Nikolay Karpenko has joined the London-based digital asset firm B2C2 as the Director for EMEA Sales. In his new role, Karpenko will spearhead the company's expansion in the EMEA region. Previously, he held the roles of Executive Director for Digital Assets and Executive Director for Emerging Markets Sales at Goldman Sachs, where he dedicated almost seven years.

Leading Expansion in the EMEA Region

In a post on LinkedIn, Karpenko said: "After seven remarkable years at Goldman Sachs, I am thrilled to share that I have joined B2C2 to spearhead the expansion of our business in the EMEA region. I am profoundly grateful to all my colleagues and mentors at Goldman Sachs. Working alongside such talented professionals has been an honor and a privilege, providing invaluable experiences and lessons that I will carry forward."

"Now, I am eager to start a new and exciting chapter of my path at B2C2. Collaborating with Thomas Restout, Zeke Vince, James Hume, Edmond G., Jad Sarmo, and the rest of the team, we are committed to unlocking institutional access to digital asset markets and enhancing economic freedom and efficiency globally."

Karpenko is a seasoned executive who has worked for notable brands, including Societe Generale, Thomson Reuters, VTB Capital, Credit Suisse, and Deloitte. At Societe Generale, he was the Vice President for Corporate Derivatives Sales, while at Thomson Reuters, he was the Sales Executive for Corporate and Solutions Sales.

Leadership Transition

Early this year, B2C2 promoted Thomas Restout to Group CEO. This move followed the departure of Nicola White, who joined B2C2 in July 2021 and ascended to the role in November 2022.

Restout joined B2C2 in September 2022 from Morgan Stanley, where he held the position of Global Head of Macro Electronic Trading. At Morgan Stanley, he contributed to the digital currency working group and led crypto trading for the Fixed Income division. Notably, Restout was one of B2C2’s earliest investors and played a crucial role in the company’s strategic decisions, such as pursuing over-the-counter (OTC) trading and expanding into the Japanese market.

B2C2 has established itself as a significant player in the crypto OTC and market-making space. Its acquisition by the Japanese SBI Holdings at the end of 2020, following an initial investment of $30 million, marked a pivotal moment for the company.