Key Sections
When BitcoinIRA¹ launched in 2016, the idea of holding Bitcoin inside a tax-advantaged retirement account was unproven. Ten years later, it’s a reality that BitcoinIRA has made possible, and helped over 200,000 community members along the way.
Over the past decade, the Bitcoin network itself has matured dramatically: three halving events, more than 525,000 blocks processed, and a price increase exceeding 13,000%. BitcoinIRA grew alongside it, evolving from a bold founding idea into the nation’s first and premier crypto IRA platform.
| 2016 YEAR FOUNDED | 200,000+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS | $1B+ TRANSACTIONS PROCESSED | 80+ CRYPTOS SUPPORTED | 5,000+ FIVE-STAR REVIEWS |
Creating the World’s First Bitcoin IRA
The company’s roots trace to 2012, when founders Chris Kline, Camilo Concha, and Johannes Haze operated a self-directed IRA business covering real estate, LLPs, and precious metals. In late 2014, following IRS Notice 2014-21, which officially classified cryptocurrencies as property, making them eligible IRA assets, the team began building the infrastructure for a crypto IRA.
The critical challenge was multi-dimensional: they needed a qualified custodian solution, a secure wallet solution for retirement assets, and a compliant IRA structure. They found their custody solution in BitGo, the industry leader in blockchain security and multi-signature wallets, with which they entered an exclusive partnership.
A pivotal hire was Edmund “Ed” Moy, the 38th Director of the U.S. Mint (2006-2011), who joined as Chief Strategist, and ultimately became the company’s very first client, holding the first-ever Bitcoin IRA opened in June 2016.
Year-by-Year Timeline
2016, The Launch Year
- Mid- 2016: Official Launch of the World’s First Bitcoin IRA: BitcoinIRA officially launched as the world’s first platform allowing investors to hold actual Bitcoin in a self-directed IRA. The company secured an exclusive partnership with BitGo for multi-signature cold-storage wallets. Former U.S. Mint Director Edmund Moy joined as Chief Strategist and became the platform’s first customer.
2017, Expansion into Ethereum
- Early 2017: World’s First Ethereum IRA: BitcoinIRA expanded beyond Bitcoin, launching the first-ever Ethereum IRA using Ethereum had grown 388% year-to-date in 2017 at the time of launch.
- Late 2017: Processing Begins Scaling: The company commenced significant commercial operations. By year-end, it had laid the foundation from which “since 2017, BitcoinIRA has processed $300M+” was later cited, marking 2017 as the first full year of commercial scale.
2018, Self-Trading Revolution
- Mid-2018: World’s First 24/7 Self-Trading Platform for Retirement Accounts: BitcoinIRA launched its self-trader App, the first platform allowing retirement account holders to buy, sell, and swap cryptocurrencies 24/7 in real-time. Features included multi-signature cold storage and two-factor authentication.
2019, Establishing Category Leadership
- Early 2019: 8 Assets Including Physical Gold: Platform expanded to 8 cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, XRP, XLM, ZEC, and new additions Zcash and Stellar Lumens) plus physical gold. At this point, the company had processed $300M+ with 5,000+ customers.
- Mid-2019: $100M BitGo Custody Insurance: BitcoinIRA publicized its $100 million custody insurance coverage through BitGo Trust, the world’s largest processor of on-chain Bitcoin transactions. This messaging was critical during the 2022 crypto market downturn in maintaining consumer trust.
2020, Scale & $500M Milestone
- Late 2020: BitcoinIRA surpassed 50,000 account holders and earned more than 2,500 five-star reviews. The company also exceeded $500 million in cryptocurrency transactions processed, marking a major growth milestone just four years after launch.
2021, Institutional Growth & Infrastructure
- Mid-2021: Bitcoin IRA Launches First Cryptocurrency Retirement App: Bitcoin IRA launched the first cryptocurrency retirement app, allowing users to buy, sell, swap, and manage crypto investments within their retirement accounts directly from their mobile devices. Available on iOS and Android, the app offers portfolio tracking, price alerts, and account management on the go.
- Late 2021: DigitalTrust Partnership, Nevada-Licensed Trust Company: BitcoinIRA became vertically integrated with DigitalTrust, a state-licensed and regulated trust company based in Nevada. This provided an in-house custodial layer, strengthening compliance and regulatory standing across all self-directed IRA products.
2022, Expansion & Security
- Early 2022: 60+ Cryptocurrency Lineup: BitcoinIRA expanded its platform to support more than 60 cryptocurrencies, adding leading digital assets such as Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), and Chainlink (LINK).
- Mid-2022: BitcoinIRA Wins Best New Mobile App Platinum Award: Bitcoin IRA received the Best New Mobile App Platinum Award in the Business and Finance category from the Best Mobile App Awards. The recognition highlighted the success of Bitcoin IRA’s mobile app, the first cryptocurrency retirement app of its kind.
2025, Staking & Scale
- Early 2025: 80+ Cryptocurrencies and Growing: BitcoinIRA expanded its platform to support more than 80 cryptocurrencies, reflecting the rapid growth of the digital asset ecosystem and increasing investor demand for portfolio diversification.
- Mid-2025: Crypto Staking Inside an IRA: BitcoinIRA launched staking for Ethereum, Cardano, Polkadot, Solana, and Sui, becoming the first crypto IRA platform to enable clients to earn staking rewards on these five leading digital assets within a tax-advantaged retirement account.
- Late 2025: 200,000+ Americans: BitcoinIRA surpassed 200,000 users with 5,000+ five-star reviews and support.
2026, Innovation Through Automation
- Early 2026: Crypto Bundles, Personalized Portfolios & Automated Rebalancing: BitcoinIRA introduced Crypto Bundles, featuring five themed portfolios, personalized bundle creation, and automated rebalancing tools. The new offering made it easier for investors to build diversified digital asset portfolios aligned with their investment objectives and long-term retirement goals.
- Mid-2026: New Crypto Investing Tools on the Horizon
The Leaders Who Shaped a Decade of Innovation
Behind BitcoinIRA’s decade of innovation is a team of entrepreneurs, operators, and industry leaders who helped transform a bold idea into the pioneering platform it is today.
Chris Kline, Co-Founder
Chris Kline, member of the Forbes Financial Council, has been instrumental in shaping BitcoinIRA’s vision and operations since day one. Drawing on his experience in self-directed retirement accounts, he helped build the infrastructure that made crypto retirement investing possible, while forging key strategic relationships, including BitcoinIRA’s long-standing partnership with BitGo. His leadership has guided the company’s commitment to security, compliance, and innovation throughout its first decade.
Camilo Concha, Co-Founder
An accomplished fintech entrepreneur, Camilo Concha has played a pivotal role in BitcoinIRA’s growth and strategic direction. His vision helped expand the company’s capabilities beyond crypto investing, including the acquisition of Shrimpy.io, which introduced advanced portfolio automation and rebalancing tools for retirement investors.
Johannes Haze, Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer
Johannes Haze helped establish BitcoinIRA as one of the most recognized brands in the crypto retirement industry. Through strategic marketing initiatives and national media exposure, he played a key role in educating investors and bringing crypto retirement investing into the mainstream conversation.
Edmund “Ed” Moy, Chief Strategist
As the 38th Director of the United States Mint, Edmund Moy brought a unique perspective on monetary systems and financial innovation to BitcoinIRA at its inception. Beyond serving as Chief Strategist, Moy also became BitcoinIRA’s very first client, opening the original Bitcoin IRA in 2016 and helping lend credibility to an entirely new investment category.
Rick Synrod, Chief Operations Officer
With decades of experience in financial services, including leadership roles at Fidelity Digital Funds, Rick Synrod helped strengthen BitcoinIRA’s operational foundation during a period of rapid growth. His expertise in institutional operations has supported the company’s continued evolution as a leader in digital asset retirement investing.
A Decade of Innovation
| Year | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bitcoin IRA | World’s first platform to hold actual BTC in a self-directed IRA, custodied via BitGo multi-signature wallets. |
| 2017 | Ethereum IRA | First-ever Ethereum IRA. |
| 2017-18 | Multi-Crypto + Gold | Added LTC, BCH, XRP, XLM, ZEC and physical gold. |
| 2018 | Self-Trader™ | First 24/7 self-directed crypto trading for retirement accounts. Real-time buy/sell/swap with cold storage. |
| 2025 | Crypto Staking in IRA | Introducing crypto staking within the Crypto IRA, for ADA, ETH, SOL, SUI and DOT. |
| 2026 | Crypto Bundles & Auto-Rebalancing | Diversified portfolios composed of multiple cryptocurrencies, grouped around specific areas of the crypto market that can be rebalanced automatically over time. |
Looking Ahead
As BitcoinIRA celebrates its 10-year anniversary, we are proud of how far we’ve come, but even more excited about what lies ahead.
What began in 2016 as the world’s first Bitcoin IRA has grown into a platform serving more than , supporting over 80 cryptocurrencies, and helping shape an entirely new category of retirement investing. Along the way, we’ve navigated bull and bear markets, introduced industry-first innovations, and remained committed to our founding principles of security, compliance, and long-term wealth building. None of this would have been possible without the trust of our clients, the dedication of our team, and the support of our partners who believed in the future of digital assets from the very beginning.
As cryptocurrency continues its journey into the financial mainstream, BitcoinIRA remains committed to empowering investors with the tools, education, and innovation needed to build the retirement portfolios of tomorrow.
The first decade was about proving what was possible. The next decade will be about expanding what’s possible.
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