Men have traditionally dominated the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, but this is changing rapidly as more and more women enter the field. In recent years, women have been making significant contributions to technology development and the wider adoption and mainstreaming of these technologies.
One of the unique ways women are involved in crypto is through their participation in blockchain startups and projects. Many women are now leading the development of cutting-edge blockchain technologies, launching their startups, and contributing to the ecosystem's growth. This includes women working as developers, designers, marketers, and business leaders.
While it's difficult to know precisely how many women are investing in cryptocurrencies, anecdotal evidence suggests that a growing number of women are taking an interest in these new investment opportunities.
According to a report by CoinMarketCap, women make up only 12.7% of the cryptocurrency industry in 2021, up from 10% in 2020.
A survey conducted by Gemini in 2021 found that 23% of cryptocurrency investors in the United States are women.
A study by BDCenter Digital found that only 4.7% of CEOs in the blockchain industry are women. In comparison, 30% of executives are women.
The same BDCenter Digital study found that women hold only 13% of blockchain-related jobs, while men hold 87%.
The Women in Blockchain Global group, with over 9,000 members worldwide, reports that women make up less than 20% of speakers and attendees at blockchain conferences and events.
These statistics show that there has been some progress in recent years toward greater gender diversity. Women are also becoming more involved in the broader fintech space, a crucial driver of cryptocurrency adoption and innovation.
The crypto community is also becoming more welcoming to women. Many initiatives and events are being launched to encourage more women to participate in the space. For example, several conferences and events now focus specifically on women in blockchain and cryptocurrency, such as the Women in Blockchain Summit and the Women of Crypto event series.
While lack of diversity is certainly a barrier for women in cryptocurrency, it is not the only one. Several factors can make it difficult for women to enter the cryptocurrency space, including:
Lack of representation: Women are often underrepresented in the cryptocurrency industry, making it difficult to find role models, mentors, and other support structures that can help them succeed in the industry.
Access to funding: Women may face more significant challenges when securing financing for cryptocurrency projects or startups. According to a report by Pitchbook, women-led startups received only 2.3% of venture capital funding in 2020.
Online harassment and discrimination: Women participating in cryptocurrency are often subjected to online harassment and discrimination, which can create a hostile and unwelcoming environment.
Technical barriers: Women may need more support in learning about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, which can make it harder for them to enter the industry.
Addressing these challenges will require a multifaceted approach that involves increasing representation, improving access to funding, and providing technical training and support for women who want to enter the industry.
Many notable women have made significant contributions to the cryptocurrency industry.
Elizabeth Stark
Stark is the co-founder and CEO of Lightning Labs. This company is working to make bitcoin transactions faster and cheaper. She is also a prominent cryptocurrency and blockchain technology advocate and has spoken at many conferences and events.
Amber Baldet
Baldet is the CEO of Clovyr. This startup is building a platform to make it easier for businesses to use blockchain technology. She is also a former executive at JPMorgan Chase, where she led the bank's blockchain initiatives.
Laura Shin
Shin is a journalist and podcast host who covers the cryptocurrency industry. She hosts the popular podcast "Unchained," which features interviews with many prominent figures in the industry.
Perianne Boring
Boring is the founder and president of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. This trade association represents the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry in Washington, D.C. She is also a prominent advocate. She has testified before Congress on several occasions.
Meltem Demirors
Demirors is the chief strategy officer at CoinShares, a digital asset management firm. She is also a frequent commentator on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology and has spoken at many conferences and events.
Kathleen Breitman
Kathleen is the CEO and co-founder of Dynamic Ledger Solutions. Before entering the crypto world, Breitman held high-level positions at top firms such as Accenture, Bridgewater Associates, and The Wall Street Journal. She also worked as a senior strategy associate at R3, a prominent financial services company. Breitman's current venture, Dynamic Ledger Solutions, is the development team responsible for the Tezos blockchain protocol.
Neha Nerula
Neha serves as the director of the Digital Currency Initiative. This research community is dedicated to exploring the applications of blockchain technology. Narula's exceptional work in the field has earned her recognition, thanks to her scalable blockchain solutions and databases, which she developed while completing her computer science Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
There are women involved in the crypto industry in Scandinavian countries. According to the EY Norge and Arcane Research survey in early 2022, the cryptocurrency ownership share among women is only 6%. However, it is still a doubling compared to a similar study in 2021. 63% of the female crypto investors made their first purchases in 2021 or 2022.
While it is difficult to give an exact number, numerous female enthusiasts are active in the crypto space in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
In Norway, there are a few to be mentioned.
Kari Due Andresen
Kari Due-Andresen is a Norwegian economist with 20 years of experience in financial analysis, currently holding a Chief Economist position and Head of research in Akershus Eiendom. Kari Due Andresen made a prominent entrance to the cryptocurrency space with her tweet "hodling bitcoin," which got an enormous response from the bitcoin community.
Linda Skaret
Linda Skaret is a Norwegian mixed media artist from Trondheim who works with physical and digital art in the form of NFTs. Linda's art collections are available on OpenSea.
Sophia Adampour
Sophia Adampour is an NFT advisor, entrepreneur, and founder of the Verse Gallery in Oslo, the first physical fully digitized gallery in the Nordics for NFT-based digital art and blockchain-related technology.
With more women joining the cryptocurrency space, there is no doubt they will continue to play a critical role in developing and adopting blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies.
