David Ripley

Co-CEO and Executive Leader at Kraken

“Beware of the depths”

Career

David Ripley (often known as Dave Ripley) is a prominent executive in the cryptocurrency industry, best known for his leadership at Kraken, one of the world’s longest-running and most respected digital asset exchanges. He serves as Co-Chief Executive Officer, steering Kraken’s strategic growth, operational excellence, and expansion into new markets and product lines.

Ripley’s career in crypto began with Glidera, a non-custodial wallet and crypto funding service he co-founded and led as CEO. Kraken acquired Glidera in 2016, bringing Ripley into the exchange’s leadership team. As Chief Operating Officer, he played a central role in scaling Kraken’s infrastructure, expanding its regulatory footprint, and executing strategic acquisitions.

In 2023, Ripley transitioned into the CEO role as part of Kraken’s leadership succession plan, and in October 2024 he became Co-CEO alongside Arjun Sethi, reflecting a shared leadership model aimed at accelerating innovation and operational rigor.

Under his leadership, Kraken has completed more than 16 acquisitions, secured key regulatory licenses worldwide, and strengthened its position as a trusted platform for trading cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Ripley’s focus on compliance, security, and sustainable growth has helped Kraken navigate evolving market conditions and regulatory challenges.

Before entering the crypto sector, Ripley built a foundation in technology and business, including software engineering and product management roles, as well as strategy consulting at The Boston Consulting Group. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, combining technical and strategic expertise in his leadership approach.

Ripley continues to advocate for thoughtful regulatory engagement, expanded institutional participation in digital assets, and trust-centric exchange operations as crypto becomes increasingly integrated into broader financial systems.