Anthony Di Iorio, a co-founder of the Ethereum network, says he’s done investing in cryptocurrencies.
Di Iorio, 48, says concern over his personal safety are driving him away from cryptocurrencies. Di lorio has had a security team since 2017, with someone traveling with or meeting him wherever he goes.
Di lorio says he plans to sell all his cryptocurrency assets and refocus on philanthropy and other ventures not related to digital coins and tokens. The Canadian citizen expects to sever ties with other start-ups he is involved with and doesn’t plan on funding any more blockchain projects.
Di Iorio has declined to disclose his cryptocurrency holdings or net worth.
Back in 2013, Di Iorio co-founded Ethereum, which has become the home of many of the hottest cryptocurrency projects, particularly in decentralized finance that lets people borrow, lend and trade with each other without intermediaries such as banks.
Ether, the native token of the Ethereum network, has a market value of about $225 billion U.S.
Di lorio made a splash in 2018 when he bought the largest and one of the most expensive condominiums in Canada, paying for it partly with cryptocurrency. Di Iorio purchased a three-story penthouse for $28 million at the St. Regis Residences in Toronto.
In recent years, Di Iorio has moved into venture-capital investing and start-up advising. He was also previously the chief digital officer of the Toronto Stock Exchange. In 2018, Forbes magazine estimated his net worth at $1 billion U.S. Ether’s price has more than doubled since then.
Di lorio’s current company called “Decentral” is a Toronto-based innovation hub and software development company focused on decentralized technologies, and the maker of Jaxx, a digital asset wallet that has about one million customers.
Di Iorio said he has talked with a couple of potential investors about selling Decentral and believes the start-up will be valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. He expects to sell the company for equity in another company, not cryptocurrencies.
