10 Crypto Companies That Have Stood the Test of Time
It has been over 15 years since Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin white paper, and as we approach January 3, 2024, the crypto network celebrates its 15th anniversary. While many companies have come and gone in the industry, there are still some original players who have managed to stay afloat. In this overview, we highlight ten crypto firms that have weathered the storms and continue to thrive.
Braiins Pool (formerly Slush Pool)
Braiins Pool, formerly known as Slush Pool, is the longest-running bitcoin mining pool in existence. Created by Marek Palatinus, also known as “Slush,” on November 27, 2010, Braiins Pool is responsible for 0.63% of the Bitcoin network’s total hashrate. The company has been in business for nearly 13 years and is actively involved in BTC mining operations.
Coinbase
Founded in June 2012 by Fred Ehrsam and Brian Armstrong, Coinbase is one of the leading global crypto exchanges. It went public on April 14, 2021, listing its Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. However, the company faced legal issues when the SEC accused it of operating as an unregistered broker. Despite this setback, Coinbase has been operating for 11 years.
Canaan
Canaan Inc., established in 2013 by Nangeng Zhang, Jiaxuan Li, and Xiangfu Liu, specializes in ASIC chip manufacturing and bitcoin mining hardware. The company made a significant move by acquiring Avalon, the pioneer of the first ASIC mining rig. Canaan went public on November 21, 2019, and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with new machines.
Bitfinex
Bitfinex, founded in 2012 by Raphael Nicolle and Giancarlo Devasini, is a well-known crypto exchange. Despite experiencing a major security breach in 2016, the exchange recovered and remains one of the top global crypto exchanges. Bitfinex has been operating for over 11 years and owns one of the largest bitcoin wallets.
Blockchain.com
Founded in 2011 by Peter Smith and Nicolas Cary, Blockchain.com provides various services including a block explorer, data analytics, digital wallets, and a trading platform. The company has created 87 million wallets in over 200 countries since its inception and has been operational for about 12 years.
Bitpay
Bitpay, established in May 2011 by Tony Gallippi and Stephen Pair, is a cryptocurrency payment service provider. It offers payment processing services for merchants to accept cryptocurrency and introduced a Visa cryptocurrency debit card. Although it discontinued its Mastercard program, Bitpay continues to handle merchant payments after being in business for 12 years.
Bitstamp
Bitstamp, founded in 2011 by Nejc Kodrič and Damijan Merlak, is a European cryptocurrency exchange. The exchange enables trading of cryptocurrencies against fiat currencies such as USD, GBP, and EUR. Despite facing a hack in 2015, Bitstamp recovered and has maintained its status as a leading trading platform for over 12 years.
Kraken
Kraken, founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell, Thanh Luu, and Michael Gronager, is another San Francisco-based crypto exchange. It offers trading of crypto assets against fiat currencies and has not experienced any major security breaches. However, it recently faced regulatory issues with the SEC and agreed to wind down its staking services. Kraken has been operational for over 12 years.
Bitmain
Bitmain, established in 2013 by Micree Zhan and Jihan Wu, is a leading manufacturer of Bitcoin ASIC mining rigs. The company is known for creating Antminer mining rigs and launching Antpool, one of the largest mining pools globally. Bitmain has been at the forefront of mining rig production for over 10 years.
Satoshilabs (Trezor)
Satoshilabs, founded in 2013 by Marek Palatinus and Pavol Rusnak, is the creator of Trezor, a popular hardware wallet. Despite competition in the market, the company continues to operate and recently launched its third version of the hardware wallet. Satoshilabs has been in business for a total of ten years.
Hot Take: Crypto Companies That Have Stood the Test of Time
Surviving in the volatile world of crypto assets for over a decade is no small feat. While many companies have fallen by the wayside, these ten firms have managed to weather storms, overcome challenges, and remain operational. Their longevity showcases their resilience and adaptability in an industry where uncertainties abound.
The crypto graveyard is filled with the names of companies that have succumbed to various missteps and market blunders. However, these ten companies have proven that they can navigate through turbulent times and continue to thrive. As the crypto revolution enters its 15th year, these firms serve as a testament to the endurance and potential of digital currencies.
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