Key Takeaways
- Alex Svanevik, CEO of Nansen, has over 10 years of experience in AI and data science, shaping blockchain analytics and NFT insights.
- He earned a Bachelor’s in Cognitive Science from the University of Bergen and a Master’s in AI from the University of Edinburgh.
- Svanevik’s early work included teaching, an Ernst & Young internship, and co-founding Codeus Ltd for data analytics projects.
Who Is Alex Svanevik?
Alex Svanevik is the co-founder and CEO of Nansen, a company specializing in blockchain data analytics. With over a decade of experience in data science and artificial intelligence, he has built a strong foundation in the industry. He also serves as an advisor for the Pudgy Penguins NFT collection.
Alex began his academic journey at the University of Bergen in 2006, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science in 2009. During his studies, he participated in an exchange program at the University of Bologna for a semester. Later, he pursued a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh, completing it in 2010.
Early Academic and Professional Beginnings
Alex Svanevik’s career began in academia, serving as a teaching assistant at the University of Bergen. From January to June 2008, he helped students with an introductory course on cognitive science. Soon after, he participated in a three-month internship at Ernst & Young. During this time, he learned about corporate finance, risk management, and consulting, which gave him important experience early in his career.
Founding Codeus Ltd
In August 2010, Svanevik co-founded Codeus Ltd, a data analytics company where he worked on different projects. He helped create a complete analytics system for an electrical engineering company, planned a growth strategy for a creative social network, and set up an automated system to check the accuracy of financial reports. This experience gave him practical knowledge in both running a business and working with data analytics.
Consulting Work at BearingPoint
In August 2011, he joined BearingPoint as a senior consultant, where he helped different organizations with data management, predictive analytics, pricing models, and business intelligence. During this time, he focused on using data to support business decisions, making this an important part of his career.
Data Scientist at Schibsted Media Group
In May 2014, Svanevik started working at Schibsted Media Group as a Data Scientist. Over time, his role grew, and he began managing a team of data scientists and engineers in Oslo. From January 2016 to April 2018, he worked in Barcelona as Schibsted’s Data Science Manager. He led several projects, which helped him build leadership skills while strengthening his technical knowledge.
Transition into Crypto and Ethereum Discovery
While working at Schibsted, Svanevik became interested in cryptocurrency, especially Ethereum, which he first learned about in mid-2017. He was drawn to the idea of a “world computer” and the many ways blockchain technology could be used. By the end of 2017, he decided to focus entirely on the crypto industry.
Leading Data Science at CoinFi
In May 2018, he became the Chief Data Scientist at CoinFi, where he created a data engineering and science team from the ground up. He built a detailed cryptocurrency database, developed token measurement tools, and added trading signals to the platform. His work helped CoinFi improve its crypto analysis services.
Founding D5
After leaving CoinFi in January 2019, Svanevik started D5 – The Data Science DAO in February 2019. As the Founder and Data Scientist, he led a decentralized group of data professionals who worked together to help organizations speed up their data science and engineering projects. He stayed involved with D5 until October 2020.
Launching and Scaling Nansen
In October 2019, Svanevik co-founded Nansen with Lars Bakke Krogvig and Evgeny Medvedev. As CEO, he worked on creating a blockchain analytics platform that added detailed labels to millions of wallets. This made it easier for investors and businesses to follow market activity, spot trends, and make informed decisions based on real-time data.
Nansen’s Growth and Key Investments
Nansen gained strong interest from investors, raising $1.2 million in a seed round in October 2020. In June 2021, the company secured $12 million in a Series A funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). In February 2022, Svanevik became a Board Member at WalletConnect Inc., further expanding his role in the development of blockchain technology.
Acquisition of StakeWithUs
In September 2024, Nansen bought StakeWithUs, a staking platform from Singapore, expanding its work beyond data analytics into investment services. This allowed Nansen to offer non-custodial staking for more than 20 assets, including SOL, SUI, OSMO, and ATOM. With Svanevik leading the way, Nansen continues to grow as an important name in blockchain analytics and crypto investment services.
Svanevik’s Vision for Blockchain
Alex Svanevik envisions blockchain data being as easy to use as traditional finance, helping investors, institutions, and developers make smart decisions in real-time. He believes adding labels and analytics to raw data can make crypto clearer, more efficient, and user-friendly. His goal is to connect traditional finance with decentralized technology, creating new ideas, reducing risks, and creating global opportunities. Through Nansen, he aims to build the best platform for understanding blockchain data, giving users the confidence to know more about crypto.
Final Thoughts
Alex Svanevik’s journey from studying AI and data science to leading Nansen shows his deep knowledge and strong leadership. He has helped make blockchain data easier for investors and businesses to understand and use. With smart business moves and a clear goal of connecting traditional finance with crypto, he continues to push Nansen forward. As the company grows, its impact in the blockchain world keeps getting bigger.
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