Key Takeaways
- Julian Koh, CEO of Aevo (formerly Ribbon Finance), began his career in cryptocurrency after leaving Cornell University to focus on crypto research.
- He gained valuable experience at Numerai, Metastable Capital, and Coinbase before co-founding Ribbon Finance in 2020.
- Ribbon Finance rebranded to Aevo in 2023 to expand its services beyond DeFi products, focusing on decentralized finance and development.
Who Is Julian Koh?
Julian Koh is the CEO and co-founder of Aevo, previously called Ribbon Finance. He is a software engineer working in the cryptocurrency industry since 2018. Koh started studying computer science at Cornell University but left after two years to focus on researching cryptocurrency and building his career.
Gap Year and Early Career
While in college, Julian Koh took a year’s break to learn more about cryptocurrency. This time helped him focus on crypto research while working part-time. One of his important jobs during this period was at Numerai, a company in San Francisco that uses AI and crowdsourcing in finance. Koh worked there for seven months, helping the company create AI-based strategies for finance.
Transition to Metastable Capital
After his time at Numerai, Koh joined Metastable Capital, a hedge fund focusing on cryptocurrency. He worked as a consultant, spending his time researching and analyzing new trends in the cryptocurrency market. His role at Metastable Capital helped him stay up-to-date with crypto developments and gave him a better understanding of the changing industry.
Joining Coinbase
After finishing university, Koh joined Coinbase, a major cryptocurrency exchange, as a software engineer. At Coinbase, Koh worked on several projects, such as developing crypto connections, improving storage solutions, and improving staking services. His time at Coinbase gave him valuable experience in the technical side of cryptocurrency and helped shape his career in the field.
Co-Founding Ribbon Finance(AEVO)
While working at Coinbase, Koh teamed up with his roommate to explore crypto ideas during his free time. With help from former coworkers and partners, Koh left Coinbase and co-founded Ribbon Finance in November 2020. Ribbon Finance is a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that offers organized crypto products and investment strategies.
The Launch of Ribbon Earn and Future Goals
In October 2022, Koh had an interview with Token Terminal about Ribbon Finance and his plans for the company’s future. He started by explaining the different products Ribbon had released, beginning with Ribbon Earn.
Koh explained that Ribbon Finance is mainly known for its DOVs. He described how they work: people earn money by selling the chance of an asset going up or down. This means selling a call or put option and getting paid for it. However, these products come with risk. If the asset’s price goes up or down a lot, money can be lost. Koh pointed out that many investors are willing to take on this risk in a bull market to get higher asset returns.
Rebranding to Aevo
In 2023, Ribbon Finance was rebranded to Aevo. The rebranding aimed to offer more services in the growing crypto space, more than just crypto products and DeFi strategies. The new name shows the company’s goal to help people through decentralized finance and explore new ways to grow and innovate.
The DeFi Movement and Its Impact
Koh has played an important role in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, which aims to change traditional financial systems using blockchain technology. DeFi lets people use financial services like lending, borrowing, and trading without needing banks or middlemen. Ribbon Finance helps make DeFi easier and more accessible by offering products like DOVs, which give users a simpler and more organized way to work with crypto assets.
Expanding Into Global Markets
Koh is excited about the chance to grow Aevo in international markets. He believes cryptocurrency can help close financial gaps, especially in areas with limited traditional banking systems. As Aevo grows, Koh plans to reach more users worldwide, especially in developing markets. He is looking for partnerships and opportunities to help the platform serve more customers and make a bigger global impact.
Koh’s Vision for the Crypto Community
Koh is dedicated to building a supportive and more open crypto community. He believes blockchain has the power to bring big changes and is committed to teaching others about the opportunities it offers. Koh’s goal is more than just making money; he wants to help grow a financial system that empowers individuals and challenges traditional finance. Through his work, Koh hopes to inspire more people to explore and get involved in crypto, making decentralized finance available to everyone.
Final Thoughts
Julian Koh’s path from software engineer to CEO of Aevo shows his dedication to the growing cryptocurrency and DeFi space. His experience at Numerai, Metastable Capital, and Coinbase helped him co-found Ribbon Finance, which changed its name to Aevo in 2023 to offer more than just DeFi products. Koh wants to make DeFi easier for everyone, especially in areas without good banking options.
With his leadership, Aevo aims to change people’s thoughts about money and create a more open and accessible crypto community.
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