A cryptocurrency company has cashed in its bet on Tampa Bay.
CoinFlip, known for its crypto ATMs, opened its innovation and “crypto experience center” on Tuesday. This is the first location beyond the company’s Chicago headquarters and its first experience center. The center will be open seven days a week and serve as an educational hub for those interested in the cryptocurrency market.
“We want to make crypto as accessible as possible,” CoinFlip CEO and co-founder Ben Weiss said in an interview with the Tampa Bay Business Journal. “We want to demystify it for those who want to buy it but don’t know how. We want them to have an option to talk to a crypto guide, to walk them through an educational course.”
It’s a bit of a switch from the path of other well-established cryptocurrency companies. Miami has spent the last few years building its reputation as a crypto hub, with companies including eToro, Blockchain.com, Borderless Capital, Okcoin and BlockTower Capital all moving down to the Miami-Dade region in 2021. But Weiss believes Tampa can offer the lifestyle and talent needed to boost CoinFlip.
“I’ve been going back and forth to Tampa, and I’m more confident than ever,” said Weiss, a full-time Chicago resident. “It’s fully reaffirmed why we chose this city. It’s not just talent, but people want to work and play where they live. And people in town are so welcoming; we have an administration that’s so forward thinking.”
Weiss said he initially plans to focus on the space opening but hopes to add partnerships with local entities in the future.
“Innovation has been a key pillar for our city, and opportunities are endless for businesses that want to call Tampa home,” Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement. “We look forward to supporting CoinFlip and its educational initiatives for our community, further demonstrating Tampa’s status as a hub for technology.”
Weiss still plans to hire 40 locals by the end of the year by sourcing from Tampa Bay universities and creating its own talent.
“It’s a holistic approach,” he said. “We don’t think Tampa is just a tech hub. We want to make it a crypto hub as well. We looked at a lot of cities, but Tampa is the place to be.”
Tampa Bay Inno is proud to host its inaugural 25 Under 25 event, highlighting some of the best — and youngest — talent in the region.
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