Martin Köppelmann is an entrepreneur and developer based in Berlin, known for his contributions to blockchain technology. He is the co-founder and CEO of Gnosis Limited, a decentralized prediction market platform based on Ethereum technology. Köppelmann is recognized as a thought leader in the blockchain space, often sharing his perspectives on how blockchain technology can evolve while maintaining its core principles. ^[1][2][4]

Education

Köppelmann studied at the Hasso Plattner Institute, where he earned the following degrees in IT Systems Engineering:

• Bachelor’s Degree in IT Systems Engineering (2007 - 2010)
• Advanced Degree in IT Systems Engineering (2010 - 2013)^[1]

Career

Early Career

After completing his academic education, Köppelmann began his career as a self-employed developer, working on various software and blockchain projects. His interest in blockchain was sparked by the 2008 financial crisis and his involvement with the Pirate Party in Germany, where he was exposed to the concept of “liquid democracy”.

Founder of Gnosis (2015 - Present)

In January 2015, Köppelmann founded Gnosis as part of ConsenSys, a blockchain technology production studio. Gnosis was established as a prediction market platform, enabling users to make predictions about a wide range of future events using smart contracts on Ethereum.

CEO of Gnosis Limited (2017 - Present)

In March 2017, Köppelmann became the CEO of Gnosis Limited, leading the company in the development and expansion of decentralized prediction markets. Under his leadership, Gnosis conducted a token sale, raising $12.5 million in twelve minutes through a Dutch auction process.^[1]

History

In addition to Gnosis, Köppelmann was involved with Fairlay, a bitcoin-based prediction market that he eventually sold. Over time, he shifted his focus from Bitcoin to Ethereum, particularly after meeting Joe Lubin, a co-founder of Ethereum. Köppelmann’s work with Gnosis led to the development of important Ethereum-based tools and infrastructure, such as Safe and CoWSwap.

Köppelmann has also been a vocal critic within the Ethereum community, particularly on issues of censorship and the network’s alignment with its founding ideals. He has expressed concerns about certain elements of Ethereum’s infrastructure, especially regarding their compliance with government sanctions.^[1][2][3][4]