Niek van Hoewijk is a seasoned product leader with over 15 years of experience in product development and innovation. He is currently the Chief Product and Communication Officer at Ateaya Sustainable Financial Ecosystem, where he drives the development of cutting-edge blockchain and Web3 solutions to foster financial prosperity through a distributed local economic model. Niek has led the creation of Polis~X and Kratos-X, decentralized marketplaces for tokenized gold trading, and oversees Ateaya’s brand and product messaging, boosting market visibility and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, Niek is the founder of Blockwise, a freelance product consultancy focusing on FinTech, blockchain, and Web3. He has worked with high-profile clients, including Deloitte, Neom, and Handelsbanken, where he defined product visions, developed roadmaps, and ensured alignment across teams. Niek has also held key roles at Handelsbanken and Deloitte, where he led channel modernization efforts and developed blockchain-based solutions. His leadership extends to Metaworks, where he supported digital creators in building the future of the web. With expertise in strategy, analytics, and stakeholder management, Niek is a recognized leader in Web3 and FinTech, committed to driving transformative innovation and aligning technology with business goals. His work continues to shape the future of decentralized financial ecosystems.