Matthew Downey
Co-Founder of Pascal Research
Matthew Downey is the co-founder of Pascal Research (Pascal), a stealth-mode crypto startup headquartered in New York City that operates a blockchain-based prediction market. Founded in 2025 alongside Ivo Crnkovic‑Rubsamen, the company aims to challenge established players such as Kalshi and Polymarket by offering decentralized financial tools for market forecasting.
Pascal’s prediction market platform is designed to leverage blockchain technology for transparency and accessibility. The startup raised significant early backing, with a reported $9 million seed round, positioning it as a notable entrant in the rapidly growing prediction market sector. Downey and his co-founder have been featured in outlets like Fortune as they scale the business.
Before co-founding Pascal, Downey worked at dYdX, a leading decentralized exchange protocol, where he held roles across multiple global offices. His experience in DeFi and crypto infrastructure informs Pascal’s product strategy. He is based in New York City and remains active in the local tech and crypto community.