Edmonton entrepreneur sells crypto platform to Robinhood for $250M and pivots to AI

Karia Samaroo, raised in west Edmonton by immigrant parents, built WonderFi into Canada’s leading crypto exchange, securing investment from Kevin O’Leary. The platform was purchased by Robinhood for CAD 250 million, after which the WonderFi brand was retired and integrated into Robinhood’s crypto offering. Samaroo praised the acquisition and expressed openness to future collaborations with O’Leary.

He has since founded xTAO, an AI company registered in the Grand Cayman Islands, with the goal of democratizing artificial intelligence and reducing corporate control. Despite his multimillion-dollar exit, Samaroo still drives his 2009 Honda Accord, describing it as a “road hazard” he will keep using until it fails.