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Julian Koh is the co-founder and CEO of Aevo, a decentralized derivatives exchange previously known as Ribbon Finance. He initially studied computer science at Cornell University before leaving the program after two years to pursue a career in the cryptocurrency sector. Before launching his own ventures, Koh worked as a software engineer at Coinbase, where he focused on staking and custody integrations, and held engineering and consulting roles at Numerai and Metastable Capital. He co-founded Ribbon Finance in November 2020, scaling the protocol to hundreds of millions in Total Value Locked with backing from venture firms like Paradigm and Dragonfly Capital. In 2023, he led the strategic transition of the company into Aevo, culminating in the launch of the AEVO token via Binance Launchpool in March 2024. His current focus is building decentralized finance infrastructure.
Julian Koh stands as a prominent figure in the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape, best known as the Co-Founder of Ribbon Finance. His journey from traditional tech to the forefront of Web3 innovation has solidified his reputation as both a visionary entrepreneur and a strategic investor. Through Ribbon Finance, Koh has been instrumental in building a leading protocol for structured products, making sophisticated financial strategies accessible within the decentralized ecosystem.
At Ribbon Finance, Julian Koh's role extends beyond co-founding; he is a driving force behind the protocol's development and strategic direction. Ribbon Finance specializes in offering decentralized options and other structured products, enabling users to generate yield or hedge risks in a non-custodial manner. Koh's leadership has been critical in navigating the complexities of DeFi, fostering innovation, and ensuring the protocol remains at the cutting edge of financial engineering within blockchain technology.
Julian Koh's investment focus areas are deeply rooted in his professional experience and vision for the future of finance. He actively seeks out and invests in promising Web3 projects, with a particular emphasis on DeFi protocols, blockchain infrastructure, and crypto derivatives. His investment thesis often centers on technologies that enhance scalability, security, user experience, and overall utility within the decentralized space. Koh is known for backing early-stage startups that demonstrate strong technical foundations, innovative solutions, and the potential for significant long-term impact on the crypto economy.
Prior to co-founding Ribbon Finance, Julian Koh honed his technical and analytical skills at leading technology companies. He served as a software engineer at Coinbase, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, where he gained invaluable insights into the operational intricacies and infrastructure requirements of the crypto industry. Before his tenure at Coinbase, Koh also contributed his engineering expertise at Palantir Technologies, a company renowned for its data analytics capabilities. This diverse background in software engineering and data solutions provided him with a robust foundation for building complex, secure, and scalable decentralized applications.
While specific public disclosures of his angel investments may be limited, Julian Koh's influence as an investor is widely recognized within the Web3 community. He is known for his hands-on approach, often providing mentorship and strategic guidance to the founders he supports. His deep understanding of market dynamics, coupled with his technical acumen, makes him a valuable partner for emerging projects aiming to disrupt traditional finance or build foundational layers for the decentralized internet. Julian Koh's commitment to fostering innovation continues to shape the trajectory of the DeFi and broader Web3 ecosystem.
Julian Koh primarily invests in innovative Web3 projects, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, blockchain infrastructure, and crypto derivatives. He seeks out early-stage startups with strong technical foundations and disruptive potential within the decentralized ecosystem.
Julian Koh is the Co-Founder of Ribbon Finance, where he plays a pivotal role in developing and scaling the decentralized options protocol. His work focuses on bringing sophisticated financial products to the DeFi market.