From Harvard at 18 to Building Crypto's Fastest Exchange | Vlad, Lighter

Vlad Novakovski, founder of the decentralized perpetual exchange Lighter, traces his professional trajectory from competitive math and physics Olympiads to building high-frequency trading systems and AI-driven platforms. These early academic competitions served as a critical talent pipeline, fostering a cohort of future industry leaders who prioritize data-driven problem-solving and creative, outside-the-box thinking. After gaining experience at Citadel and Addepar, Novakovski co-founded Lunch Club before pivoting to Lighter. This platform leverages zero-knowledge proofs to address inefficiencies in traditional finance, aiming to create a secure, verifiable, and low-latency exchange environment. By synthesizing expertise in cryptography, quantitative trading, and machine learning, Lighter represents a generational shift in exchange technology, bridging the gap between decentralized protocols and traditional financial markets through transparent, audit-ready infrastructure that satisfies both hardcore traders and institutional requirements.