Robinhood is an electronic trading platform that allows users to trade stocks, options, ETFs, futures contracts, cryptocurrencies, and more. Since its launch in 2013, Robinhood has been a pioneer of change in the financial system, helping make it more accessible to everyone.
Established: 2013
Headquarters: 85 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States
License information: Robinhood Derivatives, LLC is regulated by the CFTC and is an NFA member
About Robinhood
Founded in 2013 by Stanford roommates Vladimir Tenev and Baiju Bhatt, Robinhood was created with the idea of “democratizing finance” by giving everyone access to financial markets. With rapid revenue growth, expansion into new markets (most recently the UK), and strides in prediction markets, Robinhood is now one of the leading investment platforms in the world.
Its groundbreaking zero commission model has been a game-changer for the industry and has encouraged other platforms to follow suit. Popular among Millennials, Robinhood customers are estimated to be around 35 years old.
Robinhood has over 27 million funded customers, and more than $279 billion in assets under custody. The company has had its fair share of controversy over the years, but continues to be a force in online trading.
Key Achievements
- Receiving their MiFID and MICA licenses
- Acquisitions: X1, Chartr, Marex FCM, Pluto Capital, TradePMR, WonderFI, and Bitstamp
Senior Executives & Leadership
At the helm of Robinhood are its two co-founders, Vladimir Tenev and Baiju Bhatt. Both men served as co-CEOs of Robinhood until Bhatt stepped down in 2024 to pursue other projects (he remains on the board of directors.
Supporting the CEO is a strong leadership team:
- Walter Koller – COO, overseeing operations and market expansion
- Jeff Pinner – CTO, driving technological innovation and platform security
- Jason Warnick – CFO (former), ensuring financial stability and strategic investment
- Norm Ashkenas – Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), ensuring the highest regulatory and compliance standards are adhered to.
Together, this team has cultivated a culture of transparency, agility, and customer focus. Robinhood is a leading name in online finance, trading, and investing, and its people play a significant role in ensuring its success.
Awards & Recognition
Robinhood has completely transformed the online investment market and has received widespread industry acclaim. Here are some of the key awards and recognitions that Robinhood, Tenev, and Bhatt have received.
Robinhood
- Robinhood won the Google Play Award in 2025
- Voted one of the Best Places to Work by Glassdoor in 2017
Vladimir Tenev
- Awarded the Forbes 30 Under 30 Young Traders Award
- Enrolled in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Hall of Fame
- Entered the Fortune 100 Most Powerful People in Business
Baiju Bhatt
- Named as one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2017
In the Media
Robinhood has attracted a wealth of media attention since its founding, and coverage continues to be popular. Here are some of the most recent news stories about Robinhood, as covered by Gambling Insider:
- Robinhood Launches Parlay-Style ‘Custom Combos’ as NFL Playoffs Drive Prediction Market Volume. Robinhood has announced that users of its sports prediction markets platform can now create parlay-style “custom combo” contracts. The January 16 reveal shows that multi-legs are possible through winners, totals, and player performance markets.
- New Jersey orders Kalshi and Robinhood to stop unapproved betting. Kalshi and Robinhood have been sent cease-and-desist letters.
- Robinhood sues the states of Nevada and New Jersey.The prediction market operator has gone on the offensive to protect its sports event contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Robinhood is a US-based fintech company that operates a commission-free trading platform for stocks, ETFs, options, sporting events, and cryptocurrencies.
A: Robinhood is a publicly traded company owned by its shareholders and founded by Vladimir Tenev and Baiju Bhatt.
A: Robinhood generates revenue primarily through payments for order flow, interest income, and crypto fees.
A: Robinhood is regulated by U.S. authorities, including the SEC. However, the company has faced scrutiny related to compliance and trading practices.
A: Whether Robinhood is a good company to invest with depends on factors such as what you want to invest in and your risk tolerance. As always, make sure you do your own research before investing money.