Business Wire

CA-KRAKEN

11.2.2021 15:32:09 CET | Business Wire | Press release

Share
Kraken Backs Launch of Venture Capital Fund

Kraken Digital Asset Exchange, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, today announced its backing of the newly launched Kraken Ventures, an independent investment fund targeting early stage companies and protocols across the crypto and fintech ecosystem. The fund will invest in the technologies powering the next wave of crypto and fintech innovation and provide entrepreneurs with the financial resources and industry expertise needed to build and scale their business.

Kraken Ventures will focus on areas including fintech, crypto companies & protocols, decentralized finance (DeFi) as well as enabling technologies such as AI, Machine and Deep Learning, Reg Tech, and cybersecurity. Kraken Ventures offers the best of both worlds in being a completely autonomous fund that’s backed by the resources and expertise of Kraken.

Led by a team with extensive experience in the crypto and financial services industry and leveraging its strategic partnership with Kraken, portfolio companies get access to the ideal environment for their teams to collaborate across the Kraken and broader fintech ecosystem. The fintech and crypto ecosystems will continue to be drawn closer together and Kraken Ventures will be investing at the intersection of these two dynamic industries.

Jesse Powell, co-founder and CEO of Kraken said: “As we enter the crypto industry’s next growth phase, Kraken Ventures will support entrepreneurs in making the financial system more open, inclusive, and transparent. With a strong team in place, Kraken Ventures offers the right combination of resources to bring the best ideas to their full potential. We’ve arrived at the point where crypto is starting to show its true potential, transforming the financial services industry and creating truly global, digital economies.”

Kraken Ventures will be led by Brandon Gath, who has 20 years of experience in the financial services and crypto industries. He most recently served as the Head of Corporate Development at Kraken and prior to joining Kraken helped lead CME Ventures, where he was an early investor in numerous unicorn startups across fintech, AI, Deep Learning, Quantum Computing and Crypto. He led early investments in Orbital Insight, Crosslend, Digital Currency Group, Nervana Systems, Crypto Facilities, Privitar, and Fortscale. Brandon has a wealth of professional experience ranging across venture capital, M&A, investing banking, and consulting. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago in Entrepreneurial Finance.

Brandon Gath, General Partner of Kraken Ventures said: “Fintech and specifically crypto technology provides the opportunity to drastically change how businesses and consumers exchange and store value, invest, lend, borrow, and conduct global commerce. We take a long-term view on investing to add value from inception through each growth phase of our portfolio companies’ evolution. We will take a hands-on approach with our portfolio companies to provide guidance, new commercial opportunities and additional capital support. The possibility to leverage Kraken’s experience building a truly global, scalable platform enables us to support our portfolio companies from inception to market leadership. We’ve already identified some of the best opportunities out there and expect to announce our first investments in the near future.”

Brandon will be joined by Kirill Gourov and Akshi Federici . Kirill currently supports strategic investment for Kraken and previously managed blockchain investments for a New York-based multifamily office. Prior to this, he led blockchain strategy efforts at Expand Research, a subsidiary of The Boston Consulting Group. He has been actively involved in the Bitcoin community since early 2013 and has over 7 years of experience in the blockchain industry including investment, strategy development for both public and private chain applications, and business development for blockchain projects. Akshi Federici is a seasoned strategic operator with over 15 years of experience in the financial services and cryptocurrencies industries with The Boston Consulting Group, BlackRock, Conde Nast, ConsenSys, and Kraken.

For more information, please visit www.krakenventures.com

About Kraken

Based in San Francisco, Kraken is the world’s largest global digital asset exchange based on euro volume and liquidity. Kraken’s clients trade more than 50 digital assets and 7 different fiat currencies, including EUR, USD, CAD, GBP, JPY, CHF and AUD. Kraken was founded in 2011 and is the first digital asset exchange to have its market data displayed on the Bloomberg Terminal and one of the first to offer spot trading with margin, regulated derivatives and index services. Kraken is trusted by more than 5 million traders, institutions and authorities around the world.

Kraken is backed by investors including Hummingbird Ventures, Blockchain Capital and Digital Currency Group, among others. For more information about Kraken, please visit www.kraken.com .

Link:

ClickThru

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

RSA Announces Expanded Partnership with Microsoft, Enhances Leadership in Passwordless Identity Security24.3.2026 17:00:00 CET | Press release

Innovative partnership ushers in new era of secure, AI-powered workforce authentication RSA today announced expanded support for the new Microsoft 365 E7: The Frontier Suite solution at RSAC Conference 2026. This new support joins additional passwordless capabilities that provide organizations with enhanced security, seamless experience, and resilient operations as they embrace the future of AI-driven productivity. By integrating RSA® ID Plus for Microsoft with Microsoft 365 E7, enterprises can ensure trusted authentication for both human users and AI agents, while safeguarding sensitive data and privileged operations across hybrid, cloud, and on-premises environments. This deployment follows RSA joining the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), launching RSA Advisor for Admin Threats in Microsoft Security Copilot, and deploying RSA ID Plus Admin Logs Connector, further strengthening the ongoing collaboration between RSA and Microsoft. “The rise of AI agents in the enterpr

Lexon × Jeff Koons Unveil the Chromatic Collection: a Colorful New Chapter for the Acclaimed Balloon Dog Lamp and Balloon Dog Speaker24.3.2026 15:10:00 CET | Press release

Eight new models introduce vibrant color variations, expanding the collection’s appeal to new and existing collectors alike. Following the success of its 2025 inaugural edition, the Lexon × Jeff Koons collaboration enters a bold new era with the launch of the Chromatic Collection—a colorful evolution of its Balloon Dog Lamp and Balloon Dog Speaker. Pre-orders will be available starting March 24, 2026, exclusively on lexon-design.com as part of a time-limited edition. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260324498068/en/ Lexon x Jeff Koons — new Chromatic Collection Retaining the signature translucent body that reveals the technology within, the Chromatic Collection introduces eight models: Balloon Dog Lamps in Gold, Blue, Red, and Platinum, and Balloon Dog Speakers in Gold, Blue, Red, and White, reinforcing the collectible nature of the series, offering new audiences an entry point while giving existing collectors

iQmetrix Joins TM Forum as ODA Component Directory Partner, Giving Telecom Operators a Faster, Cleaner Path to Modern Commerce24.3.2026 15:00:00 CET | Press release

Platform’s Standards-Based Architecture Reduces Integration Risk and Accelerates Transformation for CSPs Worldwide iQmetrix, the global provider of Interconnected Commerce solutions purpose-built for telecom retail, today announced it has joined TM Forum and earned recognition as an Open Digital Architecture (ODA) Component Directory Partner. The achievement validates that iQmetrix aligns with the ODA vision and that its platform is built around standardized open APIs, modular cloud-native components, and interoperable architecture aligned with how leading operators are building their digital futures. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260324562860/en/ iQmetrix partners with TM Forum’s ODA Component Directory to accelerate open, future‑ready telecom transformation The recognition comes as communications service providers (CSPs) accelerate AI adoption and move away from integration-heavy legacy environments. For o

Miro Acquires Reforge to Help Organizations Navigate the Transition to AI24.3.2026 14:00:00 CET | Press release

Together, Reforge and Miro will provide a powerful and highly differentiated solution for teams that blends the tools and knowledge needed to innovate in the AI era Miro®, the AI Innovation Workspace for teams, today announced that it has acquired (subject to customary closing conditions) Reforge, an AI platform for product teams. The deal includes Reforge's team, learning platform, and AI-powered product development tools. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260324623461/en/ Organizations are grappling with how to leverage AI to its full potential. In many cases, the problem is not how to code faster, but deciding what to build. That's the bottleneck slowing companies down today. Miro and Reforge are both solving this challenge for customers – tackling the need to build both at speed and with clear strategic direction. Miro brings a collaborative AI workflows platform that brings teams and AI together to plan, co

Xsolla and Stevenage FC Launch Charity Campaign With SpecialEffect to Make Gaming Accessible for All24.3.2026 14:00:00 CET | Press release

Donation Of 50 Accessible Setups Reinforces Xsolla’s Commitment To Inclusive Gaming Xsolla, a global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, has partnered with Stevenage FC to launch a charity campaign with SpecialEffect in the United Kingdom, a charity dedicated to helping everyone to have the ability to enjoy video games. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260324722671/en/ Graphic: Xsolla Through the Official Partnership of Stevenage FC, Xsolla is donating the kit for the April 6th match vs Blackpool. SpecialEffect will be the primary kit brand for the match and will receive a percentage of the jersey sales leading up to the match and throughout the rest of the season. Xsolla will match donations from jersey sales, with the goal of using the funds to provide up to 50 Accessible Setups to disabled gamers at the end of the 2025-2026 season, and to support programs

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye