Marcus Swanepoel is a South African venture capital investor at DCG Expeditions who co-founded and scaled crypto exchange Luno from startup to acquisition by Digital Currency Group, giving him rare end-to-end founder experience that most venture investors lack. He combines traditional finance background from Morgan Stanley and Standard Chartered with deep emerging markets focus, having built Luno into a leading crypto platform across Africa and other developing regions where crypto serves as everyday financial infrastructure rather than just speculation.

• Deep interest in the philosophy of living a meaningful life and finding personal purpose. He actively explores how relationships shape the human experience, referencing literature like East of Eden as a tool for understanding how our connections with others influence our personal stories.
• Curiosity regarding the disconnect between technological progress and declining societal happiness. He frequently questions why living standards have improved while data suggests people are becoming less happy, seeking to solve this paradox through his new venture, Rokk.
• Strong preference for audio content and podcasts as a medium for learning and personal development. He often crowdsources recommendations for high-quality UK-based podcasts or YouTube channels that focus on mental wellbeing, mindfulness, and happiness.
• Emphasis on transparency and consumer safety within the cryptocurrency industry. Drawing from his experience at Luno, he highlights the importance of full reserve platforms and independent audits to ensure users maintain control over their funds.
• Focus on blending ancient wisdom with modern technology. When building his current team, he looks for individuals who can merge software engineering with concepts from philosophy, religion, and science to create frameworks for better living.