“Today is my last day as CEO”: N26 founder Valentin Stalf on his departure, Bafin trouble – and ego

Hardly any founder has shaped the German fintech scene as much as N26 CEO Valentin Stalf – and hardly any has faced such headwinds recently. Officially, the 39-year-old speaks of a planned transition to the supervisory board. But in the weeks leading up to his departure, rumors mounted: renewed trouble with BaFin , speculation about plans to dismiss key investors, and unrest within management. Stalf himself admits that he would have preferred a different timing for his departure.

In an interview with Gründerszene, he talks about his departure as CEO, the ongoing clash with financial regulators, and the future of N26 – without him in the top chair.

Founder Scene: Did you imagine this kind of ending?

Valentin Stalf: “It’s not the end, but if I had been able to choose, I would have stepped down from my CEO role a few months later and without all the media hype.