In a world increasingly defined by digital transformation, few figures have shaped the Canadian landscape with as much impact as Cole Diamond. As the co-founder of Coinsquare and Tetra Trust, Cole is not just a serial entrepreneur—he’s a pioneer of digital trust, a cultivator of next-gen talent, and a strategic force behind several of the country’s most innovative ventures. From financial tech to hospitality, and from real estate to early-stage investing, Diamond’s influence is both deep and wide.
This article explores the extraordinary journey of Cole Diamond, the man whose entrepreneurial vision is helping to redefine Canada’s role in the global innovation economy.
Coinsquare: Building the Bedrock of Canadian Crypto
Cole Diamond’s ascent into the tech spotlight began with the creation of Coinsquare, a cryptocurrency exchange that would go on to become Canada’s leading platform for digital asset trading. Under his leadership as CEO, Coinsquare not only dominated market share but achieved what few in the crypto space could: regulatory legitimacy.
- First IIROC-registered broker dealer
- First registered marketplace for digital assets in Canada
- Over $100 million raised in capital
These milestones are more than accolades—they are a testament to Diamond’s relentless focus on compliance, user security, and building a company that could stand shoulder to shoulder with traditional financial institutions. His recognition as Canada’s Top Tech Entrepreneur in 2019 solidified his status as a trailblazer in a rapidly evolving industry.
Tetra Trust: Pioneering Digital Asset Custodianship
If Coinsquare laid the tracks, Tetra Trust was the train that kept digital assets secure. Cole co-founded this company with the intent of addressing a massive gap in the Canadian crypto market: the lack of institutional-grade custody solutions.
Tetra Trust became Canada’s first qualified custodian and trust company for digital assets, a landmark achievement that reinforced Diamond’s vision for a trustworthy, secure, and scalable digital finance ecosystem.
This strategic foresight was crucial. As the global economy tilts more heavily toward decentralized finance and tokenized assets, having infrastructure that meets both security and compliance requirements is no longer optional—it’s essential. And Cole Diamond saw this coming long before most.
Expanding Horizons: Real Estate, Hospitality, and the Digital Domain
While fintech remains his cornerstone, Cole Diamond’s business instincts stretch far beyond the blockchain. He is the controlling shareholder of Ghost Kitchen Brands, a company revolutionizing the food industry by marrying logistics, technology, and food delivery into a single agile platform. Ghost Kitchen Brands operates a virtual restaurant model that partners with globally recognized names to deliver meals more efficiently in the digital age.
In the retail innovation space, Diamond holds a majority stake in Kinetic Commerce, a company focused on transforming the customer shopping journey through immersive technology.
His investments also reflect a keen interest in high-value digital real estate. Owning the premium domain Diamond.com isn't just symbolic—it underscores his understanding of brand equity in the digital era.
In real estate, he is building a diversified portfolio across North America, further stabilizing his legacy across industries.
Hospitality with Heart: Vela and Stella West Hollywood
Diamond’s passion for experience-driven ventures shines through in his hospitality initiatives. He is the co-founder and largest shareholder of Vela, an upscale dining and lifestyle destination in Toronto that merges luxury with community. In the U.S., he is a major investor and Director in Stella West Hollywood, set to open in mid-2023, and poised to become one of L.A.’s most talked-about venues.
This foray into hospitality illustrates an essential aspect of Diamond’s philosophy: community matters. Whether through food, technology, or finance, Cole Diamond is building not just businesses—but ecosystems.
Championing the Future: Investments in Innovation
Cole isn’t content simply building empires—he’s helping others build theirs. A major proponent of early-stage innovation, Diamond backs a wide range of promising startups, including:
- Shoptype (e-commerce monetization)
- OneLocal (local business marketing)
- RocketEV (sustainable transportation)
- Cashew (buy-now-pay-later solutions)
- Amino (wellness tech)
- NXM (blockchain-enabled auto security)
- Evergreen Environmental (climate impact solutions)
He’s also a supporter of emerging fund managers such as NorthSouth, Harlo, Union, and Ripple, using his resources to amplify next-gen talent and ideas.
Diamond’s backing is more than financial—it’s strategic. His experience across compliance, fundraising, and scaling makes him a uniquely valuable asset to any cap table.
The Cole Diamond Effect: A Unique Blueprint for Modern Leadership
What makes Cole Diamond such a compelling figure isn’t just the scope of his ventures—it’s the coherence of his vision. Across industries, his fingerprints show a commitment to disruption with discipline. Whether it’s crypto compliance, kitchen innovation, or smart real estate investing, Diamond has consistently proven that visionary thinking and regulatory foresight can—and must—coexist.
He exemplifies a new breed of entrepreneur: multi-sector, impact-driven, and future-forward. Unlike the archetypal tech founder chasing only scale, Diamond balances scale with substance, speed with sustainability.
Conclusion: A Vision Anchored in the Future
Cole Diamond’s story is still unfolding—but its trajectory is unmistakably upward. With each venture, he’s reshaping the frameworks that define how we trade, eat, travel, invest, and live. More importantly, he’s showing future entrepreneurs that success doesn’t come from following trends—it comes from building the infrastructure for the future before others even recognize the need.
As Canada continues to assert its position in the global innovation economy, expect Cole Diamond to remain at the forefront—building, backing, and believing in the power of visionary ideas to transform entire industries.