Managing Director of UK-based crypto exchange B2C2, Kevin Beardsley, has joined a newly-incorporated firm called Elwood Asset Management where he most likely will be in charge of investment plans related to crypto assets.
Prior to joining B2C2, one of the largest OTC brokers/market makers in the crypto space and also provides related liquidity services, Kevin had served as Head of Business Development manager at Elliptic, a Bitcoin custodian company. Elliptic helps banks and law enforcement agencies monitor Bitcoin transactions and detect suspicious activity.
During his two-year tenure, he was tasked with growing the client base for Elliptic Vault, which offers investment funds and publicly listed firms storage services for Bitcoin holdings.
Kevin Beardsley
Before that, Beardsley was Director of Membership at the Bitcoin Foundation, a non-profit association that coordinates the efforts of Bitcoin industry participants, where he served for most of 2014.
Beardsley joins the asset manager as several mainstream finance firms aim to gain exposure to Cryptocurrencies or, at least, navigate Blockchain industry. Some big banks are also considering whether to start a trading desk to make markets in digital currencies.
An opposite trend is also taking place where Wall Street experts join cryptocurrency firms as the digital phenomenon has attracted talents and supporters from all over the traditional finance sectors. Some notable departures include former Goldman Sachs executive Michael Bucella who took a business-development role with Connecticut-based cryptocurrency hedge fund BlockTower Capital.
The executive moves come as crypto trading venues are aiming to move closer to the mainstream, at least to mollify regulators’ anxieties. With regulatory clampdowns looming every now and then, the operators have become forward-thinking and are taking a proactive approach.
