BKCM LLC has promoted Derek Kim and Kevin Lu to Head of Research and Head of Systematic Strategies, respectively. BKCM is an independent investment firm specialising in cryptocurrency and blockchain-focused investment opportunities.
“Crypto-blockchain technologies are an emerging global asset class that demands a combination of deep insight and strong execution – Derek and Kevin bring both,” says Brian Kelly, founder and CEO of the firm. “They are both multi-disciplined, adept at systematic investing, research and trading, and they are committed entrepreneurs. Everything a firm needs to be successful in this space.”
Kim, Head of Research, has extensive experience in investment analysis, start-up entrepreneurship, and cryptocurrency trading. He leads the firm’s primary research and trading for the top 100 tokens by market capitalization. Prior to joining BKCM, Derek launched the Northeast operations for Ritual Technologies, a Series C company with over USD110 million in total funding to date. Before his time at Ritual, Kim spent three years at Goldman Sachs, in both their London and New York offices, as an analyst focused on opportunistic and hedge fund strategies. He is also a fluent Korean speaker with venture investing and hedge fund experience in Silicon Valley.
Lu is a researcher and trader who was previously at AQR, one of the world’s premier quantitative investing firms. Currently, Lu develops stand-alone systematic trading strategies and provides quantitative analytics to assist BKCM’s discretionary trading team. At AQR, his quant work supported both the equity and credit teams. Prior to that, he worked on quantitative alpha equity strategies and smart tax-aware passive strategies at Goldman Sachs, and on equity statistical arbitrage at Cubist Systematic Strategies.