5 Influential Women Making Waves

Diversifying crypto

Men have long dominated the world of cryptocurrency, but the tide is quickly turning as women open the doors to Web3 and take their place in this fast-growing industry. With the market capitalizations of Bitcoin and Ethereum set to reach $1 trillion as early as 2023 and the projected metaverse economy expected to rise to nearly $13 trillion by 2030, diversifying the crypto space isn’t just about doing the right thing—it’s about about ensuring that women are where the money is.

Despite the enormous potential for economic growth, a significant gender gap persists in cryptocurrency. Only 9% of women think they understand crypto, and only 29% plan to buy it in the next year, despite 50% believing Bitcoin prices will rise in the next five years, according to a survey by BlockFi. Additionally, less than a quarter of women know how to buy virtual coins, and nearly 40% find cryptocurrency confusing.

Recognizing the urgency to bridge this gap, female innovators and entrepreneurs have emerged to create new opportunities within the crypto community. In addition, many of these women-founded startups have established organizations that prioritize education, believing that knowledge about crypto is the key to removing barriers and empowering women economically.

This article highlights five influential women who are making remarkable strides in the crypto industry.

As we delve into the journeys and achievements of these exceptional women, it becomes clear that their contributions are reshaping the cryptocurrency landscape and driving the industry toward greater innovation and prosperity.

Cynthia Lummis

Cynthia Lummis, a senator from Wyoming, is an ardent advocate of Bitcoin investment and has supported legislation in support of it. Over the past few years, she has bought more than $100,000 worth of Bitcoin from exchanges, and she also claims that she bought her first Bitcoin at $330 in 2013.

As a result, she is often referred to as the “Crypto Queen” by the Senate. Furthermore, last year she introduced a bipartisan bill, the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, to establish a new regulatory framework for the crypto industry with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

However, the implosion of the FTX exchange “chilled” congressional appetite for legislation.

Lummis plans to introduce a new bill (again with Gillibrand) this year, claiming it will be “lighter and meatier.” According to the new bill, more “statutory language” is to be proposed than in the original.

Catherine Wood

As a prominent figure in the investment industry, Catherine Wood currently holds the position of Chief Investment Officer at ARK Invest. ARK Invest provides public market investors with investment solutions with a focus on disruptive innovation.

In 2015, her firm, ARK Invest, was one of the first institutions to invest in Bitcoin. In addition, ARK Invest has consistently invested in and supported various blockchain-based companies under her leadership. She has been an advocate for Bitcoin and blockchain-based innovation and was among the first mainstream investors to see their potential.

Alakanani Itireleng

Alakanani Itireleng founded the Satoshi Center, an African incubator hub for blockchain-based startups that operates an online marketplace to connect Blockchain startups and investors. As part of the Satoshi Center operation, she also offers blockchain technology training and bootcamps, helping them adopt blockchain technology and create solutions for some of the problems in Africa.

In addition, Itireleng helped create a blockchain hub that helps children learn tech skills called El Viaje es Infinito.

In addition to speaking at cryptocurrency conferences, Alakanani is a recognized international Bitcoin influencer and a tireless advocate for crypto education and development.

As a Bitcoin miner and enthusiast, Alakanani believes that cryptocurrency can transform lives, especially in his hometown of Gaborone.

Elizabeth Stark

As a cryptocurrency expert, Elizabeth Stark has been designing decentralized technologies that empower individuals for over a decade. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Lightning Labs and is an early proponent of blockchain scaling solutions. With the Lightning Network, users can trade BTC quickly and at a lower cost than they can with primary chains.

Furthermore, Stark demonstrated the Lightning Network before the congress as an example of how Bitcoin can be used in the real world through her work on the Lightning Network. She is also a fellow at the Coin Center, a leading digital currency policy organization, and serves as an advisor to Chia, a blockchain company developing a user-friendly protocol.

Elizabeth Stark is also an advocate for women in the industry and has spoken about it at many conferences.

Laura Shin

As a former senior editor at Forbes, Laura Shin covered cryptoassets full-time for the first time. Her interest in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency arose while she was at the forefront of the Forbes Fintech 50 list.

After further exploration, she realized that crypto would eventually change the world because the technology was superior to anything before.

Shin also hosts a popular blockchain podcast called “Unchained,” where she talks with industry pioneers. Furthermore, she can distill complex crypto concepts into an accessible and objective narrative so that more people understand how blockchain and crypto technology will revolutionize our lives in the near future.

However, her recent notable achievement in the crypto world is her recently published book Cryptopians: Idealism, greed, and the Birth of Cryptocurrency. This book was a masterclass in investigative journalism, taking a deep dive into the history of the Ethereum Foundation.

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Conclusion

The rise of women in the crypto industry marks a significant milestone in the journey towards inclusion and diversity. As more women break through barriers and make their mark on this transformative field, the sector becomes stronger, more innovative and more representative of our world. The increased participation of women in crypto is important to create a more balanced and fair industry and unlock the huge potential of the blockchain and crypto markets.

The influential women highlighted in this article are trailblazers, inspire others and demonstrate the tremendous value women bring to the crypto industry. Furthermore, their achievements serve as beacons of hope for aspiring female technologists, entrepreneurs and investors, showing that success knows no gender boundaries. By celebrating their achievements, we celebrate the progress women are making in breaking down barriers and shaping the future of crypto.