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Jason Les
Chief Executive Officer
Jason joined Riot in 2017, initially as a member of the Advisory Board before being asked to join the Board of Directors later that year. Alongside Riot’s strategic transformation, and the reconstitution of its Board of Directors and management team, Jason became Chief Executive Officer in February 2021.
Jason is the driving force behind the mission to make Riot one of the most significant players supporting the Bitcoin network. Jason's passion for Bitcoin dates to 2013, where he gained significant experience in cryptocurrency mining, protocol development, and contributing to open-source projects. He is deeply committed to the advancement of Bitcoin and his technical expertise plays an integral part in Riot’s strategic decision making.
Jason's experience extends beyond the world of Bitcoin. He was a founding partner of Binary Digital, where he led the engineering team and coordinated the development of projects ranging from artificial intelligence to reverse engineering and inter-software compatibility. Jason's ability to navigate complex technical challenges with ease and precision is a testament to his leadership skills.
Jason also brings a unique background as a former professional heads-up poker player to Riot. He successfully competed in high-stakes games online and the most prestigious, high-stakes tournaments worldwide. In 2015 and 2017, he was selected as a human benchmark for testing the world's best poker artificial intelligence in what was dubbed "Man vs Machine" at Carnegie Mellon University. This experience instilled in Jason the discipline, focus, and strategic thinking that he applies to his work today.
Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Information & Computer Science from UC Irvine. He is dedicated to achieving excellence in his work and making a meaningful impact in the world of Bitcoin technology.
Jason is the driving force behind the mission to make Riot one of the most significant players supporting the Bitcoin network. Jason's passion for Bitcoin dates to 2013, where he gained significant experience in cryptocurrency mining, protocol development, and contributing to open-source projects. He is deeply committed to the advancement of Bitcoin and his technical expertise plays an integral part in Riot’s strategic decision making.
Jason's experience extends beyond the world of Bitcoin. He was a founding partner of Binary Digital, where he led the engineering team and coordinated the development of projects ranging from artificial intelligence to reverse engineering and inter-software compatibility. Jason's ability to navigate complex technical challenges with ease and precision is a testament to his leadership skills.
Jason also brings a unique background as a former professional heads-up poker player to Riot. He successfully competed in high-stakes games online and the most prestigious, high-stakes tournaments worldwide. In 2015 and 2017, he was selected as a human benchmark for testing the world's best poker artificial intelligence in what was dubbed "Man vs Machine" at Carnegie Mellon University. This experience instilled in Jason the discipline, focus, and strategic thinking that he applies to his work today.
Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Information & Computer Science from UC Irvine. He is dedicated to achieving excellence in his work and making a meaningful impact in the world of Bitcoin technology.
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Benjamin Yi
Executive Chairman
Benjamin was recruited to Riot in October 2018, initially to serve as a director and chair of the audit committee of the Board of Directors. He was elected Chairman of the Board in November 2020 and nominated to the role of Executive Chairman in May 2021.
Benjamin is the architect responsible for the Company’s turnaround and position as a leading Bitcoin-driven infrastructure platform company. Under his guidance and leadership, Riot has raised over $1.5 billion, significantly improved its operational and financial profile, reconstituted a more diverse Board of Directors, established a professionalized, cross-functional management team, and successfully integrated two strategic acquisitions.
Benjamin brings a broad portfolio of experience in investment management, strategy, corporate development, and governance to the Company. In addition to having served as a director of several public and private companies, he also brings two decades of unique capital markets experience to the management team, with a particular expertise in fintech-enabled businesses, specialty finance, and special situations investing through a company's capital structure.
Prior to Riot, Benjamin led the capital markets efforts at IOU Financial, a tech-enabled lender to small businesses, which was acquired by Neuberger Berman in 2023. Prior thereto, he worked directly under the late Ned Goodman, a renowned Canadian financier, investor and founder of Dundee Corporation, a Toronto-based conglomerate. Prior to Dundee, Benjamin was a securities analyst at the predecessor to 1832 Asset Management L.P., where he covered energy and special situations investments on a team managing one of North America's largest natural resources-focused investment funds. Benjamin holds a Master of Finance degree from the Rotman School of Management and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Trinity College in the University of Toronto. He is a CFA charter holder and member of the CFA Society Cayman Islands.
Benjamin is the architect responsible for the Company’s turnaround and position as a leading Bitcoin-driven infrastructure platform company. Under his guidance and leadership, Riot has raised over $1.5 billion, significantly improved its operational and financial profile, reconstituted a more diverse Board of Directors, established a professionalized, cross-functional management team, and successfully integrated two strategic acquisitions.
Benjamin brings a broad portfolio of experience in investment management, strategy, corporate development, and governance to the Company. In addition to having served as a director of several public and private companies, he also brings two decades of unique capital markets experience to the management team, with a particular expertise in fintech-enabled businesses, specialty finance, and special situations investing through a company's capital structure.
Prior to Riot, Benjamin led the capital markets efforts at IOU Financial, a tech-enabled lender to small businesses, which was acquired by Neuberger Berman in 2023. Prior thereto, he worked directly under the late Ned Goodman, a renowned Canadian financier, investor and founder of Dundee Corporation, a Toronto-based conglomerate. Prior to Dundee, Benjamin was a securities analyst at the predecessor to 1832 Asset Management L.P., where he covered energy and special situations investments on a team managing one of North America's largest natural resources-focused investment funds. Benjamin holds a Master of Finance degree from the Rotman School of Management and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Trinity College in the University of Toronto. He is a CFA charter holder and member of the CFA Society Cayman Islands.
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Jason Chung
Executive Vice President
Head of Corporate Development & Strategy
Jason joined Riot in June 2022, initially as Head of Corporate Development & Strategy, before becoming Executive Vice President in 2023. Jason spearheads the coordination of Riot's corporate development, capital markets, and investor relations efforts.
Jason brings two decades of experience in investment banking and a wealth of knowledge in corporate finance to Riot. Prior to joining the team, he served as Managing Director, M&A at Nomura Holdings Inc., where he advised global clients on cross-border transactions in the technology sector across multiple countries, including the US, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, France, and Singapore.
Jason's investment banking career spanned nearly $20 billion in M&A transactions and included building and growing advisory teams. He has lived and worked in both New York and Hong Kong. Jason is a CFA charter holder and earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.
Jason brings two decades of experience in investment banking and a wealth of knowledge in corporate finance to Riot. Prior to joining the team, he served as Managing Director, M&A at Nomura Holdings Inc., where he advised global clients on cross-border transactions in the technology sector across multiple countries, including the US, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, France, and Singapore.
Jason's investment banking career spanned nearly $20 billion in M&A transactions and included building and growing advisory teams. He has lived and worked in both New York and Hong Kong. Jason is a CFA charter holder and earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.
