Based on checking the website, Commandiv.com appears to be the personal website of John Zettler, a product manager and founder with extensive experience in the crypto and fintech space, particularly at Coinbase.

Rather than being an active trading platform or service today, the site serves as a professional portfolio and blog, detailing John’s past ventures, including a defunct platform called Commandiv, which was an early combined crypto and stock-trading platform.

The website’s current purpose is to showcase his expertise, share his investment writings, and offer various financial tools and resources.

Find detailed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org, for software products you can also check Producthunt.

IMPORTANT: We have not personally tested this company’s services. This review is based solely on information provided by the company on their website. For independent, verified user experiences, please refer to trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org.

Table of Contents

What Was Commandiv.com: A Historical Look

Commandiv.com, as detailed on the current website, was the first combined crypto and stock-trading platform for US investors, founded by John Zettler. Launched in May 2015, it aimed to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the nascent cryptocurrency market. This pioneering effort positioned Commandiv as a significant player in the early days of crypto integration into mainstream investing.

The Vision Behind Commandiv

The initial vision for Commandiv was ambitious: to offer a unified platform where users could manage both their traditional stock portfolios and their emerging crypto assets. This approach was revolutionary at a time when these two asset classes were largely siloed. The platform sought to provide a holistic view of an investor’s wealth, simplifying portfolio management for those interested in diversification across both volatile crypto and established equities.

Early Market Positioning

In the mid-2010s, crypto investing was still a niche activity, primarily for tech-savvy early adopters. Commandiv aimed to make it more accessible by integrating it with familiar stock trading. This unique selling proposition attracted investors who saw the potential in digital assets but preferred a more conventional, regulated interface. It was a forward-thinking move that anticipated the future convergence of these markets.

Why Commandiv Was Wound Down: Key Factors

High Compliance Costs

Fundraising Challenges

John Zettler’s Background and Expertise

John Zettler’s personal website, Commandiv.com, provides a comprehensive overview of his impressive career, particularly his deep involvement in the cryptocurrency and financial technology sectors. His background showcases a blend of traditional finance acumen and cutting-edge crypto innovation.

Career at Coinbase

John Zettler’s tenure at Coinbase is a cornerstone of his professional profile. Plectica.com Reviews

He has held several high-impact roles, demonstrating significant leadership and product development capabilities.

Group Product Manager, DeFi Jan 2025 – Present: Focused on “Building DeFi financial products into a simple app interface,” indicating a strategic move towards decentralized finance.
Group Product Manager, Staking Jan 2023 – Mar 2025: Led Coinbase’s retail staking business, which enabled 7 million users to earn interest on their crypto. This role was responsible for an astounding $1 billion in Gross ARR and saw the business grow 300%. A notable achievement was “victoriously defending our staking business against litigation from the SEC & state agencies.”
Product Lead & Co-Founder, cbETH Feb 2022 – Jan 2023: Launched cbETH, the 2nd largest liquid staking token on Ethereum, as a 0-to-1 product. This solved the lockup problem for staked ETH, attracting 400,000+ customers wrapping over $1 billion in staked ETH value. He built and led the team, designed token mechanics, and executed the launch strategy.
Product Lead & Co-Founder, Coinbase Business Mar 2021 – Jan 2022: Aimed to be “the business checking account of the cryptoeconomy,” though it was later deprioritized.
Product Lead & Co-Founder, Coinbase Asset Hub Mar 2020 – Mar 2021: A 0-to-1 product designed for asset issuers to list, launch, and grow tokens. It achieved 22 new asset listings in its first quarter, surpassing all prior-year listings combined.
Product Lead, Coinbase Commerce Mar 2020 – Feb 2021: A crypto payments processor for businesses. Under his leadership, GPV/month grew +619% to $87 million, and monthly transacting merchants increased by +120% to 4,600. Market share rose from 9% to 29%, making it the #1 market leader in crypto payments.

Prior Experience in Traditional Finance

Before his extensive work in crypto, John honed his analytical and financial skills in traditional finance:

Hedge Fund Investment Analyst at SeaStone Capital Management Aug 2013 – May 2015: Focused on global equities and options.
Investment Banking Analyst at Morgan Stanley Jun 2011 – Jul 2013: Completed a 2-year program in the Global Power, Utilities, and Clean Tech Group.

Entrepreneurial Ventures Beyond Commandiv

Beyond his time at Coinbase and his foundational work with Commandiv, John has also been involved in other entrepreneurial endeavors:

Co-Founder, CEO, Head of Product at Rare Art Labs Feb 2018 – Feb 2021: R.A.R.E Art was an early NFT marketplace for limited-edition digital art on Ethereum. While ultimately wound down due to challenges in the 2018-2019 bear market, it demonstrates his early foresight into the NFT space. He noted, “Demand was hard to come by in the 2018-9 bear market. We built an Apple TV app to display collections and told stories about our artists to promote their art. Ultimately, we were forced to put the project on the side and move on, and the site went down.”
Advisor, Crypto at AngelList Aug 2021 – Present: Advising the CEO and Head of Product as a cryptocurrency subject matter expert.

Resources and Tools Offered on Commandiv.com

Passive Investing Rebalancer

One of the key tools available is the “Passive Investing Rebalancer.” This is a Google Sheet and Excel download designed to help users construct and rebalance a portfolio of index-tracking ETFs.

Purpose: It simplifies the process of maintaining target asset allocations in a passive investment strategy.
Benefit: For long-term investors committed to low-cost index funds, this tool makes portfolio management significantly easier, helping them stick to their investment plan without constant manual calculations. It promotes discipline in rebalancing, which is crucial for managing risk and optimizing returns in a passive portfolio.

Sector-by-Sector Rebalancer

Similar in concept but with a different strategic focus, the “Sector-by-Sector Rebalancer” allows users to rotate between sectors. Caniphish.com Reviews

Purpose: While John states he doesn’t try to time equity markets, this tool is geared towards strategically rotating investments among different economic sectors.
Benefit: It caters to investors who might want to overweight certain sectors based on their perceived performance or economic conditions, while still focusing on “lowest-cost, best-in-class ETFs.” This tool provides a structured way to execute such a strategy, avoiding impulsive decisions.

Digital Library and Reading Lists

Commandiv.com also offers intellectual resources for continuous learning:

My Digital Library: This is a workspace where John takes notes on “books I find informative & important.” While the direct content isn’t fully exposed, its presence suggests a commitment to continuous learning and sharing valuable insights.
Hedge Fund Reading List: Available as a Google Sheet and PDF download, this list is curated for “aspiring investors, institutional & individual.” It’s credited to Blue Ridge Capital, indicating a selection of high-quality, relevant materials for deep financial understanding. This resource is particularly valuable for those looking to expand their knowledge beyond basic investing.

These resources underscore the website’s value as a repository of practical investment wisdom, reflecting the author’s extensive experience and commitment to financial education.

Investment Philosophy and Insights

John Zettler’s website offers insights into his investment philosophy, particularly through his published writings and the tools he provides. His approach appears to be a blend of traditional, disciplined investing principles with a keen awareness of emerging technologies, especially crypto.

Emphasis on Passive Investing

The availability of the “Passive Investing Rebalancer” tool strongly suggests an adherence to the principles of passive investing. This philosophy advocates for investing in broad market index funds or ETFs rather than attempting to pick individual stocks or time the market.

Core Beliefs: Passive investing is based on the idea that in the long run, market returns are best captured by minimizing costs low-expense ratio ETFs and avoiding active management fees. It prioritizes diversification, long-term growth, and disciplined rebalancing.
Practical Application: John’s tool makes it “easy to manage a portfolio of low-cost index funds,” reinforcing this strategy. This aligns with advice often given by financial experts like John Bogle founder of Vanguard and Warren Buffett, who advocate for simple, low-cost index fund investing for most individuals.

Strategic Sector Rotation with caveats

While leaning towards passive investing, the inclusion of a “Sector-by-Sector Rebalancer” indicates an understanding of, and perhaps a cautious engagement with, strategic asset allocation. Draftbit.com Reviews

Nuance: John explicitly states, “I don’t try to time equities markets,” which is crucial. This clarifies that the sector rebalancer is likely for long-term strategic adjustments based on economic cycles or structural shifts, rather than speculative short-term trading.
Focus on ETFs: His preference for “lowest-cost, best-in-class ETFs” even for sector rotation further cements his focus on efficiency and broad market exposure, even when making tactical adjustments.

Crypto as an Asset Class

John’s career path, particularly his extensive work at Coinbase, clearly positions him as a strong proponent of cryptocurrency as a legitimate and significant asset class.

Early Adoption: His co-founding of Commandiv as a combined crypto and stock platform in 2015 showcases his early conviction.
Institutional Integration: His work on products like Coinbase Staking responsible for $1 billion in Gross ARR and cbETH the 2nd largest liquid staking token demonstrates how he has actively contributed to making crypto more accessible and integrated into institutional-grade financial products.
Writing on Staking: His article “Why we stand by staking” further solidifies his view on the utility and potential of crypto mechanisms like staking for earning yield.

Practical and Actionable Advice

His published articles, such as “5 rules for stock market investing” and “4 steps to invest in an index fund — the right way,” suggest a focus on providing clear, actionable, and fundamental investment advice. This aligns with a Tim Ferriss-esque style of breaking down complex topics into digestible steps. The inclusion of topics like “How inflation erodes your purchasing power & wealth” indicates a holistic view of financial literacy beyond just market mechanics.

Overall, John Zettler’s investment philosophy, as reflected on Commandiv.com, combines a robust foundation in traditional finance with a forward-looking embrace of crypto, all delivered with a practical, educational, and cost-conscious mindset.

Press Coverage and Public Recognition

Commandiv.com highlights several instances of John Zettler’s work and ventures receiving press coverage from reputable financial and news publications. This external validation underscores the impact and innovation of his projects, particularly Commandiv itself and R.A.R.E Art.

Forbes on Commandiv

The website mentions that Forbes covered Commandiv. While specific details of the article aren’t provided, being featured in Forbes, a major business publication, indicates that Commandiv was recognized for its pioneering efforts in the financial technology space. For a startup, such coverage is invaluable, providing credibility and visibility within the investment community and beyond. It suggests that Commandiv’s novel approach to combining crypto and stock trading caught the attention of mainstream financial media. Mileiq.com Reviews

Financial Times on R.A.R.E Art

John Zettler’s NFT marketplace, R.A.R.E Art, also received attention from the Financial Times. This is a significant endorsement, as the Financial Times is globally renowned for its in-depth coverage of finance, business, and economics. The mention implies that R.A.R.E Art was seen as an important early player in the burgeoning NFT market, highlighting John’s foresight in recognizing the potential of digital art and blockchain technology.

The New York Times on the Rare Digital Art Festival

The Wall Street Journal on Crypto Gifts

Finally, the Wall Street Journal featured a “fun piece on crypto gifts & tungsten cubes,” which included John Zettler. The WSJ is another leading financial publication, and this lighter yet still relevant piece suggests that John’s expertise extends to broader discussions around cryptocurrency adoption and its societal integration, even in unconventional ways like gifting.

This array of press mentions from highly respected publications like Forbes, Financial Times, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal collectively paints a picture of a founder whose work consistently breaks new ground and garners significant attention, validating the innovative nature and public interest in his ventures.

Learnings and Takeaways from Commandiv’s Journey

The Power of Early Vision and Adaptation

Commandiv was arguably ahead of its time, being the “1st combined crypto & stock-trading platform for US investors.” This highlights the importance of an early vision and identifying future market needs.

Customer Demand: John notes, “We didn’t set out to build in crypto, but customer demand brought us there.” This emphasizes the importance of listening to market signals and adapting the product roadmap based on user needs, even if it means pivoting from the original plan.
Pioneering Spirit: Being first often means navigating uncharted territory, which can be both rewarding and incredibly challenging. Commandiv’s early entry paved the way for subsequent platforms.

The Weight of Regulatory Compliance

One of the most significant factors in Commandiv’s closure was “high compliance costs.” This is a critical lesson for any startup operating in regulated industries: Syncfusion.com Reviews

Underestimate at Your Peril: Regulatory burden is not merely a legal checkbox. it’s a significant operational and financial drain. For a lean startup, the ongoing costs of legal counsel, auditing, and adapting to new rules can be prohibitive.

The Impact of Competitive Landscape and Funding

The narrative explicitly states that the fundraise “fell apart once Robinhood announced they were getting into crypto.” This offers crucial insights into the dynamics of startup funding and competition:

Market Perception: The entry of a well-funded, established player like Robinhood into a market can instantly shift investor sentiment. Venture capitalists often prefer to back larger, more defensible businesses, especially when an incumbent announces similar plans.
Scale and Resources: Large players have the capital, brand recognition, and user base to quickly gain market share. This makes it incredibly difficult for smaller, less-funded startups to compete on a level playing field, even with superior innovation. The ability to raise capital is often as crucial as the product itself.
Strategic Exits vs. Winding Down: For some startups facing such competition, an acquisition might be a viable exit. However, if that doesn’t materialize, winding down becomes a necessary step to conserve resources and allow founders to move on to new ventures.

The Value of Experience, Even from “Failures”

Despite its closure, Commandiv’s journey was clearly a foundational learning experience for John Zettler.

First-Hand Crypto Experience: It was his “first experience with Coinbase as a developer & customer,” and led him to “fall down the Ethereum rabbit hole.” This direct, immersive experience was invaluable, setting the stage for his subsequent successful career at Coinbase.
SEC Audit Passed: The fact that they “passed an SEC audit” despite eventually winding down is a significant testament to the quality and diligence of their operations, even if the business model proved unsustainable in the face of market forces. This validates the rigor and legitimacy of the team’s efforts.

The story of Commandiv is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurial ventures, even those that don’t achieve long-term commercial success, can provide indispensable experience and insights that fuel future, more successful endeavors.

Conclusion

The Commandiv.com website, while bearing the name of a now-defunct pioneering crypto and stock trading platform, primarily serves as the professional showcase and intellectual hub for John Zettler.

It provides a transparent and insightful look into his extensive career, marked by significant contributions to the crypto and fintech industries, particularly his pivotal roles at Coinbase. Freshdesk.com Reviews

The site is a valuable resource for anyone interested in his background, investment philosophy, and the tools he has developed.

Ultimately, Commandiv.com offers a fascinating glimpse into the journey of a key figure in crypto, providing practical investment tools, sharing personal insights, and transparently documenting the lessons learned from pioneering ventures.

It’s a testament to continuous learning and adaptation in the dynamic world of finance and technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Commandiv.com an active trading platform today?

No, based on looking at the website, Commandiv.com is not an active trading platform today.

It serves as the personal website and portfolio of John Zettler, detailing his past ventures, including the original Commandiv platform which was wound down in 2018. Powermymac.com Reviews

What was Commandiv.com originally?

Commandiv.com was originally the first combined crypto and stock-trading platform for US investors, co-founded by John Zettler in May 2015.

Why did Commandiv.com shut down?

Commandiv.com was wound down in February 2018 primarily due to high compliance costs as a Registered Investment Adviser RIA with the SEC, and its fundraise fell apart after Robinhood announced its entry into the crypto market, intensifying competition.

Who is John Zettler?

John Zettler is a product manager and founder with extensive experience in the cryptocurrency and financial technology sectors, notably from his significant roles at Coinbase, including leading DeFi and Staking products.

What kind of experience does John Zettler have at Coinbase?

John Zettler has held various high-impact roles at Coinbase, including Group Product Manager for DeFi and Staking responsible for $1B Gross ARR, Product Lead for cbETH 2nd largest liquid staking token on Ethereum, Coinbase Business, Coinbase Asset Hub, and Coinbase Commerce growing GPV/month by +619%.

Does John Zettler have a background in traditional finance?

Yes, John Zettler has a strong background in traditional finance, having worked as a Hedge Fund Investment Analyst at SeaStone Capital Management and an Investment Banking Analyst at Morgan Stanley. Supapass.com Reviews

What resources are available on Commandiv.com?

Commandiv.com offers free resources such as a “Passive Investing Rebalancer” Google Sheet/Excel for managing ETF portfolios, a “Sector-by-Sector Rebalancer” Google Sheet/Excel for strategic sector rotation, a digital library of book notes, and a “Hedge Fund Reading List.”

Does John Zettler offer investment advice on his site?

Yes, John Zettler shares his investment philosophy and insights through blog posts, such as “5 rules for stock market investing” and “4 steps to invest in an index fund — the right way,” and through the practical tools he provides.

What is John Zettler’s investment philosophy?

His philosophy appears to blend traditional passive investing principles emphasizing low-cost index funds and disciplined rebalancing with a strong belief in cryptocurrency as a legitimate asset class. He focuses on practical, actionable advice.

What is cbETH, and what was John Zettler’s role in it?

CbETH is the 2nd largest liquid staking token on Ethereum, allowing users to earn yield on staked ETH with liquidity.

John Zettler was the Product Lead & Co-Founder, launching it as a 0-to-1 product and achieving over $1 billion in wrapped staked ETH value. Venn.com Reviews

Was Commandiv.com regulated?

Yes, the original Commandiv was a Registered Investment Adviser RIA with the SEC and even passed an SEC audit, indicating it operated under regulatory oversight for its stock trading component.

Did Commandiv.com handle both crypto and traditional stocks?

Yes, it was designed to be the first platform to combine both crypto and traditional stock trading for US investors.

Are there any contact details for John Zettler on Commandiv.com?

Yes, John Zettler’s website includes his email address for direct contact.

Has John Zettler’s work received press coverage?

Yes, his projects, including Commandiv and R.A.R.E Art, have been covered by major publications such as Forbes, Financial Times, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.

What was R.A.R.E Art?

R.A.R.E Art was an early NFT marketplace for limited-edition digital art on Ethereum, co-founded by John Zettler. Click2magic.com Reviews

It aimed to connect artists creating native-digital media with collectors.

Why did R.A.R.E Art eventually cease operations?

R.A.R.E Art struggled with demand during the 2018-2019 bear market in crypto, leading to its eventual wind down.

Does Commandiv.com have a blog?

Yes, Commandiv.com features a section for John Zettler’s “Investment Writing,” which functions as a blog where he shares articles on various financial and crypto topics.

Can I subscribe to updates from Commandiv.com?

Yes, the website offers a subscription option to receive updates and blog posts via email.

What kind of articles does John Zettler publish on his site?

His articles cover a range of topics, including explanations of crypto concepts like staking, product launches like Coinbase Commerce features, technical guides e.g., saving files on IPFS, and fundamental investment advice e.g., rules for stock market investing, understanding inflation. Charthop.com Reviews

Is Commandiv.com associated with any financial scams?

No, there is no indication on the website or in its history that Commandiv.com or John Zettler were involved in financial scams.

The site transparently details the history of Commandiv’s operations and its eventual closure, along with John Zettler’s reputable career at Coinbase.

0.0

0.0 out of 5 stars (based on 0 reviews)

Excellent0%

Very good0%

Average0%

Poor0%

Terrible0%

There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.

Amazon.com: Check Amazon for Commandiv.com Reviews
Latest Discussions & Reviews:

Commandiv.com Reviews