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Bitstamp

Cryptocurrency ExchangeFounded 2011
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Leadership History

Bitstamp: CEO History

3 leaders · 2011 to present

Who is the CEO of Bitstamp?

Jean-Baptiste Graftieaux is the CEO of Bitstamp, in the role since 2022. The first chief executive was Nejc Kodrič, from 2011.

Current CEO
Jean-Baptiste Graftieaux (since 2022)
First CEO
Nejc Kodrič (2011)
Leaders documented
3
Founded
2011
NameRoleFromToYears in role
Jean-Baptiste GraftieauxGlobal CEO2022Present4
Julian SawyerCEO202020222
Nejc KodričCo-founder & CEO201120209
Who was CEO of Bitstamp before Jean-Baptiste Graftieaux?
Julian Sawyer was CEO of Bitstamp from 2020 to 2022, before Jean-Baptiste Graftieaux took over in 2022.

Company Overview

Bitstamp is the oldest crypto exchange still operating, open since August 2011. For most of its life it was the conservative choice: cheap SEPA euro deposits, identity checks from 2013, a short token list and licenses in each major market. That reputation carried it through a 2014 DDoS attack, a 2015 hot-wallet hack and two crypto winters, and it is why Robinhood paid about $200 million for it. Today it trades as Bitstamp by Robinhood and supplies at least half of the parent's crypto trading volume. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. One of the oldest surviving cryptocurrency exchanges in the world was famously founded in a small garage in Bled, Slovenia in 2011, created purely as a European alternative to the notorious Mt. Gox.

Jean-Baptiste Graftieaux

Global CEO

2022 – Present

4 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Appointed Global CEO on May 9, 2022, after rejoining in 2021 to lead Europe. Steered the company through the 2022-2023 downturn, negotiated the sale to Robinhood (closed June 2, 2025), secured the May 2025 MiCA license and launched EU perpetual futures in April 2026.

Legacy

Bitstamp's chief compliance officer from 2014 to 2016, he has kept licensing at the center of the company's strategy inside Robinhood.

Source →

Julian Sawyer

CEO

2020 – 2022

2 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Took over as CEO in October 2020 and ran Bitstamp through the 2021 bull market, its record revenue year. Left in May 2022 after about 18 months.

Legacy

Brought banking experience as a co-founder and former COO of UK digital bank Starling, and had briefly led Gemini Europe before joining.

Source →

Nejc Kodrič

Co-founder & CEO

2011 – 2020

9 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Co-founded Bitstamp in Slovenia in August 2011 as a European alternative to Mt. Gox. Moved its registration to the UK in 2013 and to Luxembourg in 2016, where it became the first crypto exchange licensed as a payment institution in the EU. Refused a ransom during the February 2014 DDoS attack, led the recovery from the January 2015 hack, and sold an 80% stake to NXMH in October 2018 while staying on as CEO.

Legacy

Built Bitstamp's compliance-first identity and kept it running through the industry's first major collapses; moved to a non-executive board role in October 2020.

Source →

Challenges & Strategic Context

Bitstamp's volume swings with the crypto cycle: its notional volume fell from $48 billion in Q4 2025 to $22 billion in Q2 2026. It also has to fold its brand, systems and licenses into Robinhood without losing institutional clients who valued its independence, compete on fees with Coinbase, Kraken and Binance, and carry compliance costs across the EU, UK, US and Singapore.

Bitstamp CEO and Leadership FAQ

Who is the CEO of Bitstamp?

Jean-Baptiste Graftieaux has been Global CEO since May 9, 2022. He was Bitstamp's chief compliance officer from 2014 to 2016 and rejoined in 2021 to lead Europe.

What has Graftieaux done as CEO?

He led Bitstamp through the sale to Robinhood, secured its MiCA license in May 2025 and oversaw the April 2026 launch of EU perpetual futures.

Who was Julian Sawyer?

Bitstamp's CEO from October 2020 to May 2022. He joined from Gemini Europe and had co-founded UK digital bank Starling, where he was COO until 2019.

How long did Nejc Kodrič run Bitstamp?

From its founding in August 2011 until October 2020, including two years after NXMH bought control. He then moved to a non-executive board role.

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Explore Bitstamp

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.