Vlad Tenev: the co-founder who made trading free for everyday investors
Vlad Tenev is a Bulgarian-American entrepreneur, the co-founder of Robinhood and its Chairman and CEO. Born in 1987 in Varna, Bulgaria, he co-founded the company in 2013 with a goal of making investing free for everyday people. On Grail, the VLAD token is backed by a real collectible stored in a vault.
Who is Vlad Tenev?
Vlad Tenev is the co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, the trading app that popularized commission-free investing. He was born in Bulgaria and moved to the United States as a boy. He studied math at Stanford, where he met his roommate and future co-founder Baiju Bhatt, and left a math PhD program at UCLA to build Robinhood. The app launched in 2015 after about a million people joined its waitlist. He became the company’s sole CEO in 2020, testified before Congress about the GameStop trading frenzy in February 2021, and took Robinhood public in July 2021. In 2025 Robinhood joined the S&P 500. In 2026 he opened the company’s HOOD Summit in Houston with new products including AI trading agents and plans for 24/7 stock trading.
Why is Vlad Tenev on Grail?
We pick people who matter to a lot of fans at once. Tenev qualifies for three reasons.
- He opened up investing. His company made trading free and easy for millions of everyday people.
- A major moment in finance. From the GameStop hearing to the S&P 500, Robinhood has been at the center of how a new generation invests.
- A Grail original. VLAD is tied to a 2026 Grail Genesis 3D lenticular card created by the artist Coldie.
What backs the VLAD token?
Every Grail token is backed by real collectibles stored in a vault. VLAD is backed by a 2026 Grail Genesis Vlad Tenev 3D lenticular card created by Coldie.
The card is held securely in an insured vault. It is not just a picture.
How it works on Grail
- A real collectible is authenticated and sealed in a vault.
- It is represented by a token you can buy in small amounts.
- You can see the item and its details on this page at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Vlad Tenev?
Vlad Tenev is a Bulgarian-American entrepreneur, born in 1987 in Varna, Bulgaria. He is the co-founder and CEO of Robinhood.
What does Vlad Tenev do now?
He is the Chairman and CEO of Robinhood, which he co-founded in 2013.
Last checked: November 2026
Why is Vlad Tenev famous?
He is known for co-founding Robinhood, making commission-free trading mainstream, and leading the company through its 2021 IPO and its entry into the S&P 500 in 2025.
What is the VLAD token?
VLAD is a token on Grail linked to a vaulted collectible connected to Vlad Tenev. You can trade it 24/7 onchain.
What physical item backs it?
A 2026 Grail Genesis Vlad Tenev 3D lenticular card created by Coldie.
What does WTM mean?
It means the backing is final. Grail has committed not to vault any more collectibles behind VLAD, so no new VLAD will be created from future vaulting.
Not financial advice. Crypto tokens are volatile, and prices can go down as well as up.