In recent years, blockchain-powered digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum have emerged as transformative financial instruments, reshaping how value is stored, transferred, and invested. While institutional interest in digital assets continues to grow, widespread adoption has been hindered by a lack of robust infrastructure that meets global regulatory standards and investor expectations.
To bridge this gap, specialized platforms like Copper.co have risen to prominence, offering secure, compliant, and efficient solutions tailored for institutional participants. This article explores the evolution, mission, and core offerings of Copper.co—one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency custody and prime brokerage providers—highlighting how it empowers institutions to confidently enter the digital asset ecosystem.
What Is Copper.co?
Founded in 2018 by Dmitry Tokarev, Copper.co is a London-based fintech firm dedicated to serving institutional investors in the cryptocurrency space. The company specializes in three key areas: digital asset custody, prime brokerage services, and secure trading infrastructure. By combining advanced technology with regulatory compliance, Copper.co enables hedge funds, family offices, and asset managers to safely acquire, store, and trade digital assets.
At the heart of Copper’s innovation is ClearLoop, a proprietary settlement network launched in May 2020. ClearLoop connects multiple cryptocurrency exchanges through a secure loop architecture, enabling real-time cross-exchange settlements without exposing assets to unnecessary risks. This system significantly reduces counterparty risk and operational friction—two major barriers for institutions entering crypto markets.
👉 Discover how institutions securely trade across exchanges with integrated settlement solutions.
ClearLoop allows clients to execute over-the-counter (OTC) trades on top-tier digital asset exchanges while keeping their funds securely held in isolated custody accounts managed by Copper. This seamless integration enhances capital efficiency, liquidity access, and transaction speed—all critical for professional trading operations.
Additionally, Copper’s wallet infrastructure supports multiple deployment models: standalone applications, mobile apps, and browser extensions for secure smart contract signing. These tools are designed with enterprise-grade security protocols, ensuring that private keys remain protected at all times.
Funding Growth and Market Expansion
Since its inception, Copper.co has attracted significant investment from global venture capital firms and strategic partners, reflecting strong market confidence in its long-term vision.
- Seed Round (January 2019): Raised $1 million to develop initial custody and trading infrastructure.
- Series A (February 2020): Secured $8 million to scale operations and expand its engineering team.
- Series B (May–June 2021): Closed a $76 million round to enhance product development and enter new markets.
- Series C (October 2022): Announced a $196 million funding round—$181 million from equity investors and the remainder from convertible loan notes—making it one of the largest raises in the institutional crypto infrastructure sector.
This capital influx has enabled Copper to strengthen its technological edge, deepen exchange integrations, and pursue regulatory approvals across key jurisdictions.
The Leadership Behind Copper.co
Copper’s success is driven by a diverse team of experts from finance, cybersecurity, compliance, and blockchain technology. According to public records, the company maintains a lean but highly skilled workforce focused on innovation and execution.
Key members of the leadership team include:
- Dmitry Tokarev – Chief Executive Officer
- Greg Hall – Chief Operating Officer
- Jake Rogers – Chief Information Security Officer
- Tim ‘Hilton’ Yzermans – Chief of Staff
- John Bratowicz – Head of Compliance
- Tim Neill – Chief Risk Officer
- Alex Ryvkin – Chief Product Officer
- Tyler Kenyon – Director of Marketing
- Alex Maslin – Director of Business Development (Digital Asset Custody & Prime Brokerage)
- Sergey Shanaev – Director for CIS Region
- Michelle Lai – Senior Strategic Advisor for Asia-Pacific
- Douglas Bilyk – Business Development
This blend of technical depth and financial expertise positions Copper.co to navigate complex regulatory landscapes while delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet institutional demands.
Strategic Partnership with BIT Exchange
In January 2021, Copper.co announced a strategic integration with BIT, a full-service cryptocurrency exchange. Through this collaboration, BIT integrated Copper’s ClearLoop framework into its trading infrastructure.
As a result, institutional traders on BIT can now:
- Keep their digital assets securely held in Copper’s segregated custody accounts
- Execute trades directly via ClearLoop
- Achieve real-time settlement across multiple venues
This integration eliminates the need to transfer funds between exchanges manually—a process that traditionally increases exposure to theft or operational errors. Instead, clients enjoy enhanced security, faster execution, and improved capital utilization.
👉 Learn how real-time settlement networks are transforming institutional crypto trading.
Such partnerships underscore Copper’s role as an enabler of institutional-grade market infrastructure, fostering trust and efficiency across the broader digital asset ecosystem.
Core Keywords & SEO Focus
To align with search intent and improve discoverability, the following core keywords have been naturally integrated throughout this article:
- Cryptocurrency custody
- Institutional crypto trading
- Digital asset security
- ClearLoop settlement network
- Prime brokerage for crypto
- Secure crypto wallet
- Blockchain infrastructure
- Crypto exchange integration
These terms reflect high-value topics searched by financial professionals, fund managers, and fintech decision-makers exploring entry into digital asset markets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes Copper.co different from other crypto custody providers?
A: Copper.co stands out by combining custody with a proprietary real-time settlement network (ClearLoop), allowing institutions to trade across multiple exchanges without moving funds. This reduces risk and increases efficiency compared to traditional custodians.
Q: Is Copper.co regulated?
A: While not a bank or licensed custodian in all jurisdictions, Copper operates under strict compliance frameworks and works closely with regulators. It adheres to anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) standards required by institutional clients.
Q: Can individual investors use Copper.co?
A: No. Copper serves exclusively institutional clients such as hedge funds, family offices, and fintech platforms. Retail investors typically access its services indirectly through partner exchanges or wealth management platforms.
Q: How does ClearLoop ensure secure settlements?
A: ClearLoop uses isolated custody accounts and encrypted transaction loops that connect exchanges directly to Copper’s system. Assets never leave secure storage during trading or settlement processes.
Q: Does Copper support staking or yield generation?
A: While primarily focused on custody and trading infrastructure, Copper enables certain clients to participate in staking through integrated partners—subject to compliance and jurisdictional rules.
Q: Where is Copper.co headquartered?
A: The company is based in London, United Kingdom, with strategic advisors serving regions including Asia-Pacific and the CIS countries.
Final Thoughts
Copper.co has positioned itself at the forefront of institutional cryptocurrency infrastructure by addressing two fundamental challenges: security and operational efficiency. Through innovations like ClearLoop and enterprise-grade custody solutions, it provides the trust layer institutions demand when allocating capital to digital assets.
As global markets continue evolving toward tokenized finance, platforms like Copper will play an increasingly vital role in connecting traditional finance with blockchain-based ecosystems.
👉 Explore next-generation trading infrastructure built for institutional crypto investors.