Jake Gagain, originally from Atlanta and raised just outside of Tampa, lived up and down the coast of California before returning to Tampa last year. Gagain discovered cryptocurrency after graduating college and has grown passionate about crypto’s decentralized nature, global accessibility and potential to shape the future of finance.
ABOUT ME
I recently moved back to Tampa in July, and I’m loving it so far. It’s wild to see how much the city has grown over the past decade—it truly is one of the greatest cities in America. I imagine more young entrepreneurs will continue to move here, as it’s a fantastic place to live with tons of incentives.
Like many people when they first heard about crypto, I dismissed it and thought it was too complicated to understand. After listening to interviews from crypto leaders like Michael Saylor, the Winklevoss Brothers, and Brian Armstrong, I realized this was an industry in its infancy but likely here to stay.
MY LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Protein House has the best breakfast burritos in town, hands down. I usually go for the grass-fed steak and egg burrito with a smoothie and I’m good to go for the day. They also serve breakfast all day, which is a plus.
If I’m grabbing a casual lunch, I’m heading to Market at The Edition. The food is fresh and high-quality and the staff is amazing. You can dine there for breakfast, lunch or dinner and leave satisfied every time.
My go-to coffee spot is Shortwave Coffee. I’m a big fan of Nitro Cold Brew and theirs might be the best in the world. They also have great breakfast options and matcha if you’re not a fan of coffee in the morning.
On special occasions, I always go to Donatello. My dad used to take our family here for every celebration and I continue to go in his honor. Donatello is a Tampa staple with very authentic Italian food—and you never know who you’ll run into there.
My #1 hidden gem has to be Toastique. The staff is incredible, they have great juices and smoothies and their avocado toast is some of the best you’ll ever try.
If I were designing a day out in Tampa, I’d start with a Barry’s Bootcamp workout in the morning. Afterward, we’d stay in Hyde Park for food at Meat Market and check out some of the shops in the area. Next, we’d grab a happy hour cocktail at The Edition before taking the boat out for a sunset cruise. That sounds like a perfect day to me.
My favorite staycation spot is The Don Cesar. It’s iconic, and if you’re visiting the Tampa Bay area, staying there at least once in your life is a must.
I recently visited the Tampa Museum of Art on the RiverWalk. I’ve been to a lot of museums and they have some amazing pieces, from abstract art to sculptures thousands of years old. I highly recommend checking it out.
During the summer, I love being out on the water. We take the boat and jet skis out, spending most of our days enjoying the different islands and beaches around Tampa Bay.
I enjoy attending workout classes in Tampa. Camp and Barry’s Bootcamp are two of the best.
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with family, going to Bucs and Lightning games, working out and breaking bread with friends at some of Tampa’s top restaurants.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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