Erebor Bank, aimed at filling the void left by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), is backed by chads: - @peterthiel (self-explanatory) - @PalmerLuckey: the co-founder of @anduriltech (defense tech) and @oculus (acquired by @Meta) - Joe Lonsdale: co-founder of Palantir It will be run by the leadership team: - @JacobHirshman: former adviser to @circle - Owen Rapaport: co-founder of Argus (software firm) and CEO of Aer Compliance, with experience in tech & compliance - Mike Hagedorn: former VP at SVB It is to cater to high-growth, high-risk sectors that traditional banks often avoid due to regulatory constraints. The name Erebor is inspired by the "Lonely Mountain" from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a name consistent with the style of other Tolkien-inspired ventures backed by Thiel (e.g., Palantir, Anduril). The dynamic is getting more interesting here.