Crypto.com hires ex-LSEG and OKX exec Vanblarcum to lead prediction markets buildout
Crypto.com has appointed Iskandar Vanblarcum as managing director of its Exchange unit, tasking the former London Stock Exchange Group, Barclays, and OKX executive with building an institutional-grade prediction markets business. The hire, reported on July 2-3, signals the crypto exchange's push into regulated event-contract products aimed at traditional finance standards and institutional capital pools beyond its retail crypto base.
Vanblarcum's mandate to build proprietary event-contract infrastructure comes exactly as DraftKings is pulling its volume from third-party exchanges like Crypto.com to run DKeX in-house. That leaves Crypto.com exposed on the B2B side and rushing to replace lost routing revenue with its own institutional product.
The LSEG and OKX pedigree is meant to reassure traditional funds that the exchange can meet custody, compliance, and execution standards they expect from regulated venues. If Crypto.com cannot launch before DraftKings and Kalshi lock in institutional liquidity, it risks becoming a marginal infrastructure vendor rather than a primary prediction-markets destination.
Crypto.com's hire joins a running run of senior talent moves into prediction markets, after Novig recruited former Kalshi and CFTC official Mishory and DraftKings launched its proprietary DKeX exchange, as operators abandon white-label partnerships for in-house infrastructure.