Jhonatan Bueno: Pioneering Thousand’s Global Impact

Jesiel Deshpande
8 min readNov 21, 2023

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In my role as a Business Development professional in the crypto sector, I’ve had the unique opportunity to meet a diverse array of individuals and encounter various intriguing projects. These experiences have enriched my understanding and appreciation of this dynamic field. Among these encounters, one particularly stands out: meeting Jhonatan Bueno, the CEO of Thousand, virtually. It was a privilege to gain insights into his thoughts, vision, and experiences in the crypto space.

I’m happy to be sharing it here for people to learn and gain inspiration from. Jhonatan’s journey, marked by resilience and innovation, offers valuable lessons for anyone navigating the complex and rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency.

What inspired you to start Thousand?

The idea of ​​Thousand arises from the need to provide financial services with cryptocurrencies not only to users, but also to web3 entrepreneurs in Latin America, in addition to promoting their adoption.

In 2017, the process of operating cryptocurrencies in Colombia, and even more so converting them to Colombian peso (COP), represented an entire odyssey. The scarcity of reliable platforms and the lack of support adapted to the needs of the Latin American user significantly complicated the experience.

In this context, cases of fraud were recorded as a result of the lack of education in the field of cryptocurrencies.

The Latin American reality required specific solutions, since the needs of the user in this region differ from those of the European or Asian user. Aware of this disparity, we embarked on the Thousand project with the purpose of covering and accompanying Latin American entrepreneurs and users on the crypto journey.

Can you describe the early days of Thousand and the challenges you faced?

Since day one, Thousand has faced countless challenges and overcome numerous obstacles, a journey that has strengthened our essence. Perseverance and discipline have been our allies on this journey. In an environment where the cryptographic industry for companies has less support in Colombia, especially from the institutional, banking and government sector, we have overcome unique difficulties. Obtaining financing is presented as a more complex challenge in this scenario.

For a time, we moved forward without an in-house technical team, which slowed our development progress. Furthermore, at first, our inexperience led us to fall for a scam that resulted in the loss of significant capital. Although it was a difficult episode, we managed to overcome it with determination. Along the way, we’ve restructured our approach several times, bringing in new talent and leaving others behind.

Participation in incubation and acceleration programs (ParqueSoft and WorkcanGo) has been key, providing us with solid ground to cement our project. We have taken a deeper dive into the market, understanding its nuances and challenges. Although the beginnings are always complicated and decisive, we have successfully navigated this journey. Every effort has been worth it, and now we have the valuable experience that allows us to move steadily into the future.

How did your personal background or previous experiences shape the vision for Thousand?

At Thousand, the founders share a fascination with cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

Our previous work history and our entrepreneurial experiences play a crucial role, by fusing these skills we manage to form a young and capable team, ready to carry out Thousand and everything that this implies, of course we learn more and more along the way.

What are the core values of Thousand, and how have they influenced its global growth?

From the beginning, transparency has been a fundamental pillar at Thousand, not only among the founders, but also with our collaborators, the community and our allies.

This ethical value is fundamental and is combined with our commitment and perseverance to turn Thousand vision into a reality.

Although our social and environmental commitment may not be as evident at the moment, we are confident that it will have a greater impact in the future, honesty and dedication are the basis of our commitment to a more sustainable and prosperous future on blockchain.

How would you describe the culture at Thousand, and how has it played a role in the company’s success?

Throughout our journey, our values ​​and our culture have played a crucial role in focusing on honesty, non-negotiable principles, transparency and good practices.

I firmly believe that these are key factors that have driven us and kept us on the radar, despite the many challenges we have faced.

We are building our path based on solid pillars, allowing us to move forward with confidence and resilience with every step we take.

What was a pivotal moment or decision that greatly influenced Thousand trajectory?

We made the strategic decision to immerse ourselves in an incubation process in preparation for our investment round. This step was essential in our trajectory, since we received valuable professional support, and the fruits have been significant.

Now we move forward with much more solid foundations, supported by the experience of Colombian institutions such as ParqueSoft and WorkcanGo.

As Thousand expanded globally, how did you ensure that the company essence was preserved?

Thousand had something interesting from the beginning, it had a greater roots in Southeast Asia. Despite being an exchange project originating from Colombia, Thousand first became known in other regions before in its own homeland.

This makes us assume that Thousand expansion began practically from day one. The positive response and early recognition in Southeast Asia has been an exciting boost for our project, demonstrating the universality of our vision and the global acceptance of Thousand.

How do you see Thousand evolving in the next five years, especially in the international market?

We aspire to be the main cryptocurrency exchange platform in Colombia and stand out internationally for the excellence of our services in the crypto space.

Our goal is ambitious, but we firmly believe that, through a solid strategy and diligent work, we can achieve this goal. We are determined to become a benchmark both locally and globally.

What strategies or principles guided Thousand in its global expansion?

The support of our allies has been essential for Thousand to establish itself in various regions, including Asia and Africa, in addition to our continued work in Colombia.

The impact of the TND token has been significant in this process. By the way, it will be relaunched into trading in the next period in 2024.

Our plans include expansion into new regions and strengthening our presence in Latin America. We are committed to continued growth.

How do you manage to stay connected with the various teams and operations as Thousand continues to grow worldwide?

Currently the team is only in Colombia. In the near future, we will have a global team with dedicated representatives in each region.

What’s the most rewarding part of seeing Thousand make a global impact?

It is really exciting and pleasant to receive invitation messages to world-renowned blockchain events, congratulating us on our progress and the launch of Thousand, even being nominated for international recognition, is something that fills the founders with joy and satisfaction. However, we are aware that our journey has not yet reached where we want to be.

This greatly impacts our lives and drives us to move forward. We firmly believe that we are on the right path and, in the near future, we aspire to become a reference for other entrepreneurs both in our sector and in the region. The motivation we receive drives us to pursue excellence and contribute to the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Latam.

Can you share a story or experience that captures the essence of Thousand global reach?

When $TND was in the process of listing on Goku Market, we faced a challenge: surpass a community vote of 100,000 approvals within an estimated 25 days.

This requirement was crucial, as TND was participating in the launchpad and would become the first project on the platform subject to community voting. Given the importance of the occasion, we decided to extend the period to more than 20 days to provide more voting time and increase our chances of reaching the goal.

The uncertainty regarding the community’s response was palpable, but what happened exceeded our expectations. Amazingly, we managed to obtain the necessary approvals in just 11 hours. The highlight was the active participation of the Asian community, demonstrating the global impact of our project.

As for our allies, it is important to highlight that only two of them are Colombian. This diversity in our network of allies reflects the international reach of our work and our connections. As we move forward, we continue to forge valuable alliances that strengthen our path.

How do you handle competition, especially on an international scale?

The battle between cryptocurrency exchange platforms is intense, in Colombia alone there are more than 7 attractive options for users. The majority are foreign platforms that have expanded their operations to the Colombian market.

The founders of Thousand have maintained constant dialogues with the entrepreneurial community, users and companies to understand real needs.

This approach has allowed us to design alternatives that adapt to the specific demands of our environment. We recognize that the needs in Colombia differ significantly from those of the European or Asian community.

Although Thousand will operate globally, our primary focus will be on Latin America. Not all of our competitors share this approach, much less focus on supporting local entrepreneurs. Our vision is clear: we aspire to become the number one platform in Colombia, our country of origin. In addition, being able to appear in the global ranking. We are committed to making a difference in the financial landscape, offering solutions tailored to the specific needs of our region.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make a global impact with their ventures?

Each business is unique, but it is undeniable that thoroughly understanding the market we will enter, understanding the competition and building a solid team with complementary skills are crucial elements to move forward. It is essential that the team shares the same vision. For those without entrepreneurial experience, considering incubation early on can be a wise strategy. Discipline and perseverance are key qualities.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in Thousand journey to global prominence?

Avoid scams of course. Although it is difficult to predict when we might fall victim, taking time for a thorough analysis would have made a difference. The loss of capital affected us considerably; Therefore, avoiding the loss of resources is something that, without a doubt, I would try to avoid. Prudence and diligence in evaluating situations may be the key to preserving essential capital and maintaining financial stability.

I hope this journey, marked by challenges and triumphs, offers a valuable lessons for anyone aiming to make a significant impact in the global market.

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Jesiel Deshpande
Jesiel Deshpande

Written by Jesiel Deshpande

Content & Social Lead at Joba Network | Account Manager at Autowhale | The Reply Gal | Ex BD at Liquid Global & Autowhale | Kpop fan | Book Lover

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