Crypto trading startup ErisX is expanding its board of directors as it prepares to launch spot and derivatives markets for digital assets, including bitcoin and eventually ethereum.
The company announced Thursday that Joseph Lubin, founder of the ethereum development studio ConsenSys, and Cris Conde, a technology entrepreneur, had joined the board. They will serve alongside DRW CEO Don Wilson, Valor Equity Partners managing partner Antonio Gracias and ErisX CEO Thomas Chippas.
In a press release, ErisX cited Lubin’s experience working in the digital asset space and his familiarity with the ethereum network (he was part of the second-largest cryptocurrency’s founding team).
The company initially plans to provide bitcoin futures products when it launches (though this launch may be delayed by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown), but plans to add support for ethereum and litecoin futures down the line.
ErisX head of marketing Jessica Darmoni told CoinDesk via email that launching ether products remains a goal for the company, but declined to say if the company was planning to actively lobby for or announce an ether futures product in the near future.
“As a general rule, we don’t comment on engagement with regulators while we are still in process with them,” she said., adding:
“However, we can say that Mr. Lubin and his team bring extensive knowledge and background on Ethereum, the crypto space as well as the token space to ErisX.”
ErisX CEO Thomas Chippas previously told CoinDesk that the company’s “interaction with the CFTC has been both positive and productive,” and that the firm was looking forward to resuming its work with the regulator on its derivatives clearing organization application.
The board has been expanded from four seats to five. Lubin took the new seat; Conde, a former CEO of software giant Sungard, will replace former independent board member Cliff Lewis, who had been on the board since Feb. 2018.
Joe Lubin at Consensus 2018, photo via CoinDesk archives