Cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi) have entered the mainstream, but a longstanding general gap persists. In many ways, crypto continues to be a “boys club,” with crypto industry leadership roles, not to mention ownership of crypto itself, still held predominantly by men.
However, while progress has historically been slow in this area, the tide is starting to turn for women in crypto. Influential women in the crypto community are working to bridge the crypto gender gap, through efforts like advocacy, community, and education, efforts that seek to foster greater inclusion and participation of women in all things crypto.
Gradually reshaping the landscape, the efforts of the following five female crypto industry leaders are breaking down barriers, paving the way for a more inclusive, equitable environment.
Rachel Conlan (Chief Marketing Officer, Binance)
Binance.com, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and user base, has also been a leader in the area of crypto gender equality and inclusion. Much of the credit for this goes to Binance Chief Marketing Officer Rachel Conlan.
Tapping into two decades of experience in advertising, marketing, and media, particularly in the area of digital transformation, Conlan has been instrumental in growing awareness and usage of Binance’s platform worldwide. One way Conlan has done this is through efforts related to increasing female participation in the blockchain economy.
For instance, through efforts like educational programs. As Conlan noted in a recent interview, “Last year, during Binance Blockchain Week, we launched a program in Istanbul aimed at educating women on how to responsibly engage with crypto. Our goal is to onboard 500 women by mid-2025, teaching them how to trade, invest, and take control of their financial future.”
Conlan’s efforts extend to the crypto business community where she looks to empower female talent in the industry. “Historically, industries like tech and finance have been male-dominated, and that extends to crypto as well. However, one of the things I love about this industry is its capacity for change. We’re seeing more women take on leadership roles, not just at Binance but across the board. At Binance, we are making conscious efforts to create an inclusive environment where diverse voices are valued,” Conlan states.
Tavonia Evans (Founder, GUAP Coin)
Around a decade ago, Tavonia Evans, a former Fortune 500 IT professional, sought to capitalize on the cryptocurrency revolution, as a means to promote the economic empowerment of the Black community, Black women in particular.
How? Through the launch of GUAP coin, in 2017. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, the token, whose name stands for Group United Asset Program, seeks to incentivize support of Black-owned businesses, in turn helping to grow community wealth.
Alongside GUAP Coin, Evans is active in other inclusion efforts. Namely, through her “Crypto for the Culture” workshops, which help to promote increased financial literacy, from basic principles to more complex, crypto-related concepts.
Cleve Mesidor (National Policy Network WOC Blockchain)
Cleve Mesidor, a blockchain policy advisor, heads up the National Policy Network of Women of Color in Blockchain, an advocate for inclusion in crypto inclusion.
Partnering with private and public sector organizations within the sector, this organization’s mission is to “ensure the voices of innovators of color are part of the policy debate regarding the emerging crypto economy.
In addition to her role with this advocacy group, Mesidor also promotes greater inclusion through her Butterscotch Media venture, a digital news studio that claims to be “the only outlet exclusively covering inclusion in Web3, DeFi, and crypto.”
Olayinka Odeniran (Founder, Black Women Blockchain Council)
Through her Black Women Blockchain Council (BWBC) organization, Olayinka Odeniran is another advocate for greater gender/racial inclusion in the cryptocurrency space.
BWBC seeks to increase Black female participation in the cryptocurrency industry, through workforce development programs. This employment-focused approach makes BWBC unique compared to other groups, which place greater focus on areas like financial literacy.
Forming partnerships with leading mainstream and DeFi-based financial institutions, BWBC has thus far been successful in its efforts to “a talent and economic pipeline of black women pursuing professional and entrepreneurial careers in blockchain and fintech.”
Laura Shin (Host, Unchained Podcast)
She may not be a C-level executive or nonprofit organization leader, but through her role as one of the crypto community’s leading journalists, Laura Shin has for nearly a decade helped to make information about this industry more accessible, all while avoiding any “watering down” of the discussion.
That is, Shin, an Ivy League graduate with past stints at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal on her resume, presents thorough, in-depth investigative reporting on her Unchained podcast. Launching in 2016, it has become one of the longest-running and most popular crypto podcasts.
To date, Unchained has recorded over 850 episodes, covering a wide variety of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related topics.
