Columbus Lands Billionaire-Backed Bank

Hey, it's Gagan. Yep, the only Gagan Timsina in the world, and we got SOME MASSIVE NEWS - I know we ususaly write on Thursday, but this COULD NOT wait:

Columbus is officially on the national fintech map. A group of tech billionaires, including Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, has chosen Columbus as the headquarters for Erebor, a new crypto-friendly, AI-focused U.S. bank. [Financial Times / Reuters]

Key Highlights:

• Erebor Bank has applied for a national charter and will operate a digital-only model

• HQ in Columbus, with a satellite office in New York

• Will serve startups and investors in AI, defense, crypto, and manufacturing

• Bank plans to hold stablecoins and aims to be the most regulated stablecoin player

• Tied to Anduril’s upcoming $1B defense manufacturing facility in Central Ohio

Strategic Significance:
This move positions Columbus as a serious contender in the intersection of finance, tech, and national defense. It complements the city’s rapid growth in logistics, advanced manufacturing, and AI, and now adds venture-backed banking to the mix.

For Columbus residents, this means high-paying jobs, better access to capital, and a more modern financial infrastructure. For people relocating here, it’s further proof that Columbus isn’t a flyover city, it’s a future-forward economy where innovation, money, and opportunity are converging fast.

This isn’t just a new bank. It’s another piece of the puzzle as Columbus builds its next identity.

I talk more about it here on my insta: