Categories: Entertainment

Kraken Hires Ex-BlockFi VP, Samia Bayou, as Head of Prime Finance

Kraken, a US-based cryptocurrency exchange has hired Samia Bayou, the former Vice President and Global Head of Private Client at digital asset lender BlockFi, as its new Head of Prime Finance and OTC Sales for the EMEA.

Bayou announced her appointment on LinkedIn on Friday. However, her LinkedIn profile shows she assumed the role in December last year. Bayou left her role at BlockFi in September last year after one year and five months.

The senior executive, who has worked for leading financial institutions such as Société Générale Private Banking, UBS, Merrill Lynch and Citi, brings about 18 years of experience to the role.

“Kraken is building bridges from the old financial world to the new – crypto prime financing, OTC spot and derivative markets are poised for growth with institutions entering the ecosystem looking for a reliable and stable partner,” Bayou wrote on LinkedIn, explaining why she decided to “board Kraken’s rocket ship.”

Bayou’s Career Experience

Before BlockFi, Bayou worked as a Senior Investment Advisor to the Chairman and Managing Director at UK-based Single Family Office. She fulfilled the role for over four and a half years.

Between 2015 and 2016, she was a Senior Private Banker, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for Société Générale Private Banking, the wealth management arm of Société Générale. However, she spent a longer stint at UBS, serving as a Client Advisor for the MENA Markets for the Switzerland-headquartered investment banking company. She worked at UBS for seven years and five months between September 2007 and January 2015.

Additionally, Bayou served as Financial Advisor at the International desk of Merrill Lynch and previously worked as a Junior Relationship Manager for Citi’s MENA clients. She fulfilled these roles between 2004 and 2006.

Crypto Job Cut Presses On Into 2023

Kraken’s appointment of Bayou comes at a time the crypto industry is seeing continued industry job cuts from last year. Singapore-based Crypto.com on Friday announced that it will shred its team by 30%.

Seychelles-based Huobi and remote-first American Coinbase also announced job cuts some days ago. Kraken itself cut its global workforce by 30% in late November last year. The crypto exchange also plans to shut down its Japanese operations by January 31 citing harsh crypto market conditions.

Kraken, a US-based cryptocurrency exchange has hired Samia Bayou, the former Vice President and Global Head of Private Client at digital asset lender BlockFi, as its new Head of Prime Finance and OTC Sales for the EMEA.

Bayou announced her appointment on LinkedIn on Friday. However, her LinkedIn profile shows she assumed the role in December last year. Bayou left her role at BlockFi in September last year after one year and five months.

The senior executive, who has worked for leading financial institutions such as Société Générale Private Banking, UBS, Merrill Lynch and Citi, brings about 18 years of experience to the role.

“Kraken is building bridges from the old financial world to the new – crypto prime financing, OTC spot and derivative markets are poised for growth with institutions entering the ecosystem looking for a reliable and stable partner,” Bayou wrote on LinkedIn, explaining why she decided to “board Kraken’s rocket ship.”

Bayou’s Career Experience

Before BlockFi, Bayou worked as a Senior Investment Advisor to the Chairman and Managing Director at UK-based Single Family Office. She fulfilled the role for over four and a half years.

Between 2015 and 2016, she was a Senior Private Banker, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for Société Générale Private Banking, the wealth management arm of Société Générale. However, she spent a longer stint at UBS, serving as a Client Advisor for the MENA Markets for the Switzerland-headquartered investment banking company. She worked at UBS for seven years and five months between September 2007 and January 2015.

Additionally, Bayou served as Financial Advisor at the International desk of Merrill Lynch and previously worked as a Junior Relationship Manager for Citi’s MENA clients. She fulfilled these roles between 2004 and 2006.

Crypto Job Cut Presses On Into 2023

Kraken’s appointment of Bayou comes at a time the crypto industry is seeing continued industry job cuts from last year. Singapore-based Crypto.com on Friday announced that it will shred its team by 30%.

Seychelles-based Huobi and remote-first American Coinbase also announced job cuts some days ago. Kraken itself cut its global workforce by 30% in late November last year. The crypto exchange also plans to shut down its Japanese operations by January 31 citing harsh crypto market conditions.

Read More

Greg Aftayev

Greg Aftayev is a Journalist at Flaunt Weekly Covering Tech News.

Recent Posts

Billy Joel Postpones Concerts to Recover From Surgery

Flaunt Weeekly Billy Joel is postponing a number of concerts so that he can recover…

2 hours ago

15 Photos That Show Why the 90s Were Better Times

Flaunt Weeekly The 90s were a time like no other; bold fashion, iconic music, and a simpler way…

4 hours ago

John-Andrew Quinn Came Up With the Powerful Song ‘Another Day’

Flaunt Weeekly Flaunt Weeekly ‘Another Day’ has been released by the proficient artist and music…

4 hours ago

Billy Joel Postpones Concerts to Recover From Surgery

Flaunt Weeekly Billy Joel is postponing a number of concerts so that he can recover…

4 hours ago

Songkran music festival set to attract 100,000 Thais

Flaunt Weeekly PUBLISHED : 12 Mar 2025 at 06:20 Listen to this article A musician…

6 hours ago

Billy Joel Postpones Concerts to Recover From Surgery

Flaunt Weeekly Billy Joel is postponing a number of concerts so that he can recover…

6 hours ago