# Peter Smith

> Peter Smith is the American co-founder, CEO and executive chairman of Blockchain.com, based in London. CEO since 2014, he has helped develop a business rooted in Bitcoin exploration and wallet software into consumer and institutional crypto services. His tenure includes the 2022 Three Arrows Capital lending shortfall, a 2025 co-CEO arrangement with Lane Kasselman, and the company’s 2026 proposed IPO submission and US derivatives licensing applications.

- **Role:** Co-founder, CEO and Executive Chairman at Blockchain.com
- **Organizations:** Blockchain.com, CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** University of London
- **Known for:** CEO of Blockchain.com since 2014., Helped develop Blockchain.com from early Bitcoin infrastructure into consumer and institutional crypto services., Blockchain.com reports more than 95 million wallets created as of its current company information.

## Career timeline

- **2011** — Blockchain.info began as a Bitcoin explorer project. Blockchain.com identifies Ben Reeves, Peter Smith and Nicolas Cary as co-founders; accounts differ on Smith’s precise joining date.
- **2014** — Became CEO of Blockchain.com; the company raised $30.5 million in outside funding that year.
- **2016** — Published How I Hire, advocating strong interview judgments and hiring people willing to take difficult stands.
- **2017** — Blockchain raised $40 million in Series B financing.
- **2019** — Published Lessons Learned in Five Years as a Venture-Backed CEO.
- **2022** — Announced the Dallas Cowboys partnership in April. After the Three Arrows Capital collapse, the company faced a reported $270 million shortfall and cut approximately 150 jobs in July; executive compensation was reduced.
- **2023** — Blockchain.com cut another 110 jobs in January and raised $110 million in November in a Kingsway Capital-led round.
- **2025** — Lane Kasselman became co-CEO in November, based in Dallas; Smith retained the CEO and executive chairman roles in London.
- **2026** — Joined the CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee. Blockchain.com secured UK FCA registration, announced a confidential draft IPO submission and filed applications for US derivatives and prediction-market permissions.

## Achievements

- CEO of Blockchain.com since 2014.
- Helped develop Blockchain.com from early Bitcoin infrastructure into consumer and institutional crypto services.
- Blockchain.com reports more than 95 million wallets created as of its current company information.
- Appointed to the CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee in February 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Blockchain.com announced applications for CFTC Futures Commission Merchant registration and Designated Contract Market designation on October 13; the announcement describes potential US derivatives and prediction-market offerings if approved.
- **2026-08** — Blockchain.com’s press page reports a full Cayman Islands VASP custody services license and expansion through TechCayman.
- **2026-05** — On May 21, Blockchain.com announced a confidential draft registration statement submission for a proposed US IPO; no share count or price range was set in the announcement.
- **2026-02** — The CFTC announced Smith’s appointment to its Innovation Advisory Committee on February 12.
- **2026-02** — Blockchain.com announced UK FCA cryptoasset registration on February 10; full authorization under the forthcoming regime was a separate future objective.

## Links

- Website: https://www.blockchain.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1psmith/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/OneMorePeter
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onemorepeter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Peter-Smith/100050031845830

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/peter-smith
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-24