At the Intersection of Finance and Technology

Astyanax Kanakis is the Co-founder and CEO of Norbloc, a member of the Scale Up 1st Batch. His company’s platform streamlines Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) processes for financial institutions by allowing them to digitize and securely share KYC profiles, increasing efficiency and ensuring compliance with regulations. Under his leadership, Norbloc has become a recognized provider of blockchain solutions for the financial sector.

Astyanax’s path to entrepreneurship is rooted in a strong foundation in both computing and financial markets. His academic journey began at University College London (UCL), where he earned a BSc in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, followed by an MSc in Advanced Computing from Imperial College London. He further refined his expertise with an MSc in Analysis, Design, and Management of Information Systems from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Building on this technical foundation, Astyanax pursued an MBA from The Wharton School, focusing on International Financial Markets, which deepened his understanding of the intersection of technology and finance.

This academic foundation paved the way for a successful career at global firms like McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, and Lehman Brothers, where Astyanax gained expertise in growth strategies, sector investments, and mergers and acquisitions. Over his career, he has led more than 60 strategic studies across various geographies. Before founding Norbloc, Astyanax served as Chairman of XBT Provider, where he steered the company’s strategic pivot in the Exchange Traded Products space, leading to its acquisition by Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment (GABI).