Defining the strategy for the holding group, building the best HR team in the Czech Republic, and supporting the founders and CEOs of individual companies are all ambitious goals Ladislav Veselý is bringing to SatoshiLabs as its new COO. Veselý enters this new chapter with years of leadership experience, having served as the CEO of Slevomat Group and Product Division Director at Seznam.cz.

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"I was motivated by the opportunity to step into a completely different environment. After five years with one company, I was looking for a new industry, a different stage the company is currently in, and a new sense of purpose. I’m also inspired by the founders’ values and their focus on people and product quality. At SatoshiLabs, money isn’t the goal; it’s the energy that drives everything. This alignment made the decision easy for me, and I’m excited about this new chapter," says Veselý.

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From Operations to Leading Three Companies

Veselý spent nearly five and a half years in leadership roles at Slevomat. After just one year as COO, he was promoted to CEO, eventually overseeing all three companies in the group. He considers Slevomat’s post-pandemic business performance his greatest professional achievement.

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"I’m proud that Slevomat emerged from the pandemic as the strongest Czech travel brand, achieving record profits and profitability. At that time, the company was generating the vast majority of the European group’s profits," Veselý reflects.

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He also credits his time at Seznam.cz as one of the most formative periods in his career, where he gained valuable experience in product development, agile methods, and team learning and development. Veselý also served as Chief Product Officer (CPO) at the publishing house Economia.

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Building a Strong HR Team and Supporting Leadership

"What drew me to SatoshiLabs was a combination of factors: the team’s strong internal motivation, the truly global reach of the company, and the emphasis on personal freedom that comes with responsibility. Honestly, I feel like I’d work here even if they were making rubber ducks. The fact that we have four bootstrapped companies with global products is just the icing on the cake—and a huge source of motivation. The quality, passion, and trust I’ve sensed in just a few days are unlike anything I’ve experienced before," Veselý adds.

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In addition to supporting the CEOs of the companies within the group, Veselý plans to define the group’s strategy and build the strongest HR and operations team in the Czech Republic.

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"We wanted the new member of our leadership team to not only have extensive experience in operational management and a strong understanding of the holding environment and business-building processes, but also exceptional people leadership and development skills. Ladislav offers a unique combination of these qualities. His experience leading Slevomat and his approach to managing teams and companies will undoubtedly help us grow further," said Marek Palatinus, co-founder of SatoshiLabs.

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About SatoshiLabs

SatoshiLabs is a global technology group focused on cryptocurrency and open-source innovation. Its founders, Marek Palatinus and Pavol Rusnák, created Trezor—the world’s first cryptocurrency hardware wallet—and turned it into a billion-dollar business. The group also includes Vexl, a P2P Bitcoin trading app without KYC requirements; Invity, a mobile app for buying, selling, and saving Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies; and Tropic Square, which designs and develops unique transparent security chips.

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The 2,100 unique limited devices feature a special engraving that embodies an empowering statement: "Independence isn’t given – it’s taken."

This Limited Edition is part of a broader awareness-raising campaign highlighting the critical importance of reclaiming personal independence, with a particular focus on financial sovereignty.

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Trezor, the original Bitcoin hardware wallet company, announces the launch of a limited Trezor Safe 5 Freedom Edition. With this release, the company reignites one of the core principles of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies: financial sovereignty. This exclusive Freedom Edition version features a distinctive bronze-colored backplate engraved with the empowering statement: “Independence isn’t given – it’s taken.” Each device is individually numbered, with only 2,100 units available worldwide.

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Priced at $169—the same as the standard Trezor Safe 5—this limited edition also supports a meaningful cause. For every device sold, $10 will be donated to Trezor Academy, a global educational initiative that helps individuals in underserved regions access Bitcoin education and achieve financial independence. 

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‍Bitcoin Advocates Re-declare Their Independence with Trezor

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‍The Trezor Freedom Edition is a cornerstone of Trezor’s broader awareness-raising campaign, emphasizing the critical importance of reclaiming personal independence, particularly financial sovereignty. To highlight this message, Trezor collaborated with notable Bitcoin advocates who are making a global impact through education and empowerment. Together with these advocates and Trezor employees, the company created a compelling video that reaffirms the individual’s right to independence. The video concludes with Trezor’s CEO, Matěj Žák, gliding through the air with a parachute—a striking symbol of ultimate freedom and self-determination. ‍

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Campaign video: https://youtu.be/Xrhe9J06mvE?si=VSH0iCOaS9dVhnfJ

Bitcoin advocates appearing in the video:

• Lina Seiche, the creator of The Little HODLer, uses art and humor to explain Bitcoin concepts, making them accessible to people worldwide. 
• Isabela Santos, co-founder of Get Based and founder of Mexican bitcoin community BTC isla, educates the public about Bitcoin’s potential to transform financial systems.
• Nikolai Tjongarero, founder of EasySats in Namibia and Trezor Academy organizer, champions Bitcoin adoption across Africa. 

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Trezor points out the unique nature of cryptocurrencies and the decentralised financial system, which gives people the freedom to truly own and freely transact without restrictions. With full control over their private keys, an assurance only self-custody can provide, individuals are free from reliance on any third party, bank, or exchange and have the power to fully manage and secure their digital assets.

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Anusha Schindler, Head of Brand at Trezor, comments: “The Trezor Safe 5 Freedom Edition isn’t just a hardware wallet—it’s a statement. It perfectly reflects our brand campaign, embodying our mission to empower individuals to take control of their financial future through self-custody. Limited to only 2100 serialized units, the Trezor Safe 5 Freedom Edition is designed for those who believe in self-reliance and the freedom to truly own and freely transact without restrictions.”

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‍Sales start soon

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‍Sales of this exclusive edition will begin on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 15:00 UTC. For more details about the device and the upcoming sale, visit: https://content.trezor.io/trezor-safe-5-freedom-edition 

‍Photos: https://satoshilabs.visualbook.pro/en/trezor/product-showcase 

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‍About Trezor 

‍Trezor is the original bitcoin hardware wallet company, founded in 2013. It pioneered the development of the self-custody of crypto assets, empowering individuals with an open-source device that enables anyone to easily and securely hold cryptocurrencies.

Trezor has expanded to offer a whole ecosystem of easy-to-use both hardware and software products that help protect users - from crypto novices to crypto experts. In 2023, the company launched its Trezor Academy initiative which educates grassroots communities across the African continent on safe participation in the bitcoin ecosystem. Trezor is part of SatoshiLabs, a technology holding company with various interests in crypto and bitcoin companies.

Tropic Square, innovators in transparent and auditable secure semiconductors joins the IoT Security Foundation (IoTSF), the global association committed to ensuring the security and reliability of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

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IoTSF unites companies worldwide to enhance cybersecurity defenses by collaborating with its members to offer guidelines, best practices, and resources for secure IoT deployments. As IoT devices become more integral in both personal and professional environments, IoTSF tackles the challenge of mobilizing robust security measures.

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Tropic Square develops open secure chips that protect IoT devices from advanced attacks. These chips serve as a hardware Root of Trust (RoT), with the security based on transparency. Technical details on the security design and logic are made accessible to the open source community. The openness serves to equip design engineers with components that empower secure product development, as well as cross communication for resolving vulnerabilities.

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Tropic Square’s approach aligns with IoTSF's mission to inform the public and ensure the ongoing safety of IoT systems. The joint efforts aim to strengthen security defenses to evolve alongside emerging challenges in IoT devices, while aligning IoT product lifecycle to upcoming legislation like the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act and Cybersecurity Act.

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Learn more about the IoT Security Foundation by visiting https://iotsecurityfoundation.org/

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About Tropic Square

Tropic Square is a fabless semiconductor and IP company founded in 2020 as a response to the need for secure open hardware co-processors. We stand for TRuly Open Integrated Circuits by developing and producing secure cryptographic coprocessors and IPs.  Our designs are tested by experts in the open source community and made available for community use.

For more information, visit tropicsquare.com

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• In 2024, Trezor Academy has run 42 educational programs across 21 countries with more than 800 graduates
• Trezor Academy supports local educators who teach bitcoin fundamentals. It focuses mainly on Africa

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Trezor Academy, a non-profit educational initiative by Trezor, dedicated to promoting Bitcoin adoption in developing regions, made remarkable strides in 2024 in democratizing access to financial knowledge across underserved regions, particularly in the Global South. 

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In 2024, Trezor Academy achieved significant milestones:

• Conducted 42 educational programs, each comprising three consecutive meetups

• Expanded to 21 countries, with a primary focus on Africa, as well as programs in South America, Mexico, or the Caribbean

• The lectures were conducted in English, Spanish, and French, but also in local African languages

• Educated over 800 local participants, equipping them with essential Bitcoin knowledge

• Distributed over 500 Bitcoin books, including Bitcoin Kids by Nzonda Fotsing and Bitcoin: Separation of Money and State by Josef Tětek

• Sponsored the Most Impactful African Bitcoiners by African Bitcoiners, recognizing key contributors to Bitcoin education on the continent

• Created professional video footage of Trezor Academy lectures in a studio, providing participants with high-quality online education resources.

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Driven by its mission to accelerate Bitcoin adoption worldwide, Trezor Academy leverages interactive meetups led by local educators. These sessions, attended by 20-30 participants each, cover Bitcoin fundamentals — explaining its importance, functionality, and practical use for making payments.

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Empowering Local Educators
Trezor Academy emphasizes local engagement by training and supporting educators to teach in their native languages and adapt content to align with cultural and economic contexts. These educators are provided with Bitcoin literature, resources, and modest financial support to ensure sustainability and impact.

Trezor Academy partnered with grassroots organizations globally, collaborating with initiatives such as Bitcoin Dada in Kenya, Bridgesats in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nova Stars in Suriname, or African Bitcoiners, a Pan-African effort.

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“We are proud to see Trezor Academy bring the transformative potential of bitcoin closer to communities that stand to benefit most,” said Josef Tětek, Trezor’s well-known Bitcoin evangelist who is the founder and driving force behind Trezor Academy. “Our mission has only just begun, and we look forward to expanding this initiative globally.”

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Looking Ahead
Building on its success, Trezor Academy aims to continue its efforts in 2025 and expanding further by reaching new countries and engaging passionate local educators to spread Bitcoin knowledge within their communities.

For Bitcoin educators interested in organizing a Trezor Academy meetup, the initiative offers collaboration opportunities to bring Bitcoin education to local communities.

For more information about Trezor Academy, including upcoming meetups and highlights from previous events, visit academy.trezor.io. 

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Photos from the Trezor Academy meetups : click here

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About Trezor Academy 

Trezor Academy is a nonprofit educational initiative by Trezor, designed to promote bitcoin adoption through grassroots education. Trezor Academy provides localized bitcoin education for communities in underserved regions, equipping individuals with financial literacy and the knowledge to navigate the digital economy securely.

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About Trezor 

Trezor is the original bitcoin hardware wallet company, founded in 2013. It pioneered the development of the self-custody of crypto assets, empowering individuals with an open-source device that enables anyone to easily and securely hold cryptocurrencies.

Trezor has expanded to offer a whole ecosystem of easy-to-use both hardware and software products that help protect users - from crypto novices to crypto experts. In 2023, the company launched its Trezor Academy initiative which educates grassroots communities across the African continent on safe participation in the bitcoin ecosystem. Trezor is part of SatoshiLabs, a technology holding company with various interests in crypto and bitcoin companies.

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