Jesse Powell
Jesse Powell is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Kraken Exchange, the world’s largest global digital asset platform based on euro volume and liquidity. Prior to his role as Chairman, he served as Kraken’s CEO, where his tenure was marked by several legal entanglements with the U.S. government. He stepped down as Kraken's CEO after a conflict with the firm's employees following his post about controversial messages about race and gender on Kraken's Slack. Powell is a Bitcoin pioneer, a prominent figure in the crypto world, and an advocate for decentralized technology. A veteran of the virtual currency industry, he helped out in the aftermath of the infamous Mt. Gox hack when $460 million got stolen from the world’s biggest exchange.
Jesse Powell Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Co-Founder and Chairman
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Co-Founder and CEO
Academic History
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B.A., Philosophy
Under his leadership, Kraken has been vocal about its “crypto-first” values, releasing a manifesto outlining its libertarian ideology.
He offered employees the option to take an exit package and leave the company if they disagreed with those values. Some employees took the offer, though the majority chose to stay at the exchange.
In 2022, the Department of Justice fined Kraken for violating sanctions by allowing users in Iran, Cuba, and Syria to trade on its platform.
The exchange also faced a legal dispute with the IRS, where it refused to comply with a summons demanding transaction data.
CONTROVERSY
Powell had been investigated by Federal law enforcement on claims of hacking and cyberstalking of a non-profit he founded.
He was accused of hindering the non-profit's computer accounts, obstructing access to emails and other messages, according to the Times.
EARLY CAREER
In 2007, Powell founded the Verge Gallery and Studio Project, which was one of the most influential commercial art galleries of that era.
He founded Lewt, a company that assisted players in online-based video games with account management and in-game currency.
He also launched Internet Ventures & Holdings, which also provided services to the online gaming community.
After visiting Mt. Gox following its 2011 security breach, he began developing Kraken as a replacement in the event that Mt. Gox closed.
MEDIA & APPEARANCES
Powell has been featured in various financial media outlets and publications, including The New York Times, Bloomberg, Business Insider, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal.
He has also been featured or has appeared in CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, Blockworks, TechCrunch, The Block, MarketWatch, and Real Vision.