Thiel Leads Investment in European Crypto-Exchange Bitpanda

Digital investment platform Bitpanda raised $52 million in its first major funding round, led by Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures.

Retail investors have boomed since the pandemic hit, with day-traders pouring money into investing apps like U.S.-based Robinhood Markets Inc. Based in Vienna, Bitpanda currently allows customers to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as precious metals.

“The Robinhood movement in the U.S. helps a lot, but we want to be more customer-friendly,” Eric Demuth, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Bitpanda, said in an interview.

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