Christopher R. Perkins
CoinFund | President
Christopher R. Perkins serves as Managing Partner and President of CoinFund, a registered investment advisor with venture and liquid strategies. In this capacity, Chris delivers institutional scale, actively participates in the investment process and drives value for portfolio partners and investors while bridging the gap between web3 and traditional finance. An outspoken global advocate for cultivating responsible innovation by unlocking the promise of web3, Chris has testified before the U.S. Congress on effective policy and market structure design. He also serves on the CFTC’s Global Markets Advisory Committee (GMAC) and its Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee.
Leveraging his background in traditional fixed income markets and crypto, Chris was the co-inventor of the Composite Ether Staking Rate (CESR™), the first standardized staking rate benchmark of its kind, which was designed as a settlement rate for derivatives contracts. CESR™ officially launched in 2023.
Prior to joining Coinfund, Chris served as Global Co-Head of Futures, Clearing and Foreign Exchange Prime Brokerage (FXPB) businesses at Citi. In this capacity, he was responsible for delivering leading listed derivative electronic and voice execution, comprehensive central clearing and #1 ranked OTC Clearing and FXPB services to top institutional clients.
In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, Chris worked closely with governments, global regulators and industry participants to launch an industry-leading central clearing business as the $700 trillion derivatives industry migrated from an unregulated to a regulated paradigm. During his tenure, Citi was widely recognized as the global leader in this space, clearing hundreds of trillions of dollars notional, and safeguarding approximately $40 billion in client assets.
Appointed as the Global Head of FXPB in 2018, he worked closely with numerous global regulators and Citi’s Board of Directors to architect and execute a comprehensive restructuring and integration plan across multiple geographies. These efforts improved profitability and risk management while driving an industry-leading market share.
Prior to joining Citi in 2008, Chris served as the U.S. Head of Derivatives Prime Brokerage at
Lehman Brothers managing a portfolio of over $100 billion in notional across credit and interest
rate derivatives.
An Iraq war veteran, Chris served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nine years achieving the rank of Captain. Highlights of his military career include leading the reconstruction, civil affairs, logistics, public affairs and fire support coordination effort during combat operations in Ar Ramadi, Iraq from 2004-2005.
Chris is the co-founder of Veterans in Digital Assets (VIDA) and Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS), two national initiatives focused on veterans employment and empowerment. He was named "Employee of the Month—35 People Worthy of Emulation" (Esquire, Fall 2012) and recipient of Columbia University’s "Peter J. Awn Community Service Award" in 2018. He is the recipient of the 2021 "Marine For Life" award in New York City. In 2023, he worked with National Geographic to launch "Operation Arctic Cure," a veterans documentary on addressing post traumatic stress disorder.
Chris serves on the Board of Advisors of Academy Securities and is a member of the Economic Club of New York. Previously, Chris served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of FIA, Inc., as Vice Chairman of the Board of Team Rubicon, and on the Leadership Team of the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
Chris has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, with distinction, and a Master of Arts Degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University.
Christopher R. Perkins serves as Managing Partner and President of CoinFund, a registered investment advisor with venture and liquid strategies. In this capacity, Chris delivers institutional scale, actively participates in the investment process and drives value for portfolio partners and investors while bridging the gap between web3 and traditional finance. An outspoken global advocate for cultivating responsible innovation by unlocking the promise of web3, Chris has testified before the U.S. Congress on effective policy and market structure design. He also serves on the CFTC’s Global Markets Advisory Committee (GMAC) and its Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee.
Leveraging his background in traditional fixed income markets and crypto, Chris was the co-inventor of the Composite Ether Staking Rate (CESR™), the first standardized staking rate benchmark of its kind, which was designed as a settlement rate for derivatives contracts. CESR™ officially launched in 2023.
Prior to joining Coinfund, Chris served as Global Co-Head of Futures, Clearing and Foreign Exchange Prime Brokerage (FXPB) businesses at Citi. In this capacity, he was responsible for delivering leading listed derivative electronic and voice execution, comprehensive central clearing and #1 ranked OTC Clearing and FXPB services to top institutional clients.
In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, Chris worked closely with governments, global regulators and industry participants to launch an industry-leading central clearing business as the $700 trillion derivatives industry migrated from an unregulated to a regulated paradigm. During his tenure, Citi was widely recognized as the global leader in this space, clearing hundreds of trillions of dollars notional, and safeguarding approximately $40 billion in client assets.
Appointed as the Global Head of FXPB in 2018, he worked closely with numerous global regulators and Citi’s Board of Directors to architect and execute a comprehensive restructuring and integration plan across multiple geographies. These efforts improved profitability and risk management while driving an industry-leading market share.
Prior to joining Citi in 2008, Chris served as the U.S. Head of Derivatives Prime Brokerage at
Lehman Brothers managing a portfolio of over $100 billion in notional across credit and interest
rate derivatives.
An Iraq war veteran, Chris served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nine years achieving the rank of Captain. Highlights of his military career include leading the reconstruction, civil affairs, logistics, public affairs and fire support coordination effort during combat operations in Ar Ramadi, Iraq from 2004-2005.
Chris is the co-founder of Veterans in Digital Assets (VIDA) and Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS), two national initiatives focused on veterans employment and empowerment. He was named "Employee of the Month—35 People Worthy of Emulation" (Esquire, Fall 2012) and recipient of Columbia University’s "Peter J. Awn Community Service Award" in 2018. He is the recipient of the 2021 "Marine For Life" award in New York City. In 2023, he worked with National Geographic to launch "Operation Arctic Cure," a veterans documentary on addressing post traumatic stress disorder.
Chris serves on the Board of Advisors of Academy Securities and is a member of the Economic Club of New York. Previously, Chris served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of FIA, Inc., as Vice Chairman of the Board of Team Rubicon, and on the Leadership Team of the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
Chris has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, with distinction, and a Master of Arts Degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University.