Johann Kerbrat’s journey is a testament to perseverance, self-education, and visionary thinking. Once a McDonald’s employee working day shifts, he spent his nights teaching himself to code. Today, he stands as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto at Robinhood, leading some of the most ambitious blockchain initiatives in the financial world.
Early Beginnings: A Foundation Built on Hard Work
At 21, Kerbrat lived in a small apartment near the French Riviera. By day, he worked at McDonald’s; by night, he immersed himself in programming. This period of intense self-study laid the groundwork for his future in technology and finance.
Before enrolling at the University of Nice, he left his job to launch his first fintech startup—a no-code payment solution designed to help small businesses create e-commerce sites without developers.
“My workspace was probably smaller than your bathroom,” Kerbrat recalls. “It was the early days of e-commerce. Merchants either spent tens of thousands of euros hiring agencies or couldn’t operate online. Our idea was to enable people to build their own stores without technical knowledge—similar to what Shopify does today.”
The Turning Point: Discovering Bitcoin’s Potential
A conversation with a Greek classmate during the Eurozone crisis opened Kerbrat’s eyes to the fragility of traditional banking. His classmate’s family had their accounts frozen, bringing their lives to a standstill. Simultaneously, merchants using his platform complained about high fees, complex refund processes, and uncontrollable credit card fraud.
“Then I read the Bitcoin whitepaper,” he says. “It felt like the solution to all these problems.”
In 2010, Kerbrat began building mining rigs, deploying wallets, and experimenting with Bitcoin-based payment interfaces. Rather than seeking quick profits, he focused on understanding the technology’s transformative potential. “At that stage, you realize cryptocurrency isn’t just an asset—it’s a structural shift,” he explains.
Professional Growth: From Uber to Robinhood
Kerbrat’s career took him to tech giants like Airbnb and Uber, where he worked as a core engineer. Before joining Robinhood, he served as VP of Engineering at Iron Fish, a privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchain project specializing in zero-knowledge proofs. This role reignited his passion for crypto and highlighted the industry’s biggest hurdle: user experience.
In 2021, he joined Robinhood Crypto as Chief Technology Officer, rising to SVP and General Manager by 2023—13 years after first discovering Bitcoin.
Under his leadership, Robinhood Crypto launched several key products:
- Robinhood Wallet (2022): A non-custodial wallet similar to MetaMask but designed for beginners with a cleaner interface. Kerbrat describes it as “a Web3 browser for everyday people.”
- Bitcoin Transfers and On-Chain Withdrawals (2023): Marking Robinhood’s evolution from a trading interface to a crypto infrastructure provider.
- Acquisition of Bitstamp (2024): A strategic move to enter the European market using Bitstamp’s 50+ licenses.
Kerbrat emphasizes that compliance is a competitive advantage, not a barrier. “We can’t bet our future on if the SEC relaxes regulations,” he states. This pragmatic approach has been central to Robinhood’s success in crypto.
A Symbolic Return: Launching Ambitious Products in Cannes
Recently, Kerbrat returned to the French Riviera to announce Robinhood’s most ambitious crypto suite yet—this time from a Belle Époque mansion rather than a fast-food counter.
“It’s absolutely surreal,” he says, sitting inside the iconic Carlton Hotel. “I used to walk past here as a kid—I never imagined I’d be staying here.”
The launch coincided with the Ethereum Community Conference in Cannes and Robinhood’s recent regulatory approvals in Europe. The company’s initiatives aim to merge traditional finance with blockchain infrastructure, contributing to a stock price surge of over 100% this year.
Robinhood’s Latest Crypto Innovations
Robinhood’s new offerings include:
- Tokenized Stocks and ETFs in the EU: Available in 30 countries, these tokens initially built on Arbitrum enable 24/5 trading, dividend payments, and zero commissions. They will later migrate to a custom Layer 2 blockchain optimized for real-world asset settlement and self-custody.
- Crypto Staking in the US: Users can now stake Ethereum and Solana to earn rewards by supporting network operations.
- Perpetual Futures in Europe: Qualified traders can access up to 3x leverage through Bitstamp.
- Enhanced Trading Tools: Smart order routing, tax lot management, and advanced charts to make crypto trading as seamless as stock trading.
“When we talk about mass adoption,” Kerbrat notes, “this is what it looks like—products people use without understanding how they work.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Johann Kerbrat’s role at Robinhood?
Johann Kerbrat is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto at Robinhood. He oversees the development and expansion of Robinhood’s cryptocurrency products and services, including wallets, trading, and blockchain infrastructure.
How did Johann Kerbrat get into cryptocurrency?
Kerbrat discovered Bitcoin in 2010 after reading the whitepaper. He was inspired by its potential to solve issues like high transaction fees and financial exclusion, which he encountered while running his first fintech startup.
What are Robinhood’s key crypto products?
Robinhood offers a non-custodial wallet, tokenized stocks, crypto staking, and perpetual futures trading. The company is also developing a Layer 2 blockchain for asset tokenization and settlement.
Why did Robinhood acquire Bitstamp?
The acquisition provides Robinhood with over 50 regulatory licenses, enabling faster expansion into European markets. It aligns with Kerbrat’s strategy to prioritize compliance and global growth.
What is tokenization, and why is it important?
Tokenization represents real-world assets like stocks or ETFs as digital tokens on a blockchain. It enables 24/7 trading, instant settlement, and broader access to global markets.
How does Robinhood ensure user security in crypto?
Robinhood uses non-custodial wallets, giving users full control over their private keys. The platform also complies with regional regulations and employs advanced encryption and monitoring tools.
Conclusion: A Journey of Resilience and Innovation
Johann Kerbrat’s story underscores the power of self-belief and continuous learning. From flipping burgers to leading crypto innovation, his career reflects the transformative potential of blockchain technology.
His parents, who attended Robinhood’s recent product launch in Cannes, remember his early struggles—the small apartment, the first lines of code, and the relentless pursuit of a vision. “We chose Cannes because of the conference and regulatory approvals,” Kerbrat says, “but I won’t pretend it doesn’t feel good to be back like this.”
For those looking to explore more strategies in crypto investing or understand the future of tokenization, Kerbrat’s journey offers both inspiration and practical insights. As Robinhood continues to bridge traditional finance and decentralized technology, its focus remains on making advanced tools accessible to all.
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