Kraken vs Robinhood Markets: Founders, CEOs and History
Kraken was founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell, Thanh Luu and is led by Arjun Sethi and Dave Ripley (co-CEOs). Robinhood Markets was founded in 2013 by Vlad Tenev, Baiju Bhatt and is led by Vlad Tenev.
Company facts
Kraken
- Founded
- 2011
- Headquarters
- Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States
- Current CEO
- Arjun Sethi and Dave Ripley (co-CEOs)
- Employees
- 2,600
Robinhood Markets
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Menlo Park, California
- Current CEO
- Vlad Tenev
- Employees
- 2,900
Founders
Kraken
Jesse Powell
Jesse Powell is a highly controversial American cryptocurrency pioneer and the profoundly influential founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for building the massive Kraken digital asset exchange.
Thanh Luu
Thanh Luu is a highly brilliant software engineer and the profoundly influential technical co-founder fundamentally responsible for programming the absolute structural bedrock of the massive Kraken cryptocurrency exchange.
Robinhood Markets
Vlad Tenev
Vlad Tenev co-founded Robinhood in 2013 and has been sole CEO since November 2020; he is also chairman.
Baiju Bhatt
Baiju Bhatt co-founded Robinhood in 2013 and was co-CEO with Vlad Tenev until November 2020, when he became Chief Creative Officer and focused on product and design.
CEOs and their tenures
Kraken
- Dave Ripley2023–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Professionalised Kraken's licensing and institutional business ahead of its planned IPO; co-CEO with Arjun Sethi since October 2024.
Source - Arjun Sethi2024–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Co-founder and chairman of venture firm Tribe Capital. Appointed co-CEO of Kraken in October 2024, sharing the role with David Ripley.
Source
Robinhood Markets
- Vlad Tenev2013–present
Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Under Tenev, Robinhood moved from a $541 million net loss in 2023 to $1.883 billion of net income on $4.473 billion of revenue in 2025.
Source - Baiju Bhatt2013–2020
Co-founder and former co-CEO
Shared the CEO role with Vlad Tenev until November 2020, then served as Chief Creative Officer until 2024.
Source - Shiv Verma2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
Succeeded long-time CFO Jason Warnick in 2025.
Source
Timeline: Kraken and Robinhood Markets side by side
2011Kraken
Jesse Powell Founds Kraken After Mt. Gox Security Inspection
Jesse Powell and Thanh Luu incorporate Payward Inc. (Kraken) in San Francisco after Powell observes catastrophic security flaws at Mt. Gox in Tokyo.
2013Kraken
Kraken Exchange Public Beta Launch
Following two years of rigorous security testing, Kraken publicly launches its spot cryptocurrency exchange offering Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Euro trading pairs.
2013Robinhood Markets
Robinhood is founded
Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt found Robinhood with a mission to democratize access to investing.
2014Kraken
Pioneered World's First Cryptographic Proof of Reserves Audit
Kraken executes the world's first mathematically verifiable cryptographic Proof of Reserves audit using Merkle trees, proving customer balances are fully backed 1:1.
2014Kraken
Selected by Mt. Gox Bankruptcy Trustee
The Tokyo District Court appoints Kraken to assist the Mt. Gox bankruptcy trustee in investigating lost Bitcoin and distributing recovered funds to creditors.
2015Robinhood Markets
Mobile app launches
Robinhood launches commission-free stock trading through a simple mobile brokerage app.
2018Robinhood Markets
Robinhood Crypto launches
Robinhood expands into crypto trading, adding a major cyclical revenue driver.
2019Kraken
Acquisition of Crypto Facilities for $100 Million
Acquires UK FCA-regulated derivatives platform Crypto Facilities for $100M, launching Kraken Futures for regulated digital asset derivatives trading.
2020Kraken
Awarded First US SPDI Bank Charter in Wyoming
The Wyoming State Banking Board approves Kraken's application for a Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI) charter, creating Kraken Bank as America's first regulated crypto bank.
2021Kraken
Relaunch of Automated Real-Time Proof of Reserves
Rolls out an advanced semi-annual cryptographic Proof of Reserves framework allowing any individual client to mathematically verify their account balances via Merkle tree hashes.
2021Robinhood Markets
GameStop restrictions and IPO
Robinhood faces scrutiny during the meme-stock trading episode and later goes public on Nasdaq.
2023Kraken
David Ripley Appointed Chief Executive Officer
David Ripley succeeds founder Jesse Powell as CEO, steering corporate preparation for an eventual initial public offering while Powell transitions to Chairman.
2023Robinhood Markets
X1 acquisition adds card capability
Robinhood acquires X1, helping build the Robinhood Gold Card strategy.
2024Kraken
Unveiling of Ink: Ethereum Layer-2 Optimism Superchain Network
Announces Ink, a dedicated Layer-2 blockchain built on Optimism's OP Stack to bridge traditional finance with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.
2024Robinhood Markets
Robinhood Gold Card launches
Robinhood launches the Gold Card, built on technology from its 2023 X1 acquisition.
2025Kraken
NinjaTrader Acquisition for $1.5 Billion
Payward bought US futures broker NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion, its largest deal, adding CFTC-regulated futures and a large active-trader base.
2025Robinhood Markets
TradePMR and Bitstamp expand product reach
Robinhood uses acquisitions to expand advisory infrastructure and crypto exchange capability.
2025Robinhood Markets
Revenue reaches $4.473B
Robinhood reports FY2025 total net revenues of $4.473B and net income of $1.883B.
2025Robinhood Markets
Joins the S&P 500
Robinhood is added to the S&P 500 index in September 2025.
2026Kraken
Nasdaq Invests $100 Million at $21 Billion Valuation
In September 2026 Nasdaq Ventures agreed to invest $100 million in Payward, reportedly at a $21 billion valuation, with plans to launch tokenized equities together in 2027.
2026Robinhood Markets
Q1 revenue of $1.07 billion
Robinhood reports Q1 2026 total net revenues of $1.07 billion, up 15%, as crypto revenue falls.
2026Robinhood Markets
10% workforce reduction
In June 2026 Robinhood cuts about 290 roles to flatten management layers.
2026Robinhood Markets
Record Q2 revenue of $1.31 billion
Q2 2026 revenue rises 32% to $1.31 billion, net income reaches $573 million, and funded customers hit 28.4 million.
Acquisitions
Kraken
- Bitnomial2026$550M
- NinjaTrader2025$1.5B
- Staked2021Undisclosed
- Crypto Facilities (Kraken Futures)2019$100M
- Coinsetter & Cavirtex2016Undisclosed
Robinhood Markets
- TradePMR2025$300M
- Bitstamp2025$200M
- X12023$95M
- Say Technologies2021$140M
- MarketSnacks2019Undisclosed
Questions about Kraken vs Robinhood Markets
Who is the CEO of Kraken and Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
Kraken is led by Arjun Sethi and Dave Ripley (co-CEOs) and Robinhood Markets, Inc. is led by Vlad Tenev. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Kraken founded vs Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
Kraken was founded in 2011 — 2 years before Robinhood Markets, Inc., which was founded in 2013. Kraken's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Robinhood Markets, Inc..
How many employees does Kraken have compared to Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
Kraken employs approximately 2,600 people, while Robinhood Markets, Inc. employs approximately 2,900. Robinhood Markets, Inc. has the larger workforce at 2,900 employees, compared to Kraken's 2,600. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Kraken and Robinhood Markets, Inc. headquartered?
Both Kraken and Robinhood Markets, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Kraken and Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
Kraken was founded by Jesse Powell, Thanh Luu. Robinhood Markets, Inc. was founded by Vlad Tenev, Baiju Bhatt.
Which company has a longer operating history — Kraken or Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
Kraken has been operating for approximately 15 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Robinhood Markets, Inc. has been in operation for around 13 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Kraken vs Robinhood Markets overview