Offchain Labs Hires Ira Auerbach as Head of Tandem, Its Partner Studio Division and Venture Capital Arm

Tandem was created to support projects developing innovative applications and infrastructure solutions, focusing on the technical challenges that currently limit the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies.

Offchain Labs, the team behind Arbitrum, has announced the appointment of Ira Auerbach as Head of Tandem, the studio division and venture capital arm of Offchain Labs.

Auerbach joins Offchain Labs from Nasdaq, where he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Assets. In this role, he was responsible for leading the exchange's efforts in the digital asset space, including the launch of Nasdaq Crypto Center and the development of institutional-grade custody and trading solutions.

Prior to joining Nasdaq, Auerbach held leadership roles in the crypto space, including as Global Head of Gemini Prime and Head of Product at Gemini. He also has experience in traditional financial institutions and technology, including Palantir Technologies and BNP Paribas.

At Offchain Labs, Auerbach will lead Tandem's efforts to support projects that are building innovative applications and infrastructure solutions, with a focus on solving the technical challenges that currently limit the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies.

Tandem will provide resources such as technical expertise, funding and go-to-market strategies, working directly with selected teams to help them achieve their goals.

“I am excited to join Offchain Labs and lead Tandem at this pivotal moment for blockchain innovation,” said Auerbach. “Tandem's unique position allows us to leverage Offchain Labs' deep technical expertise and ecosystem relationships, creating an unparalleled opportunity to support projects that will shape the future of blockchain technology.”

Tandem currently collaborates with projects such as Espresso Systems, which focuses on decentralized sequencing infrastructure, and Ex Populus, which created the XAI blockchain for gaming. Auerbach said that while they are in talks with other early-stage initiatives, the division prioritizes quality over quantity, working on just a few projects per year.

Finally, while Tandem has yet to disclose the size of its fund or details about the investments, Auerbach anticipates that new partnerships will be announced in the coming months.