Offchain Labs taps ex-Nasdaq exec to lead new VC arm

Offchain Labs announced it has hired Nasdaq’s former head of digital assets, Ira Auerbach, to lead its new venture capital arm, Tandem.

The Offchain Labs team is a venture-backed group of developers contributing to the development of the Ethereum (ETH) scaling solution Arbitrum (ARB). Offchain Labs is also the team behind Ethereum consensus client Prysm. It announced the former Nasdaq manager’s appointment on Jan. 9.

Auerbach’s experience in the digital assets, technology and finance sectors includes roles at Gemini, Palantir, BNP Paribas and BGB Partners. Auerbach served as global head and head of product at Gemini crypto exchange Gemini Prime.

He also served as senior vice president and head of digital assets at Nasdaq.

In his new role as president of Tandem, the partner studio and VC arm of Offchain Labs, Auerbach will help identify and support promising blockchain projects. He joins Offchain Labs from Nasdaq, where he oversaw the digital assets division.

“Ira’s success in growing both traditional finance and crypto-native companies makes him the ideal leader to further Tandem’s mission,” said Steven Goldfeder, CEO and co-founder of Offchain Labs.

Auerbach is expected to lead Tandem as the platform aims to support the next wave of projects in the blockchain space.

Tandem will offer access to Offchain Labs’ expertise, technical support and investment opportunities for new projects. Projects will also gain access to the core Offchain Labs team, developers and ecosystem partnerships.