Swisscom's development of various services, including an ICO launch pad equipped with KYC and AML compliance tools to help entrepreneurs secure bank accounts for their fundraising activities. Furthermore, he addressed an educational initiative in collaboration with universities to bridge the knowledge gap for businesses and developers in blockchain technology. Haudenschild also described the growing demand for secure on-site storage solutions for cryptocurrencies, particularly among established financial institutions preparing to manage digital assets professionally. He concluded by emphasizing the need for a strategic approach to the ICO landscape, where understanding market maturity and community engagement is vital for successful fundraising in a competitive environment. ^[8]