Bitstamp founder Nejc Kodrič stepped down as chief executive officer on October 22, 2020, the company said in a release carried by GlobeNewswire1. Julian Sawyer, formerly of Gemini, became CEO on October 22, 2020, and Kodrič moved into a seat on Bitstamp's board of directors. CoinDesk reported that Kodrič, who founded the exchange in 2011, would stay on the board after the handoff2.
Three leadership moves at Bitstamp on the record since 2020
Every move CryptoLately has verified there, by the day it became public
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct. 22, 2020 | Sawyer became CEO. Julian Sawyer was named Chief Executive Officer of Bitstamp |
| Oct. 22, 2020 | Kodrič left as CEO. Nejc Kodrič left as Chief Executive Officer of Bitstamp |
| May 9, 2022 | Graftieaux became Global CEO. JB Graftieaux was named Global Chief Executive Officer of Bitstamp |
Nine CEO exits on the record in 2020
CEO exits CryptoLately has verified, by year
- 2020: 9
- 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 20 |
The exit
Kodrič built Bitstamp with little more than a garage and a modest budget. He started the exchange with 1,000 euros, two laptops and a server, the release said1. His founding idea was that Bitcoin would become part of the global financial system, at a time when the coin traded for a few cents. By October 2020, nine years later, Bitstamp had grown into what the release called the longest-running cryptocurrency exchange in the world.
His own words explain the reasoning behind the exit. “After much thought, I've come to the conclusion that Bitstamp has already grown beyond what I envisioned it would become and it is time for someone else to expand this vision further,” Kodrič said in the release1. He added, “Although we've grown exponentially, it still feels like Bitstamp is just getting started. I believe we're on the verge of great things, all of which entail bringing more financial freedom to millions of people around the world”.
Before and after at Bitstamp
The release credited Kodrič with several milestones in the 12 months before the October 2020 handoff. Bitstamp had added a new matching engine from Nasdaq Technologies during his tenure1. The exchange had also become the first to go live on BCB Group's BLINC network and the launch partner for Silvergate's SEN Bitcoin leverage product. Bitstamp's release described Kodrič's part in choosing his replacement. “Kodrič was an active part of the search committee to find his replacement to ensure the future success of Bitstamp,” the release said. He kept a role shaping the company's direction from the board, the release added.
What came next
Sawyer's tenure as CEO ran under two years. CoinDesk reported on May 9, 2022, that Bitstamp had named JB Graftieaux, previously its chief compliance officer and Europe CEO, as the exchange's next global chief executive3. That report named only Graftieaux's prior Bitstamp titles, and left the question of Kodrič's board seat at the time outside its scope.
Sources
- "Bitstamp Announces Julian Sawyer as New Chief Executive Officer," GlobeNewswire via Bitstamp Limited, Oct. 22, 2020, https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/10/22/2112889/0/en/Bitstamp-Announces-Julian-Sawyer-as-New-Chief-Executive-Officer.html
- Danny Nelson, "Bitstamp Names Gemini Alum Julian Sawyer as CEO," CoinDesk, Oct. 22, 2020, https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2020/10/22/bitstamp-names-gemini-alum-julian-sawyer-as-ceo
- Jamie Crawley, "Bitstamp Appoints JB Graftieaux as CEO After Julian Sawyer's Departure," CoinDesk, May 9, 2022, https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxNT29kYlpRUzM2TGphUTktYXBfVlNPUWpFekp5MDlUc1ZyVVZNMEt2UmhWRlNNOUpJdEtrT0Z0UlFKWUJBX0pyVlZZamVRX1BJcDM4VENaUktlcDFHTTlsX1Y4d3FCekxkTXo0NlZibjZLX1FDc0duTGhoZEU2VzVFR2lpYWxYWWxrbGtEcGhzcVlYelJ5VlU5R1VzZmRKazVhamJPeTNPWWhuYTI1M2N5QTdtOG4?oc=5