Key Takeaways
- Greg Tusar started in the tech industry before leading electronic trading at Goldman Sachs and KCG Holdings.
- Greg started Tagomi in 2018 to make crypto trading easier for big investors. Coinbase bought it in 2020, and he helped with the transition.
- Since joining Coinbase in 2020 as Vice President of Institutional Product, Greg has played a key role in improving services for institutional investors, including trading.
Who Is Greg Tusar?
Greg Tusar is the Head of Institutional Product at Coinbase, where he helps develop services for large investors to trade and store cryptocurrencies. Before joining Coinbase, he co-founded Tagomi, a company that made crypto trading more manageable. He also worked at major financial firms like Goldman Sachs and KCG Holdings, gaining experience in trading and market services.
Early Career in Technology
Greg Tusar began his career at Bell Laboratories as an Associate from 1986 to 1987. He then moved to Mentor Graphics, where he worked as a System Administrator for almost three years, from January 1990 to August 1992. These jobs helped him build a solid understanding of technology, systems management, and computing infrastructure.
Transition to Finance and Leadership Roles
In 1992, Greg moved into finance, becoming a Partner at TLW Securities, where he worked for seven years. He gained experience in electronic trading and financial markets, leading to leadership roles in finance and nonprofits. From 2006 to January 2013, he was the Global Head of Electronic Trading and Vice Chairman at Per Scholas, a group that provides tech education and job training for underserved communities. His work at Per Scholas showed his commitment to education and community service while growing his career in finance.
Key Role at Goldman Sachs
A big step in Greg’s career was his time at Goldman Sachs, where he was a Partner for over 13 years, from 2000 to February 2013. Working in New York, he played an important role in trading and execution services, helping the firm grow in electronic trading and market structure. His work there strengthened his reputation as a leader in financial technology and trading strategies.
Market-Making at KCG
After leaving Goldman Sachs, Greg joined KCG Holdings (now part of Virtu) as Head of Client Market Making and Execution Services from August 2013 to July 2017. He improved trading execution and market-making strategies, building his knowledge of financial markets and trading technology.
Entrepreneurial Venture with Tagomi
In 2018, Greg co-founded Tagomi, a crypto trading firm that helped big investors trade digital assets more efficiently. Under his leadership, Tagomi became a top platform, offering advanced tools for large traders. Its success led to its purchase by Coinbase in 2020, where it became CB Prime and joined Coinbase’s institutional services. Greg helped with the transition before officially joining Coinbase.
Nonprofit and Educational Involvement
Greg has stayed involved in nonprofit work and education outside of finance and crypto. Since September 2014, he has been a Trustee at The Raptor Trust, a wildlife center in New Jersey that cares for injured and orphaned birds. Since November 2017, he has also been a Trustee at the Liberty Science Center, helping support science education and hands-on learning for students and the community.
Joining Coinbase
Greg Tusar has been in charge of institutional products at Coinbase since August 2020. He has helped improve trading services for big investors, brought Tagomi’s platform into Coinbase, and supported the company’s growth in institutional trading.
Role as Vice President at Coinbase
As Vice President of Institutional Product at Coinbase, Greg Tusar helps build and improve trading and storage services for large investors. He works on products for hedge funds, asset managers, and other financial firms, making it easier for them to trade crypto through Coinbase Prime. Under his leadership, Coinbase has added more services like brokerage, secure storage, financing, and trade execution. With experience in traditional finance and crypto, he plays a big role in helping institutional investors enter the crypto market.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs
In January 2024, Greg Tusar, Vice President at Coinbase, talked about how approving spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. was a big step toward making crypto more widely accepted. He said this change helps more people access crypto and connects traditional finance with digital assets.
Market Structure and Electronic Trading
Greg Tusar has been important in shaping electronic trading, especially during his time at Goldman Sachs and KCG Holdings. His work helped improve trading algorithms, execution methods, and liquidity in stocks and, later, in digital assets.
Prime Brokerage and Crypto Liquidity
Greg Tusar co-founded Tagomi, one of the first brokerage services designed for crypto trading. It provided advanced tools for large investors, making it easier to trade digital assets efficiently. Tagomi’s model, later combined into Coinbase Prime, played a key role in attracting hedge funds, asset managers, and institutional clients by offering better trade execution and liquidity access.
Tusar’s Vision
Greg Tusar wants to make it easier for big investors to trade digital assets like in traditional markets. With his background in electronic trading, he works on building better tools for safely buying, selling, and storing crypto. At Coinbase, he helps create a strong system that gives investors the confidence to enter the crypto market with reliable trading and security.
Final Thoughts
Greg Tusar’s career connects traditional finance with the growing crypto industry. Before leading electronic trading at major firms like Goldman Sachs and KCG Holdings, he started in technology. As a co-founder of Tagomi, he helped big investors trade crypto more easily.
Now, at Coinbase, he works on making crypto trading and storage better for large investors. His efforts have helped bring traditional finance and digital assets closer together, making it easier for institutions to enter the crypto market.
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