The Austrian crypto unicorn Bitpanda has appointed Joshua Barraclough, a former JPMorgan executive, as the new CEO of its digital assets exchange, Bitpanda Pro. The announcement marks an important step in the crypto exchange’s aim to enhance its offerings for experienced traders and institutional clients. Barraclough brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as co-head of digital innovation at JPMorgan in London.
At JPMorgan Joshua Barraclough, he was instrumental in developing cutting-edge businesses, products, and services designed to transform traditional finance. His transition to Bitpanda Pro is driven by the growing integration of cryptocurrency investments into mainstream financial markets, a trend that is increasingly demanding sophisticated trading tools for both retail and institutional investors.
In his new role, Barraclough will focus on navigating the complexities of the crypto market, where many companies compete for leadership but few possess the necessary technology, expertise, and culture to achieve it. “The move from a traditional bank to Bitpanda was a no-brainer,” Barraclough stated in an interview, emphasizing the dynamic opportunities in the digital assets space.
This strategic hire follows Bitpanda’s recent capital boost in August, where it secured $263 million in a Series C funding round led by Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures, bringing the company’s valuation to an impressive $4.1 billion. The funds are earmarked for doubling down on technology enhancement, scaling international operations, and expanding the team.
Bitpanda, founded in 2014 by Eric Demuth, Paul Klanschek, and Christian Trummer as a Bitcoin exchange, has since diversified its services to include trading in stocks, precious metals, and exchange-traded funds. The introduction of Bitpanda Pro in August 2019 was a strategic expansion to cater to a more sophisticated clientele, including private banks, family offices, and hedge funds across the European Union.
With a robust team of 600 and tech hubs in major cities such as Vienna, Berlin, Paris, and London, Bitpanda is poised for further growth and innovation under Barraclough’s leadership.
