From McDonald's to Robinhood: The Rise of a Leader in the Encryption Business

Fifteen years ago, 21-year-old Johann Kerbrat spent his youth in a small apartment near the French Riviera. Working at a fast food restaurant during the day and self-studying programming at night, this young man, fueled by his passion for technology, began his career.

Today, Kerbrat has become the Senior Vice President and Director of Encryption Business for a well-known financial technology company, leading the company to launch a series of ambitious encryption products. His story is not only a model of personal struggle but also reflects the development trajectory of the entire encryption industry.

Startups: The Disruptors of E-commerce

Before entering university, Kerbrat had already demonstrated his entrepreneurial talent. He founded his first fintech startup, offering no-code payment solutions to help small merchants easily set up e-commerce websites.

"That was when e-commerce was just starting out," Kerbrat recalled, "Our idea was to allow people to set up their own online stores without needing technical knowledge, similar to some of the e-commerce platforms today."

This idea is timely. In the early 2010s, online business began to thrive, and Kerbrat's tools provided small businesses with the opportunity to compete. At the same time, this experience made him aware of the vulnerabilities and high costs of the global financial system.

Bitcoin: The Solution to the Problem

A conversation with a Greek classmate made Kerbrat further realize the limitations of the traditional banking system. His classmate shared the experience of their family having their bank accounts frozen during the Eurozone crisis, while merchants on his platform continuously provided feedback on various issues: high transaction fees, complicated refund processes, and uncontrollable credit card fraud.

"Then I read the Bitcoin white paper," Kerbrat said, "and I thought to myself: 'This is simply the solution to all problems.'"

Since 2010, Kerbrat has been deeply researching Bitcoin technology, assembling mining machines, deploying wallets, and attempting to build payment interfaces based on Bitcoin. He did not view Bitcoin as a speculative tool, but rather dedicated himself to understanding the real potential behind this technology.

"At that stage, you will realize that encryption currency is not just an asset, but a structural transformation."

Career Development: From Engineer to Encryption Business Leader

Kerbrat's career has gone through several important stages. He has served as a core engineer in many well-known technology companies and has also worked as a vice president of engineering in a blockchain project focused on privacy technology. These experiences not only brought him back to the encryption circle but also made him realize that user experience is the biggest shortcoming in the encryption industry.

In 2021, Kerbrat joined the fintech company he is currently with as the Chief Technology Officer of the encryption business, and two years later he was promoted to Senior Vice President and General Manager. Under his leadership, the company launched several important encryption products:

• Launched a non-custodial wallet in 2022 to create a simple and user-friendly Web3 browser for ordinary users.
• Starting from 2023, support for Bitcoin transfers and on-chain asset withdrawals will be available, marking the company's transition from a purely trading interface to encryption infrastructure.
• Leading the acquisition of a certain European encryption exchange in 2024, obtaining over 50 licenses, laying the foundation for entering the European market.

Kerbrat emphasized, "Compliance is not a barrier, but a market barrier." This has also become key for the company to establish a foothold in the encryption business.

New Product Release: The Integration of Traditional Finance and Blockchain

Recently, Kerbrat led the team to launch the company's most comprehensive encryption product suite to date in Cannes. This release coincides with the first Cannes Ethereum Community Conference and is also an important move for the company following its approval from European regulators.

The new product suite includes:

• Launch tokenized US stock and ETF trading in Europe
• Providing staking services for Ethereum and Solana in the United States
• Provide European users with cryptocurrency perpetual futures trading
• Develop a new Layer 2 blockchain for the settlement of physical assets and 24/7 trading.

Kerbrat stated that their goal is to make encryption technology "invisible" in the background, like plumbing, so that users can easily use it without needing to understand how it works.

Review and Outlook

For Kerbrat, this product launch in Cannes holds special significance. This is not only the place where he lived during his teenage years but also a witness to his growth journey. Starting with computers at the age of 7, programming at 11, and attempting to solve internet economy problems by 17, Kerbrat's passion for technology has never waned.

"I never thought I would come back in this way," Kerbrat sighed. His story not only showcases a personal struggle but also reflects the rapid development of the encryption industry. From a McDonald's worker to a leader in the encryption business, Kerbrat's experience illustrates how technological innovation can change individual destinies and demonstrates the immense potential of encryption technology in reshaping the financial system.