Former Nasdaq Exec Ira Auerbach Takes Over Leadership of Offchain Labs’ Tandem

• Former Nasdaq exec leads Offchain Labs Tandem.
• Tandem supports blockchain projects with expertise and funding.
• Focus on innovation drives Arbitrum’s ecosystem.

A Offchain Labs, the developer of Arbitrum, has announced the hiring of Ira Auerbach as head of Tandem, its partner studio division and venture capital arm. Auerbach, who previously served as senior vice president and head of digital assets at Nasdaq, takes on the challenge of leading strategic initiatives turned to drive innovation in the blockchain ecosystem.

Tandem was created to support projects developing innovative applications and infrastructure solutions, focusing on the technical challenges that currently limit the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies. Under Auerbach’s leadership, the division will provide resources such as technical expertise, funding and go-to-market strategies, working directly with selected teams.

“I am excited to join Offchain Labs and lead Tandem at this pivotal moment for blockchain innovation. Tandem’s unique position allows us to leverage Offchain Labs’ deep technical expertise and ecosystem relationships, creating an unparalleled opportunity to support projects that will shape the future of blockchain technology,” said Auerbach.

Prior to joining Offchain Labs, Auerbach held leadership roles in the crypto space, including as Global Head of Gemini Prime and Head of Product at Gemini. He also has experience in traditional financial institutions and technology, including Palantir Technologies and BNP Paribas.

Steven Goldfeder, CEO and co-founder of Offchain Labs, noted that Auerbach’s combined experience in traditional finance and crypto-native companies will be essential to unlocking Tandem’s potential. “His experience in scaling digital asset initiatives and meeting institutional requirements will be invaluable as we seek to empower the next generation of blockchain innovators,” Goldfeder commented.

Tandem currently collaborates with projects such as Espresso Systems, which focuses on decentralized sequencing infrastructure, and Ex Populus, which created the XAI blockchain for gaming. Auerbach said that while they are in talks with other early-stage initiatives, the division prioritizes quality over quantity, working on just a few projects per year.

Finally, while Tandem has yet to disclose the size of its fund or details about the investments, Auerbach anticipated that new partnerships will be announced in the coming months.