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Jordan Fried, CEO of ZOOZ Strategy, says Israel is facing a defining economic moment, one that could reshape how Israelis access Bitcoin and participate in the global digital economy.
In an interview, Fried described his path from founding technology startups in Europe and the US to leading a dual-listed Israeli public company that has become one of the world’s largest corporate holders of Bitcoin. ZOOZ Strategy, traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) and Nasdaq, has committed more than $100 million to Bitcoin holdings, placing it among the top 50 corporate holders globally.
Fried said the company was created to solve a practical problem facing Israeli investors. While Bitcoin adoption has expanded worldwide, Israeli banks remain cautious, often freezing accounts when customers attempt to move funds connected to cryptocurrency transactions. ZOOZ Strategy, he said, offers a regulated alternative, allowing Israelis to gain exposure to Bitcoin through shares purchased directly in shekels on the TASE.
“Israel is a startup nation, but when it comes to Bitcoin infrastructure, we are several years behind the US,” Fried said, arguing that institutional barriers have limited broader adoption.
He linked the company’s strategy to Israel’s broader economic trajectory, describing himself as bullish on the country’s long-term growth despite war-related pressures and rising costs of living. Fried pointed to Israel’s high-tech exports, which he said generate roughly $1 billion per week, and compared Israel’s growth rate favorably with other advanced economies such as Singapore.
Fried's connection with Israel post-October 7
Fried’s connection to Israel deepened after October 7, when he helped organize charter flights bringing reservists back to Israel and contributed to aid efforts through an initiative he founded called Israel Friends. He said those experiences led him to seek long-term, market-based ways to support the Israeli economy rather than relying solely on philanthropy.
According to Fried, ZOOZ Strategy’s long-term vision extends beyond Bitcoin holdings to energy and infrastructure solutions that could support future data centers and advanced technologies in Israel, areas he believes will become increasingly critical in the coming decades.