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Jae Kwon

Jae Kwon is a prominent figure in the blockchain space, renowned for his expertise as a software architect and his pivotal roles as the Founder of Tendermint and the Co-founder of Cosmos.

Background and Education

After graduating from Cornell University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, Jae embarked on a successful career as a professional developer in Silicon Valley. His experience includes notable stints at tech giants like Alexa and Yelp, where he led the mobile application development team. Additionally, Jae co-founded iDoneThis, a productivity service, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit.

Open-Source Contributions

Jae Kwon’s contributions extend beyond conventional corporate roles. He has actively participated in various open-source projects, demonstrating his commitment to fostering innovation in the tech community. Noteworthy projects include a CoffeeScript compiler/interpreter written in JavaScript, an end-to-end encrypted email system named Scramble.io, and a cryptocurrency exchange. These endeavors reflect Jae’s adherence to the cryptopunk hacker ethos, laying the groundwork for his groundbreaking work with Tendermint.

Visionary Work with Tendermint

Since its inception in 2014, Jae Kwon has been dedicated to advancing Tendermint, a project he initiated. Collaborating with Ethan Buchman and Zarko Milosevic, Jae pioneered the development of the Tendermint consensus algorithm and its implementation. His primary objective has been to revolutionize blockchain technology by mitigating the costs and limitations associated with proof-of-work mining. Jae’s overarching mission is to democratize this technology, fostering wider accessibility and accelerating the global adoption of decentralized ledger systems.

Leadership Roles

Jae Kwon holds pivotal positions within the blockchain ecosystem. In addition to his role as the Founder of Tendermint, he serves as the Co-founder of Cosmos and holds the position of CEO at All in Bits, reflecting his multifaceted leadership in shaping the future of decentralized technologies.

Current Work

FounderTendermint
Co-FounderCosmos
CEOAll in Bits

Previous Work

Co-developerScramble.io
Mar 2013 – Nov 2013
Co-founderiDoneThis
May 2011 – Dec 2011
DeveloperFlywheel Networks
Jun 2009 – 2010
Lead Mobile DeveloperYelp
2007 – Apr 2009
Webservices EngineerAlexa Internet
2005 – 2007

Education

Cornell UniversityBS, Computer Science
2001-2005
✎ Last updated Aug. 4, 2026