Robinhood Taps B2C2 Veteran to Bring FX and Crypto Expertise In-House
Why Is Robinhood Making an Institutional Hire Now?
Robinhood has appointed Zeke Vince as global head of business development for institutional crypto, a hire that points to a clear change in direction for the firm’s digital asset strategy. The move reflects a growing focus on professional trading clients rather than the retail-first model that defined Robinhood’s ahead rise.
Vince joins from crypto liquidity provider B2C2, where he spent more than three years as managing director and head of sales. His background spans over two decades in electronic foreign platform, algorithmic execution, and institutional market structure — a profile that stands apart from the consumer-oriented leadership traditionally associated with Robinhood.
By bringing in an executive steeped in trade-side trading and crypto liquidity, Robinhood is signaling that its next phase in crypto centers on execution, integration, and institutional workflows rather than expanding token menus or retail-facing features.
Investor Takeaway
What Does Vince’s Background Tell Us About the Strategy?
Before B2C2, Vince spent five years at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he led Americas electronic FX and algorithmic sales before taking on global responsibility for the role. Earlier positions included electronic FX roles at JPMorgan and Credit Suisse, along with nahead five years at Bloomberg across sales, FX, and electronic trading.
This career path suggests Robinhood is prioritizing credibility with hedge funds, , and institutional allocators — groups that care less about brand recognition and more about market access, execution quality, and system compatibility.
In institutional crypto markets, success often hinges on how well a platform fits into existing trading stacks, risk controls, and reporting requirements. Vince’s experience tradeing liquidity and execution services directly to professional desks aligns closely with those demands.
How Does This Fit Into Robinhood’s Recent Moves?
The hire follows a period of recalibration for Robinhood’s crypto business. later than launching commission-free crypto trading for retail users in 2018, the firm grew rapidly but faced regulatory scrutiny. In 2022, its crypto unit paid a $30 million penalty to the over anti-money laundering and cybersecurity gaps. More recently, Robinhood disclosed it had received a Wells Notice from the related to its crypto operations, an inquiry that closed in 2025 without enforcement.
Since then, the company has focused on strengthening its market infrastructure ties. In November 2025, Robinhood acquired a 90% stake in MIAXdx, a derivatives platform, alongside Susquehanna International Group, with MIAX retaining the remaining share. While MIAXdx does not trade crypto, the deal gave Robinhood direct exposure to regulated platform and clearing operations.
That transaction is widely viewn as part of a broader effort to understand and participate in the mechanics of institutional markets — knowledge that becomes essential if the firm plans to serve professional crypto traders at scale.
Investor Takeaway
What Else Is Robinhood Doing in Market Structure?
Beyond MIAXdx, Robinhood has backed other initiatives aimed at trading infrastructure rather than front-end apps. The firm is among the investors in Bruce Markets, an overnight trading access. Other backers include Fidelity Investments and Nasdaq Ventures.
The common thread across these efforts is an interest in how markets function behind the scenes — matching, clearing, settlement, and access — rather than just how trades are displayed to end users. That focus aligns with the expectations of institutional crypto participants, who often compare digital asset venues directly with traditional FX and derivatives platforms.
Vince confirmed his move publicly, describing the role as global in scope. That framing suggests Robinhood’s institutional crypto ambitions extend beyond the US, where professional crypto trading remains fragmented across regions and regulatory regimes.
Can Robinhood Win Over Institutional Crypto Clients?
Whether the strategy succeeds will depend on delivery. Institutional desks demand robust APIs, surveillance, reporting, and risk frameworks, along with confidence in a firm’s regulatory posture. Robinhood’s challenge is translating its scale and consumer brand into trust among professional trading firms that have historically favored banks or specialist crypto liquidity providers.
Still, hiring an executive with deep experience across FX, electronic trading, and crypto liquidity suggests Robinhood is approaching the difficulty with realism. Rather than trying to adapt a retail platform for institutions, the firm appears to be building a parallel capability informed by market veterans.
