Kris Marszalek

Kris Marszalek is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Crypto.com, a Singapore-based digital asset exchange and payment platform. A serial entrepreneur with a background in e-commerce and consumer technology, Marszalek has overseen the company's evolution from a crypto debit card issuer into one of the most visible brands in the industry. Under his leadership, the platform has pursued an aggressive global expansion strategy defined by high-profile sports sponsorships and a focus on obtaining regulatory licenses in key jurisdictions.

Early Career and Entrepreneurship

Born in Poland, Marszalek spent much of his early career building companies in the consumer electronics and e-commerce sectors. Before entering the blockchain space, he founded and led Starline Polska, a consumer electronics design and manufacturing firm. He later moved to Hong Kong, where he founded the location-based service platform Yiyi and the e-commerce site Beecrazy. In 2013, Beecrazy was sold to the iBuy Group, which later became Ensogo.

Marszalek served as the CEO of Ensogo, a discount deal retailer similar to Groupon that operated across Southeast Asia. His tenure ended in 2016 when the company abruptly ceased operations. The closure was controversial, leaving merchants and staff with unpaid debts and sparking criticism regarding the company's financial management. Marszalek has publicly acknowledged this period as a difficult failure, often citing it as a learning experience that shaped his approach to risk management and business sustainability in his subsequent ventures.

Founding Crypto.com

In June 2016, Marszalek co-founded Monaco (MCO) alongside Rafael Melo, Gary Or, and Bobby Bao. The project initially focused on bridging the gap between cryptocurrency and traditional finance through a visa-branded debit card that allowed users to spend their digital assets. In 2017, the company raised approximately $26.7 million through an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) of its MCO token.

A pivotal moment for the company came in July 2018, when it rebranded from Monaco to Crypto.com. Marszalek facilitated the purchase of the premium domain “crypto.com” from cryptography researcher Matt Blaze, a move that signaled the company's ambition to become a central hub for the entire industry. The rebrand accompanied a shift toward a broader ecosystem that included an exchange, a DeFi wallet, and yield-generating products.

Expansion Strategy and Marketing

Marszalek is perhaps best known for orchestrating one of the most aggressive marketing campaigns in crypto history. His strategy involved embedding the brand into mainstream culture to accelerate global adoption. This culminated in late 2021 with a $700 million deal to rename the Staples Center in Los Angeles to the Crypto.com Arena.

Under his direction, the company also secured multi-year partnerships with Formula 1, the UFC, and the FIFA World Cup. While these moves drew criticism for their cost during market downturns, Marszalek maintained that brand visibility was essential for onboarding the next billion users to cryptocurrency.

Token Transitions and Controversies

Marszalek’s tenure has faced scrutiny from the crypto community, particularly regarding tokenomics. In August 2020, the company announced it would phase out its original MCO token and replace it entirely with Cronos (CRO). The mandatory swap was met with backlash from early investors who felt the conversion rates were unfavorable and that the utility of their original holdings was diluted.

Additionally, the company has faced criticism for rapidly adjusting rewards rates on its debit cards and staking programs in response to market conditions. Marszalek has defended these decisions as necessary for the platform's long-term survival, prioritizing financial stability over unsustainable yield incentives.

• Crypto.com CEO