My Mobile Dev Journey: From Lastbit to Striga
Over four years at Lastbit/Striga, I evolved from a React Native developer to VP of Engineering, building crypto wallets and banking apps that bridged the gap between Bitcoin and traditional finance. This is the story of how we grew from 1,000 beta testers to 6k+ users across Europe, eventually getting into Y Combinator's W21 batch.
Chapter 1: The Beginning - Lastbit Wallet (2019)
When I joined Lastbit as a React Native developer, my first challenge was improving an existing Lightning-supported Bitcoin wallet. The vision was ambitious: make Bitcoin as usable as any other currency, even when merchants didn't traditionally accept it.
What I Built
- Enhanced UI/UX of the Lightning Bitcoin wallet
- Fixed critical bugs to improve stability
- Added a nearby user payment feature using QR scanning
- Integrated Bitcoin Lightning Network for low-latency transactions
The Challenge
Working with the Lightning Network was technically demanding but gave me deep insights into high-frequency financial transactions. I learned to collaborate effectively with backend developers to ensure seamless integration.
Impact: Attracted 1,000+ beta testers, validating our core concept.
Chapter 2: Scaling Up - Lastbit Lite & Cards (2020)
After the wallet's success, I spearheaded development of two distinct applications that would define our next phase of growth.
Lastbit Lite: Seamless Euro-Bitcoin Exchange
Key Features:
- Instant Euro sending/receiving via Bitcoin
- On-chain and Lightning Network support
- Unique user profiles through lastbit.me
Lastbit Cards: Bitcoin Meets Mastercard
Key Features:
- Universal payments at any Mastercard-accepting store
- Lightning Network funding
- Direct Bitcoin payments from card
My Expanded Role
This phase marked my transition from individual contributor to team leader:
- Built both apps from ground up
- Developed native SDK module for KYC verification
- Led the mobile development team
- Managed iOS and Android deployments
Impact: Reached 6,000+ users across Europe, increased earnings by 25%, and helped secure Y Combinator W21 admission with a 4.5-star user rating.
Chapter 3: The Vision Realized - Striga Pay (2021-2023)
As Senior Software Engineer and later VP of Engineering, I led the most ambitious project yet: combining our crypto+card and crypto+IBAN solutions into a single, comprehensive banking app.
Revolutionary Features
Instant Exchange: Seamlessly swap between Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Euros
Lightning-Fast Payments: Ultra-quick transactions with your Striga card
Complete Banking Suite:
- Personal IBAN for instant Bitcoin & SEPA payments
- Multi-currency card support
- Bitcoin cashback rewards
- Personalized banking features
Leadership & Technical Challenges
- Project Leadership: Coordinated between development teams and designers
- Complex Integration: Merged two existing solutions while maintaining stability
- Multi-Currency Architecture: Implemented support for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and traditional currencies
- Regulatory Compliance: Navigated European banking regulations for crypto products
Key Learnings & Growth
Technical Evolution
- React Native → Full-Stack: Expanded from mobile-first to comprehensive platform development
- Lightning Network Expertise: Became proficient in cutting-edge Bitcoin payment technology
- Financial Systems: Deep understanding of both crypto and traditional banking infrastructure
Leadership Journey
- Individual Contributor (2019): Focused on bug fixes and UI improvements
- Team Lead (2020): Managed mobile development team and cross-platform releases
- VP of Engineering (2022-2023): Oversaw entire technical strategy and product development
Impact Metrics
- 1,000+ beta testers (Lastbit Wallet)
- 6,000+ active users across Europe (Lastbit Lite & Cards)
- 25% revenue increase contributing to Y Combinator acceptance
- 4.5-star average user rating across all applications
Reflection
This journey taught me that the best solutions often come from deeply understanding user needs rather than just technical capabilities. We succeeded because we made complex crypto technology feel as simple as traditional banking, while maintaining the revolutionary benefits of decentralized finance.
The progression from fixing bugs in a Bitcoin wallet to architecting a comprehensive crypto banking platform shows how technical challenges, when approached with user-first thinking, can create products that genuinely improve people's financial lives.
Building the future of finance, one app at a time.