Ivan Liljeqvist, also known as Ivan on Tech, is a leading figure in cryptocurrency education and development, recognized for his YouTube channel, which boasts over 500,000 subscribers. He is also the co-founder of Moralis, a platform dedicated to Web3 development.
Background and Early Interests
Born on August 12, 1996, in Minsk, Belarus, Ivan relocated to Jönköping, Sweden, at the age of nine. His interest in programming began early when his mother gifted him an HTML book. He later honed his skills in JavaScript to create games reminiscent of his childhood favorite, RuneScape.
In 2014, Liljeqvist moved to Stockholm to study Computer Science at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology after completing high school. He is multilingual, speaking Swedish, English, German, and Russian fluently.
Introduction to Cryptocurrency
His journey into the cryptocurrency world started in 2013 after a friend introduced him to Bitcoin, coinciding with a price surge from $30 to $1,000. Despite the subsequent decline to around $200, his fascination with blockchain technology remained intact, leading him to delve deeper into the subject from 2014 to 2017. The launch of Ethereum in 2015 introduced him to Solidity, making application development on a blockchain possible.
Career Progression and YouTube Success
Before establishing his online presence, Liljeqvist created various mobile applications and games, such as Zombie River and Angry Clouds, while founding SimKoll, a tool for swimmers and coaches. His professional experience includes working as an iOS and watchOS developer at Ericsson and participating in a machine learning project with Volvo focused on self-driving cars.
In January 2017, he launched his YouTube channel, initially covering broad programming topics. A video on Ethereum led to a significant shift in focus toward blockchain and cryptocurrency content, ultimately earning him over 900 videos and a substantial following.
Controversies and Educational Contributions
In 2019, a purge of crypto-related content on YouTube temporarily interrupted Ivan on Tech. This incident prompted Liljeqvist to establish an independent mailing list for creators, facilitating organized pushback against the suspensions, which were eventually reversed by YouTube.
In addition to his YouTube channel, Liljeqvist co-founded the Ivan on Tech Academy in 2017, which evolved into Moralis Academy, serving over 60,000 students by offering courses on blockchain and programming topics. The rebranding occurred in October 2021 alongside the launch of the Moralis development platform.
