Bastion, a pioneering web3 startup simplifying user onboarding for businesses, has appointed Caroline Friedman as its Chief Operating Officer. Friedman, previously Chief of Staff at Kraken and a16z, as well as an Assistant United States Attorney in Major Crimes, transitions to this role after serving as the company’s Head of Operations since February.

In her new position, Friedman will oversee Bastion’s compliance, regulatory matters, people, public policy, and finance functions. The company emphasized her crucial role in building a robust operational foundation to support business growth, with a particular focus on regulatory and compliance frameworks.

Friedman stated, “Compliance is not just a requirement, it is a critical part of our vision. We are committed to collaborating with regulators and customers to ensure safe and effective engagement with web3 technologies, unlocking their full potential.”

She also expressed her dedication to driving initiatives for business growth and team building, aiming to expand Bastion’s customer base by delivering exceptional value and service. Friedman emphasized the importance of hiring exceptional talent while fostering an inclusive and innovative company culture.

Before her roles at a16z and Kraken, Friedman served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Major Crimes and a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the National Security and International Crimes Unit. As a founding member of Bastion, she has been an integral part of the company since its inception.

Nassim Eddequiouaq, Bastion co-founder, praised Friedman’s contributions, stating, “Caroline has been an invaluable asset to Bastion since the inception of the company. Her leadership and professionalism have been critical to our success, and we are honored for her to take on this new role.”

Bastion recently secured $25 million in seed funding on Sept. 18, led by a16z, with participation from Laser Digital Ventures, Robot Ventures, Packy McCormick, Not Boring Capital, and others. The company, founded by Nassim Eddequiouaq and Riyaz Faizullabhoy, former Chief Information Security Officer of Crypto and Chief Technology Officer of Crypto at a16z, continues its mission to empower innovators and expand its presence in the web3 space.