Share this article
Head of London FinTech Hub Steps Down to Lead Blockchain Lab
The head of Level39, one of Europe's biggest FinTech hubs, is stepping down to lead the development of a blockchain lab.
Updated Sep 11, 2021, 11:54 a.m. Published Oct 1, 2015, 12:30 p.m.
The head of one of Europe's biggest FinTech hubs is stepping down to lead the development of a blockchain lab.
Eric van der Kleij, who led London-based Level39 for three years, is returning to Entiq, an innovation consultancy he co-founded in 2013, to explore the real-world applications of blockchain technology.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
The lab, van der Kleij said, will seek to help organisations gain a better understanding of distributed ledgers, smart contracts and related technologies.
He told CoinDesk:
"The Entiq Lab has undertaken testing of fundamental financial services functions such as territoriality, finality, delivery versus payment and is developing proof of concepts. We are exploring the capabilities of distributed ledger technology and have been approached by a number of financial institutions to see if we can help them develop prototypes."
Van der Kleij, a serial entrepreneur and former CEO of the UK Government's Tech City Investment Organisation, is credited with playing a pivotal role in helping Level39 become one of the most prominent accelerators in the European FinTech scene.
The accelerator, located in London's business district, made headlines earlier this year when Swiss investment bank UBS announced the opening of a blockchain research lab to explore the application of distributed ledgers in the wider financial services industry.
Canary Wharf image via IR Stone / Shutterstock.com
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Morgan Stanley eyes the spot bitcoin ETF market
Wall Street heavyweight files for bitcoin trust amid rising institutional demand.
What to know:
- Morgan Stanley filed a Form S-1 on January 6, 2026, seeking approval for a spot bitcoin exchange traded fund that would hold bitcoin directly and trade on a US exchange.
- The move highlights growing institutional confidence in regulated bitcoin products.
Top Stories
