Over the years, the feminist movement has brought about monumental changes for the rights and opportunities of women. Unfortunately, discrimination and misogyny still exist in certain parts of the world. However, cryptocurrency and its underlying technology, blockchain, offer career pathways previously unheard of to many women. Furthermore, the idea of working in technology may feel intimidating to some. Here, we explore what some of the top women in crypto are doing to change this as inspirational leaders and pioneers of an exciting, evolving industry.

In this article, we explore some of the different career options available and some of the top females in the blockchain space. We demonstrate through these womens’ stories how any woman, anywhere, can achieve a career in the crypto industry. 

If you’re considering a career in blockchain or would just like to deepen your knowledge, our Blockchain & Bitcoin Fundamentals course is the perfect place to start! Moralis Academy is the globally leading online education suite for Web3 development and blockchain. Start your Web3 journey with us today!

Exploring the Top Women in Crypto 

International Women’s Day (March 8th) is an annual celebration and commemoration of female achievements. Following this, Moralis Academy seeks to highlight the performance and success of some of the top women working in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries. 

We’ve selected some of the top women in crypto working in various roles across numerous sectors around the world. The blockchain industry spans far and wide with a plethora of career opportunities. Below, we share the views of different women (in alphabetical order) working as YouTubers, educators, CEOs, developers, artists, and much more!

Alakanani Itireleng

In the central South African country of Botswana, Alakanani Itireleng is known as the “Bitcoin Lady” – and for a good reason! Itireleng is a Bitcoin activist of nearly a decade, raising awareness and providing education surrounding cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. During the beginning of her journey as a Bitcoin advocate, Itireleng taught religious studies to teenagers. Alongside this, she was studying for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) via the India-based school’s e-learning program, Amity University. In an interview with VICE in 2014, she states: “As for technology, I am just self-taught,“. 

Over the years, Itireleng raised Bitcoin donations through her blog for a local charity, SOS Children’s Villages, that cares for orphaned children. Also, the Bitcoin ambassador has campaigned for the Bank of Botswana to legitimize Bitcoin as legal tender. Currently, Itireleng works as CEO of SatoshiCentre, a self-funded organization offering education and incubation opportunities for blockchain-related start-ups. Moreover, Itireleng is developing a crypto wallet for local Botswana users. The aim is for the crypto wallet to operate directly with local ATMs. 

Casey Leigh Henry

With more than 331,000 YouTube subscribers, Crypto Casey videos rank number one on Google for “how to buy cryptocurrencies”. One of America’s leading YouTube crypto advocates, Casey Henry, is a serial entrepreneur, software architect, blockchain expert, and cryptocurrency educator. Also, Henry is an author, podcaster, and posts weekly “Last Week Crypto” videos on YouTube and her website. 

After successfully developing a software system for personal injury case management, Henry worked as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for MattLaw, a local personal injury firm. Recognizing a demand in the blockchain space for easy-to-understand basic education surrounding crypto, Henry set up her YouTube channel in 2017. With regular videos from 2019, Crypto Casey has racked up nearly 10 million views explaining concepts around crypto, economics, and finance. Plus, users can access the free comprehensive guide to investing in cryptocurrency safely on the Crypto Casey website. Henry is committed to educating the everyday Joe on the value propositions and utilities of crypto.

Catalina Castro

Next in our top women in crypto list is Catalina Castro, or Tech con Catalina as her 160,000+ Spanish YouTube subscribers know her. Tech con Catalina is the most prominent female Spanish-speaking crypto YouTube channel. Moreover, Castro offers another YouTube channel, Tech with Catalina, for her English-speaking fans. 

With a background in marketing, Tech con Catalina has been active on YouTube since May 2018. Seeing success after success with her educational videos, Castro has since become a lecturer at the University of Nicosia. Facilitating the first Spanish-speaking online course about blockchain technology and Bitcoin, Castro teaches at the University of San Andrés and the National University of Litoral (Spanish: Universidad Nacional del Litoral, UNL) based in Argentina. Additionally, Castro became a co-founder of Blocknia, an IT software company offering blockchain business solutions.

Furthermore, Castro offers educational content for other existing cryptocurrency projects. This could be offering tutorials on her YouTube channels or creating specialized social media marketing content for projects.

Lisa Wade

Specializing in financial impact work, Lisa Wade features in our top women in crypto list for her extensive environmental activism. Also, for her continued investment in community entrepreneurialism and progression. With a comprehensive background in traditional finance and decentralized finance asset management, Wade calculates “superior investment returns” in the transition to a globally-efficient economy. This includes co-founding Australia’s first Low Carbon Fund in 2007 and Change Investment Management in 2009. Recently, Wade set up a blockchain initiative called Project Carbon, exploring the tokenization of impact with voluntary carbon credits. 

Wade is a keen advocate for women and the LGBTQIA+ community working in blockchain. Accordingly, Wade received the Blockchain Australia’s Gender and Diversity Leader of the Year award 2021 to recognize her commitment to diversity within the industry. Moreover, Wade developed the “Rainbow Women” initiative. This offers a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people and women to express any challenges preventing career development within the financial sector. Also, Wade is co-chair of NAB Pride, an advocacy group for “LGBTQIA+ employees and people everywhere”. Furthermore, as a 1200-hour qualified yoga teacher, Wade symphonizes mindfulness and meditation practices within her financial impact work.

Maliha Abidi

Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, prior to immigrating to California at 14, Maliha Abidi is a Pakistani-American author, illustrator, neuroscience student. More recently, Abidi has become an internationally acclaimed non-fungible token (NFT) visual artist. Abidi focuses on women’s rights, mental health, and anti-racism. Also, Abidi is the founder of The Story of Mental Health (SOMH), an organization offering creative mental health services for women in stigmatized countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal. Resultantly, Abidi’s work features in Glamour Magazine, Malala Fund, and BBC news. 

In 2021, Abidi created a collection of 10,000 NFTs called ‘Women Rise NFTs’. The assets feature representations of a broad collective of successful women throughout history. This includes scientists, coders, artists, activists, etc. After featuring at DCentral Miami, one of the largest Web3 conferences in the US, and on the front page of Rarible, the collection garnered a lot of attention. At the time of writing, the entire collection is now sold out and only available for re-sale on NFT marketplaces. Moreover, 10% of the profits from the NFT collection go towards charities for women and children.

Meltem Demirors

As a founding member and Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Cryptocurrency Council, Meltem Demirors is one of the top women in crypto pushing for user-centric legislation and regulation around the asset class. Accordingly, Demirors has testified before the House Financial Services Committee, expressing the importance and demand for blockchain technology and Bitcoin. 

With a strong history in corporate treasury, oil and gas trading, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) roles, Demirors is currently Chief Strategy Officer of CoinShares. Driving a mission of accelerating the acceptance and adoption of the cryptocurrency asset class, CoinShares manages over $4 billion in digital asset investments. With a passion for civil rights and privacy, Demirors lectures at her old university, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  

Roya Mahboob

Roya Mahboob is the founder and CEO of Afghan Citadel Software Company (ACSC), a tech firm with primarily female employees in Afghanistan. Moreover, Mahboob is an internationally-acclaimed philanthropist and activist for educating digital literacy skills to women and children in developing countries. As such, ASCS aims to create work for recent graduates seeking opportunities in Afghanistan’s IT markets. Furthermore, as many women in Afghanistan are unable to access banking services, Mahboob pays her employees in Bitcoin.  

Featured as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2013, Mahboob is a pioneer in online education in developing countries. Additionally, Mahboob is a Board Member and president of the non-profit organization Digital Citizen Fund (DCF). DCF directly works with women and children, educating them about technology and finance. Also, Mahboob is an Advisory Board member for the Forbes School of Business of Ashford University, Global Thinkers Forum organization, and Resolution project. Plus, Mahboob is one of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum (WEF). One of Mahboob’s current projects includes developing an online educational platform, EdyEdy. The project will assist in the learning and practicing of digital literacy skills for children.

Tavonia Evans

Another community activist making the top women in crypto list is the founder and lead engineer of Guapcoin, Tavonia Evans. Although Evans faced numerous funding cuts and was hospitalized due to Covid-19 in 2021, the project achieved its best year yet. Plus, Guapcoin launched its first brick-and-mortar exchange merchant alongside a token wrapping service on Binance Smart Chain (BSC).

With a primary focus of supporting businesses and closing the wealth gap, Guapcoin is here to “amplify the economic voice of the Black Community”. Thanks to the decentralization and transparency of blockchain, Guapcoin motivates holders of its native asset, GUAP, to concentrate their spending within local communities. In an interview with CoinTelegraph, Evans stated: “we’ve onboarded hundreds of women of color into the Masternode space, an area of crypto that is largely male-dominated”. Evans proudly shares the majority demographic (70%) of GUAP Masternode operators is women of color.

Wendy O. 

Wendy O features in our top women in crypto list as the largest American female voice in cryptocurrency. Her videos receive millions of views each month across a variety of social platforms. With hundreds of thousands of subscribers on YouTube and TikTok, CryptoWendyO provides daily technical analysis and crypto market updates. Additionally, CryptoWendyO videos help newcomers to the space navigate their first crypto investments. After realizing the revolutionary potential of blockchain, Wendy left her job in healthcare to pursue a passion for crypto and marketing. During her time finishing her business and marketing degree, Wendy set up the CryptoWendyO YouTube channel hosting “The O Show”.

Since going full-time crypto in 2018, Wendy juggles a variety of crypto activities. These include creating social media videos, managing a marketing firm for crypto projects, and organizing monthly crypto networking events. Plus, these are free for anyone to attend! Wendy additionally facilitates face-to-face private events for businesses and the crypto community. 

Careers in Blockchain and Crypto 

No matter the gender you identify, the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries generally resonate a warm and welcoming vibe between workers. Plus, as lots of work in these industries is remote, it offers valuable opportunities for networking with different people worldwide. 

Moreover, blockchain technology is not solely applicable to crypto and finance. The cutting-edge technology has the potential to revolutionize a plethora of industries. From farming and agriculture, fashion, art, real estate, and sport to the energy sector, music, and supply chain management, the list goes on. Furthermore, knowledge of this technology is crucial for maximum positive impact, which applies to the full hierarchy of workers. Blockchain education applies to everyone from CEOs making IT infrastructural decisions to employees on the ground tokenizing their working experiences. 

Knowledge of blockchain technology brings opportunities for people to work for themselves, as freelancers, contractors, or even business directors. This is beneficial for those who need flexible working hours due to ill health, children, caring for family members, etc. Blockchain technology doesn’t discriminate. With its open-source, borderless, permissionless, and censorship-resistant features, blockchain opens up career opportunities previously unavailable to many people. Also, you don’t even need experience in coding, computer science, or economics to start (although this will help!). If a career in blockchain sounds good to you, check out Moralis’ wealth of educational material online! 

For example, our blog is full of valuable tips and tutorials for beginners, like our “How to Create a DAO?” article! Also, our Ethereum Fundamentals course is great for beginners in blockchain to learn about the technology underpinning decentralized finance (DeFi). Be sure to check out Moralis Academy for the best place to kickstart your education in blockchain and Web3 development!

Exploring Women in Crypto 2022 Summary

Celebrating the presence and influence of women in crypto helps motivate and inspire women of all demographics and younger generations. Although men feature as the prominent gender in the technological workforce, there are still many women in the world offering valuable contributions to the development and mass adoption of blockchain. Therefore, we’d like to give a shout-out to all the other women in crypto doing amazing work! Narrowing the female profiles in the blockchain industry to nine people was difficult. However, we hope you can see the broad career options available to women in crypto. No matter your age, language, location, and professional or educational background, there is space for anyone who wants to be part of the Web3 evolution. 

Does this sound exciting to you? If you’re considering a career in crypto, Moralis Academy is the perfect place to start. Check out the wide variety of educational posts on our blog, including our “Ukraine & Cryptocurrency”, “Top Gaming Tokens”, and  “How to Survive a Bear Market” articles. Or, for a more comprehensive deep dive, our Blockchain Business Masterclass course is perfect for non-programmers curious about blockchain. Join Moralis Academy and our welcoming community of more than 30,000 students today!