Chris Perkins
Chris Perkins is the Managing Partner and President of CoinFund, a cryptoasset-focused investment firm dedicated to advancing decentralized technologies and Web3 infrastructure. In his role, Perkins plays a central part in CoinFund’s investment strategy while helping bridge the gap between traditional financial markets and the rapidly evolving digital asset ecosystem. He is the co-inventor of the Composite Ether Staking Rate (CESR), the first institutional-grade interest rate benchmark for Ethereum staking, representing a significant milestone in the maturation of crypto financial markets. Before joining CoinFund, Perkins built a distinguished career in global finance, serving as Global Co-Head of Futures, Clearing, and Foreign Exchange Prime Brokerage at Citigroup. At Citi, he was responsible for delivering industry-leading listed derivatives execution, comprehensive central clearing solutions, and top-ranked OTC clearing and FX prime brokerage services to major institutional clients. Earlier in his career, Perkins was the U.S. Head of Derivatives Intermediation at Lehman Brothers, where he oversaw derivatives market access and execution services. Beyond his investment work, he is an active advocate for the responsible growth of digital asset markets, serving on the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Global Markets Advisory Committee and its Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee, where he contributes to policy discussions shaping the future of crypto regulation.
Chris Perkins Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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President and Managing Partner
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Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Futures, Clearing and FX Prime Brokerage
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U.S. Head of Derivatives Intermediation
Academic History
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M.A., National Security Policy Studies
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Co-Founder and Board Member, Quatrefoil Data Services
Co-Founder, Veterans in Digital Assets
Co-Founder, Veterans on Wall Street
Board of Advisors, Academy Securities
Co-Chair, Blockchain Association National Security Committee
Member, CFTC GMAC's Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee
Digital Assets Contributor, Forbes
EARLY CAREER
Perkins served as Global Head of FX Prime Brokerage at Citigroup, where he worked closely with global regulators to design and execute a comprehensive restructuring and integration strategy across multiple regions and regulatory jurisdictions.
Prior to joining Citigroup in 2008, Perkins was the U.S. Head of Derivatives Intermediation at Lehman Brothers, where he managed a derivatives portfolio exceeding $100 billion and oversaw institutional market access and execution services during a pivotal period in global financial markets.
Earlier in his career, Perkins served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nine years, achieving the rank of Captain and gaining leadership experience that continues to inform his approach to risk management, strategy, and organizational leadership.
Beyond finance, Perkins has served on multiple boards, including as Vice Chairman of Team Rubicon, a global disaster response organization that mobilizes veterans to provide emergency relief and humanitarian aid.
MEDIA PRESENCE & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Chris Perkins is a frequent commentator on digital assets, market structure, and financial innovation, with appearances across major financial media platforms including Bloomberg, BNN Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance, and others.
He has also been interviewed by leading crypto and fintech publications such as CoinDesk, Blockworks, Cointelegraph, The Block, Fintech Finance News, Binance, and Real Vision.
In addition to his leadership role at CoinFund, Perkins serves on the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Global Markets Advisory Committee (GMAC) and its Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee, where he provides policy insights on crypto market structure, digital asset regulation, and Web3 technologies.
He has also testified before the U.S. Congress on cryptocurrency market structure design, contributing to regulatory discussions shaping the future of the digital asset industry.