Vlad Tenev: A Driving Force in the Crypto Space

Vlad Tenev, the CEO and co-founder of Robinhood, has been instrumental in transforming the trading app into a major player in the cryptocurrency market. Featured in CoinDesk's Most Influential 2025 list, Tenev has overseen the expansion of Robinhood's services to include blockchain development, staking, and the introduction of new tokens for US users, such as XRP, SOL, and BNB. The company's $200 million acquisition of Bitstamp, a pioneering crypto exchange, has granted Robinhood over 50 global licenses, paving the way for institutional trading and further growth in the crypto ecosystem. Additionally, Robinhood has introduced staking for ether and solana, enabled perpetual futures in the EU, and made over 200 tokenized US stocks and ETFs available for trade in Europe through its Arbitrum-based infrastructure. A key component of the company's strategy is the development of its own layer 2 blockchain, known as Robinhood Chain, designed to facilitate tokenized asset trading with reduced fees and faster settlement times. Tenev's commitment to the crypto sector is rooted in his conviction about its potential, likening the rise of cryptocurrencies to an unstoppable force that will revolutionize the financial system through tokenization. As Robinhood continues to expand its footprint in the crypto space, it is also enhancing its prediction markets offering, underscoring its dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction.