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The 50 Most Interesting Companies In Bitcoin's History: 6/50

Bitstamp

Founded by Nejc Kodric, Damijan Merlak 2011 · Exchanges · Acquired
The Idea: A European alternative to Mt. Gox. Founded in Slovenia on just 1,000 EUR, run from a garage with a single server and two laptops.
Early Traction: After Mt. Gox collapsed, Bitstamp became the world's dominant dollar-Bitcoin exchange. In 2016, it became the first licensed crypto exchange in Europe (Luxembourg).
Peak Stats: Among the top 5 global Bitcoin exchanges by volume for several years.
Status Today: Acquired by NXMH (Belgian private equity) in 2018, then acquired by Robinhood in 2024 for $200m in cash. Still operating as a brand under Robinhood.
Why It Matters:

Bitstamp proved that a European exchange built on regulatory compliance and operational discipline could survive and thrive while flashier competitors imploded.