The former head of Coinbase Japan Nao Kitazawa joined as an investment partner at venture firm Eight Roads.
He noted that he joined to realise his love for fintech and Web3.
Kitazawa left Coinbase Japan in February this year after nearly five years with the company. Earlier the platform announced its exit from the Japanese market, citing unfavourable market conditions.
“It is a great honour to be part of a firm with a successful track record of backing some of the world’s most innovative and disruptive companies,” said the former head of the exchange.
Eight Roads, formerly Fidelity Ventures, began investing as far back as 1969. The firm has backed several crypto startups, including Fireblocks and Kaiko.
Earlier in June Circle hired former chairman of the CFTC Heath Tarbert as chief legal officer.
Crypto-friendly Alibaba co-founder Joseph Tsai will replace Daniel Zhang as chairman of the company’s board of directors.
Bitcoin exchange Binance also hired former SEC enforcement staffer George Canellos.