Ultimate Blog Challenge - BitCoin Fireworks

Welcome back to Day 27 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge!

Today's assignment is to come up with a list of industry leaders. Why do I follow them and why?

I don't. I mean, I follow "scary Mommy" on Instagram. They post snarky and raw truths about parenting, and I think my former chairman and CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz is a decent guy. That's a list of two ;-) So, naw. No list. 

However, here's somebody I don't follow, and I will tell you why. 

his name is Niklas Nikolajsen, and I think it's a cool name. Very Scandinavian, right? He wants to change his name though. More about that later. 

Who is he, and what is he up to?

He is the founder of Bitcoin Suisse,  and he is currently in the media crossfire because he wants to set off a giant fireworks display over Lake Zug on August 1st, which is our national holiday. The permits from the city have been issued. However, the city authorities stress that the fireworks are not part of the official federal celebration, and that they prefer more eco-friendly ways of celebrating, like water / drone shows.

According to Nikolajsen, three large rafts with a total area of 500 square meters (=0.13 acres) will be anchored in the lake in front of St. Karlshof for the privately planned giant fireworks display. 

With the fireworks he wants to celebrate not only the Swiss National Day but also the completion of the renovation work of the St. Karlshof property on the shore of Lake Zug, and - probably more importantly - the fact that he and his (originally Danish) family have obtained Swiss citizenship. Also, he has already announced that as soon as he gets Swiss nationality, he will burn the Danish passport. What kind of sign of gratitude to his homeland is that?

Who is Niklas?

He's a former software developer who was at the right place at the right time, namely when crypto currencies were just in the beginning. In 2010, Niklas Nikolajsen received the first 50 Bitcoins for the equivalent of a coffee. According to the "richest list" of the Swiss business magazine "Bilanz" of 2021, his fortune is estimated at CHF 300 to 350 million. 

He and his wife drive nice cars, such as a Rolls Royce, a Bentley and a Ferrari, wear high end watches, and they live in a listed historic estate with chapel and manor that he purchased for CHF 18 million and paid 35 millions to renovate it. (CHF and USD are about the same.) The building used to serve as a school house, which should give you an idea about its size. 

The property is called "Karlshof", and this is what he announced, he wants to change his name to as soon as he becomes a Swiss citizen. Interesting detail, according to his wishes, his name is supposed to be von Karlshof. 

A "von" in their last name either stands for the fact that a person is von = from that very location, or that the person is an aristocrat. Guess which one he'd like to be. 

According to journalist Laura Shin, in a recorded 2016 phone conversation, Nikolajsen suggested to the so-called "White Hat Group" led by Griff Green that they manipulate the Ether and Ether Classic markets with the help of Bitcoin Suisse AG. Nikolajsen called his proposal a "significant, if not historic, market manipulation." However, the White Hat Group rejected the proposal on ethical grounds.

Looks like the nice cars I mentioned earlier, have become boring. In 2021 Niklas purchased a tank. You have read correctly. The vehicle is a fully functional M18 Hellcat. Fighter tanks of this type were used by the Americans in World War II and the Korean War.

Nikolajsen decided on the M18 Hellcat after a year of research because it is the only tank that meets all the requirements and still looks "badass." Among other things, the tank was allowed to weigh a maximum of 40 tons. This is the highest weight allowed for trucks in Switzerland. Currently, the Hellcat of the millionaire is still abroad. The financial entrepreneur still has to take care of the necessary import, weapons and vehicle permits.

Oh, and wait, there's another nugget: On a seven-square-kilometer peninsula in a bend in the Danube between Serbia and Croatia, the internationally unrecognized microstate of Liberland has existed since 99. Its motto is "live and let live," and it wants to choose its own people. There seem to be 500k applicants already. Czech politician Vit Jedlicka proclaimed the "Free Republic of Liberland" on April 13, 2015 - and immediately appointed himself president. Niklas seemed to have been instrumental in building Liberland.

Interesting guy, to say the least. Maybe a tiny touch of grandioseness? 

However, he does good things, too.

Niklas is into hockey. He is co-owner and main sponsor of the Danish top field hockey club Rungsted, and last season he has entered into a silver sponsorship with "our" hockey team in Switzerland.

Niklas purchased a 1100 m2 building plot in Copenhagen, Denmark, in hopes to build some fifty 1-2 room student/youth apartments.

And, as I was saying, he plans to set up this gigantic fireworks next week. While some of his fellow rich buddies are all in and think he's the coolest guy, many regular folks are not in favor, and they voice their concerns about the ecological impact in terms of black powder and CO2 emissions, the damage it does to animals, and if he had so much money, couldn't he donate it?

You can read comments like "In Switzerland, there is a people's initiative against fireworks, and Scrooge McDuck buys boxes of material. You have not understood Switzerland."

Or

"So did you and your family buy, I mean get the Swiss Passport with or without integration?"

Already Niklas seems to feel compelled to justify his fireworks. 

"Unlike amateur fireworks like New Year's Eve fireworks, this is a professional fireworks display", writes the crypto millionaire. For example, the bombs would be launched into the air using mortars, not rockets. These bombs would burn up 99 percent in the air. The rest would be disposed of after the fireworks, of course: "You can assume that you will find the lake and the surrounding area completely free of waste after the fireworks."

"In addition to the various press releases, all households living near the fireworks display will receive written notices warning them this week," he promised. (Yay, the people who have to take care of this extra task will be pleased.)

That way, it should be possible to shield pets at home between 10:30 p.m. and 10:47 p.m. "It is advisable to keep pets indoors with windows closed during this time or, if they are very sensitive, simply move them a short distance away from the fireworks."

Well, not sure if a short distance will do, but to be fair, pet owners know that the Swiss National Day is taking place, and fireworks have been part of the celebrations long before Mr Nikolajsen, or Herr von Karlshof came to live here, so they will plan accordingly. One can only hope though that the swans, ducks and other aquatic birds will get the memo, too.

Now, the real question is: does one want to spend the evening there in order to witness these fireworks, or does one boycott the event? It's a private party, the regular folks will not benefit from the 435 bottles of champagne he provides. They will just be able to enjoy the fireworks from a distance. 

We have no plans yet, but we will probably pass. What are your thoughts?

PS: The irony is not lost on me. For a person who does not follow this guy, I have researched a heck of lot ;-)