Tony Plasencia (also known as Efrén Plasencia) is the Co-Founder of Griffain, a fintech company based in Barcelona that develops AI-driven trading solutions. With a background in financial risk management and quantitative analytics, Plasencia has worked extensively in integrating traditional finance with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and blockchain. His professional focus centers on creating tools to improve decision-making processes in decentralized finance (DeFi) and cryptocurrency markets. ^[6]

Education

Tony Plasencia earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Philosophy and Economy from San Francisco State University, achieving a GPA of 3.4/4.0. During his time at the university, he was a member of the Division 1-AA Rugby team, where he played as a starter for three years.

Before attending university, Plasencia completed his secondary education at De La Salle High School. There, he participated in various extracurricular activities, including varsity wrestling, rugby, football, Model United Nations, and the Student Coalition on Respectful Education (S.C.O.R.E). ^[6]

Career

Plasencia began his professional journey as a Financial Analyst at BBVA (2014–2015), where he was involved in evaluating credit portfolios and supporting stress-testing initiatives. He then moved to Banco Sabadell as a Risk Analyst (2016–2017), working on models to assess market volatility and liquidity risks. His expertise in quantitative methods led him to CaixaBank (2017–2019), where he served as a Quantitative Researcher, developing algorithmic tools for derivatives pricing and portfolio optimization, which served as a basis for later work with AI and blockchain.

In 2019, Plasencia joined Bankia (now part of CaixaBank) as Head of Risk Modeling, where he managed a team focused on regulatory compliance and predictive analytics. During this period, he worked on integrating machine learning techniques into risk assessment frameworks, particularly for large financial institutions.

In 2021, Plasencia co-founded Griffain, a company that develops AI-powered agents to automate trading strategies in cryptocurrency markets. The company has partnered with platforms such as Bitget to enhance AI-driven trading infrastructure, with a focus on real-time data analysis and adaptive learning models.

As Co-Founder of Griffain, Plasencia has been instrumental in shaping the company’s direction. Griffain’s AI agents utilize natural language processing (NLP) and reinforcement learning to execute trades, analyze market sentiment, and optimize risk-reward ratios. The platform supports decentralized applications (dApps) and integrates with major blockchain networks, prioritizing transparency and user autonomy.

In 2023, Griffain launched its AI Agent Marketplace, enabling developers to deploy custom trading algorithms. The company has also engaged in collaborations aimed at expanding the use of AI in DeFi ecosystems. Plasencia’s involvement in open-source projects has contributed to advancements in blockchain analytics.

Plasencia is an active participant in fintech and AI communities, often speaking at industry events such as Bitget’s Blockchain4Youth Initiative and European DeFi Summits. He is an advocate for ethical AI practices in finance and mentors early-stage startups through accelerators focused on Web3 technologies. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

Interviews

Tony Plasencia on AI and Crypto #01

On January 2, 2025, Tony Plasencia appeared on the YouTube channel rasmr to discuss Griffain’s integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency. In the interview, titled “This ex-Uber Partner is Pivoting to AI Crypto GRIFFAIN,” Plasencia outlined Griffain’s technical objectives and operational framework.

He described Griffain as a platform built on the Solana blockchain, designed to deploy AI agents that assist users in cryptocurrency trading, yield farming, and market analysis. These agents, including tools like Flipper and Sniper, are tailored to automate specific tasks, such as identifying market trends or executing trades. Plasencia emphasized the platform’s focus on integrating value metrics to align Griffain’s native token with its functionalities.

During the discussion, Plasencia noted collaborations with third-party projects, including Citadel, a crypto hedge fund, and highlighted the release of Griffain’s AI messaging protocol on Solana. He stated that this protocol could serve as a foundation for future open-source projects. When addressing Griffain’s data strategy, he reiterated the team’s prioritization of high-quality data collection to refine agent performance, particularly in volatile market conditions.

Plasencia also mentioned exploration of social media data integration to inform trading strategies, framing it as part of Griffain’s broader vision to streamline user workflows. Revenue generation, he clarified, derives from service fees tied to platform usage, rather than consumer product sales.

The interview concluded with Plasencia underscoring Griffain’s aim to simplify access to cryptocurrency tools, positioning the platform as a bridge between AI-driven analytics and decentralized finance (DeFi). ^[8]

Content Curation and Web3 with Tony Plasencia #02

On January 19, 2022, Tony Plasencia appeared on the YouTube channel Created Economy in an episode titled “Created Economy 030: Efren ‘Tony’ Plasencia/Diffusion.me.” During the interview, Plasencia discussed his startup Diffusion.me, a platform designed to assist content creators in curating and monetizing their work in Web3.

Plasencia described the platform’s core functionality, which includes a Google Chrome extension and web app enabling creators to organize and share curated content. He noted that users could distribute their content boards for free or monetize them through a 10% fee on marketplace transactions. The platform also allowed embedding curated boards into personal websites or sharing them across social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter.

When addressing web3 integration, Plasencia highlighted challenges creators face in adopting decentralized technologies, emphasizing the importance of ownership and microtransactions as tools for revenue generation. He stressed the role of community engagement and decentralized contributor management in building sustainable systems, linking these principles to Diffusion.me’s development.

Plasencia also shared his acceptance into Techstars Boulder in 2022, a milestone he framed as an opportunity to expand Diffusion.me’s capabilities. The interview concluded with brief remarks on potential hiring collaborations with Zealous, though specifics were not disclosed. ^[9]