Inside CoinFlip’s new crypto center in Tampa
CoinFlip, a fintech platform powered by crypto, is designed to help introduce and demystify the world of cryptocurrency to the public across Tampa Bay.
CoinFlip celebrated the opening of a new crypto center and corporate office in downtown Tampa’s Sparkman Wharf Tuesday.
The new Crypto Experience Center will be a first-of-its-kind destination in the U.S. that will educate the community about cryptocurrency and purchasing digital currencies, via the company’s on-site Bitcoin ATMs, a cornerstone of CoinFlip’s business.
“We started the Bitcoin ATMs because we wanted to take crypto out of the cloud and make it physical and tangible,” CEO and co-founder Ben Weiss said during a Tuesday press conference in Tampa. “Visiting Tampa over the last few months as we worked on this project has only reaffirmed why we chose this city. This place is electric. Not only does Tampa have a great talent pool, but Sparkman Wharf is the place not just to work, but to live and play.”
CoinFlip CEO Ben Weiss.
The hub will open its doors to the public Sept. 14. The 8,000-square-foot space in the Sparkman Wharf is the company’s second corporate office. CoinFlip will continue to operate out of Chicago, where it was founded in 2015. The Tampa office and center exist in a shared space separated by glass doors.
The CoinFlip ATMs inside the Crypto Experience Center.
Chief Technology Officer Rory Herriman said the center will create over 40 jobs in Tampa, including engineers. Roughly 15 employees are currently based in the center.
“Tampa is already a tech hub and we want to make it a crypto hub,” Weiss said.
CoinFlip, which has over 4,000 ATMs in the U.S. and Canada, also plans to deploy more ATMs throughout Florida.
A crowd of media and guests inside CoinFlip’s Crypto Experience Center in downtown Tampa.
Weiss and Herriman talked with the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, Tampa’s Mayor Jane Castor, Strategic Property Partners (the group behind Water Street Tampa) and the local colleges as they were evaluating Tampa.
“It is unusual when everyone comes out to welcome then [new companies],” Castor said regarding how the entities embraced CoinFlip, and how newcomers describe Tampa as a “welcoming” and “friendly” business destination. “Everyone can learn the value of crypto and the idea that cryptocurrency is leveling the playing field for everyone.”
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor (left center) and CoinFlip CEO Ben Weiss (right center) alongside Tampa Bay EDC CEO Craig Richard and CoinFlip executives inside the new center.
The center is open every day from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The center will have “crypto guides” to receive support for completing secure transactions at CoinFlip’s on-site bitcoin ATMs and over-the-counter (OTC) Trade Desk.
Herriman said by introducing people to crypto and equipping them with knowledge of the products, it “will help narrow the financial divide that exists in our economy to be far more accessible to everyday consumers and will allow everyone control their financial destiny.”
Inside CoinFlip’s Experience Center in downtown Tampa.
CoinFlip’s Trade Desk also creates access to dedicated account managers who are available to walk customers through the process step-by-step.
“If you always wanted to get involved with crypto, but don’t know how to set up a wallet, we are here for you. If you want to go down the rabbit hole of web3, we are also here for you,” Weiss explained.
The center will host free education sessions, informing the public about the basics of blockchain to more complex trends.
The CoinFlip Experience Center has an NFT art gallery, featuring works by local artists. Information from the artists came be accessed by swiping the digital art frames.
Weiss also reminded the attendees that earlier this summer, CoinFlip announced it was launching a seed investment fund. CoinFlip executives said they are interested in connecting with entrepreneurs at Embarc Collective.
