Key Takeaways
- Ankur Nandwani co-founded ZetaChain, a blockchain platform connecting networks like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
- At Coinbase, he helped grow the platform by making crypto services easier to use and expanding access to digital currencies worldwide.
- ZetaChain enables cross-chain transactions using EVM-based universal smart contracts, eliminating the need for wrapped tokens.
Who Is Ankur Nandwani?
AnCo-dokur Nandwani is one of the co-founders of ZetaChain, a blockchain platform that connects different networks. With a background in computer engineering and years of experience in crypto, he has worked on projects like the Basic Attention Token (BAT) and held important roles at Coinbase and Ribbit Capital. He earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering from NIT Surat in 2008 and an M.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University in 2010, where he studied mobile security, machine learning, and blockchain.
Early Career in Mobile Security
Ankur Nandwani began his career in technology with a strong focus on mobile security. He worked on research and development, helping create security solutions for mobile platforms. This early experience gave him a strong base in decentralized systems and cryptographic ideas, which later influenced his work in blockchain and cryptocurrency.
Role at Coinbase
Nandwani became one of the early team members at Coinbase and played an important part in the company’s growth. He led the Consumer Product Division, focusing on making services easier to use so more people worldwide could access cryptocurrency. His work helped Coinbase become one of the most widely used cryptocurrency exchanges.
Co-Founding Basic Attention Token (BAT)
In 2017, Nandwani helped start the Basic Attention Token (BAT), a decentralized advertising platform built on Ethereum. BAT was created to make digital advertising better by working with the Brave Browser, letting users and content creators earn rewards while keeping their privacy safe. The project became very popular and raised $36 million through an Initial Coin Offering (ICO), making it a well-known blockchain-based advertising solution.
Venture Investing at Ribbit Capital
After working at Coinbase and BAT, Nandwani moved into venture investing and joined Ribbit Capital, a firm that focuses on financial technology and blockchain investments. At Ribbit, he reviewed and supported different blockchain startups, gaining useful knowledge about various industry parts and helping new projects grow.
Co-Founding ZetaChain
Ankur Nandwani co-founded ZetaChain, a Layer 1 blockchain platform that connects various networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and more. ZetaChain utilizes EVM-based universal smart contracts to facilitate seamless asset and data transfers across different systems.
As of February 2025, the platform has processed over 171 million transactions and supports more than 4.2 million unique addresses. These applications span decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and lending.
Continued Focus on Blockchain and Security
Throughout his career, Nandwani has focused strongly on connecting different blockchains, building decentralized applications, and improving security. His work has helped make blockchain technology easier to use and more effective across different networks, supporting the growth of the decentralized system.
Making Blockchain Transfers Easier with ZetaChain
Through ZetaChain, Nandwani has been leading the way in creating solutions that let different blockchains work together easily. By using EVM-based universal smart contracts, ZetaChain allows users to transfer assets and data between blockchains without the need for wrapped tokens or third-party bridges. This innovation helps improve security, simplify transactions, and open up more possibilities for decentralized applications.
Privacy and Security in Blockchain
With experience in mobile security, Nandwani has always focused on keeping blockchain systems safe and private. The projects he has worked on, like BAT and ZetaChain, aim to protect user data while making decentralized systems work better. His approach is all about creating secure, scalable, and easy-to-use blockchain solutions that solve common problems in the industry.
Future Outlook and Industry Impact
As blockchain technology grows, Nandwani stays focused on making decentralized apps more connected, secure, and useful in everyday life. His work with ZetaChain and past projects shows his dedication to improving how blockchains work together and making them easier to use. Looking ahead, he will likely keep helping shape the future of decentralized finance, privacy-focused apps, and cross-chain technology.
Final Thoughts
Ankur Nandwani has worked to make blockchain safer, easier to use, and more connected. From his early days in mobile security to key roles at Coinbase, BAT, and ZetaChain, he has helped improve how people use blockchain.
His focus on linking different networks and creating simple, secure solutions is shaping the industry. As blockchain keeps growing, his work will likely keep making decentralized finance, privacy, and cross-chain technology more useful for everyone.
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