19 Feb 2025

light mode

Women in сrypto: who and how has influenced the crypto world?

Women in сrypto: who and how has influenced the crypto world?

The main feature of cryptocurrencies is accessibility. The crypto world has no racial or gender stereotypes. Because of this, more and more women are striving to realize themselves in this sphere. Some of them have even managed to change the rules of the game.

On this page

Denise Schaefer

 Co-founder and CEO of Surge Woman. After discovering Web3, she began working on making this technology available to all women. 

Denise was introduced to the crypto world in 2017 when she started investing in BTC and ETH. Before that, she worked in marketing and social media development. Being from Peru, Denise was familiar with social inequality from childhood. The idea that everyone can achieve financial success regardless of social status was a significant impetus for her development in the world of cryptocurrencies. Once the pandemic began, she decided to immerse herself in the crypto world fully and joined the Kernel educational community.

While learning the peculiarities of cryptocurrency and Web3, she encountered two major challenges. The first was the complicated and daunting language for newcomers. The second was the lack of a resource that could attract women to the field.

In 2021, the idea for the Surge Woman project was born. Surge Woman is a community that helps women to master Web3. The portal provides a weekly newsletter about the basics of the crypto industry, a job board, a Discord community, and private discussion groups. The platform also offers Surge Passport, which gives Surge NFT owners full access to all of the project’s privileges. 

Elizabeth Stark

Co-founder and CEO of Lightning Labs. One of the most famous figures on the crypto “chessboard”. Thanks to her company, the technology that makes it possible to use blockchain on smartphones was created. 

Elizabeth was born in New York. She studied at Harvard University, receiving her PhD in law and continuing her academic career. Later she was invited to Yale University as a lecturer. She actively advocated for freedom of speech on the Internet. In 2012, she participated in protests against the SOPA and PIPA bills. These bills were aimed at combating illegal content. According to the protesters, they minimized the freedom of Internet users.

In 2016, Elizabeth founded Lightning Labs, a company that creates products that allow users to send money to the Bitcoin network almost instantly. The company’s main asset is the Lightning Networks Layer 2 protocol, which solves bitcoin scalability problems. The company is now working on a new product, Taro, which will work with a broader range of assets. 

Laura Shin

Blockchain journalist, writer, and senior editor at Forbes (specializing in blockchain and cryptocurrency). Dedicated to showing the cryptocurrency market as it is. 

Laura graduated from Columbia Journalism School in 2008, earning her master’s degree. She has long covered climate change issues. She was a reporter for The New York Times, where she had a real estate column. In 2013, she became editor of Forbes, later becoming senior editor in cryptocurrency and blockchain in 2017.

World fame came in 2014 when Shin wrote her first book, “The Millennial Game Plan”. In this book, the writer shares real-life success stories of famous personalities and gives valuable advice on achieving financial independence. In 2022, she released the acclaimed book “The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze”, in which she describes the 2016 DAO hack.

Laura Shin now hosts her own podcast called “Unchained”. She raises current issues in blockchain and cryptocurrencies with her guests, the most famous and prominent personalities of the crypto world. 

Deana Burke and Natasha Hoskins

The founders of Boys Club. They created an entertainment and educational platform for women that has become something more over time. 

Boys Club is a social club for those interested in cryptocurrency on different levels. The project was initially designed for women and non-binary personalities, but the organizers assured that everyone is welcome regardless of gender.

Before creating the community, Deana and Natasha worked in marketing. They met on the Indiegogo project. Later started a travel company AllCall, which they successfully sold. In 2018, Deana launched a cryptocurrency wallet app for women. Currently, alongside Boys Club, she helps Celo Foundation to develop products that simplify the creation and porting of blockchain apps.

A special feature of the Boys Club project is a series of dinners where participants share their experiences and knowledge in an informal atmosphere. The club also helps people find jobs in the Web3 world, regardless of knowledge or experience. 

Meltem Demirors

Cryptocurrency investor, cryptocurrency attorney, and strategic director at CoinShares. In addition to her contributions to the crypto world through investments, she co-founded the Cryptocurrency Council of the World Economic Forum. 

Meltem received her first economics degree from Rice University in 2009. In 2015, she received her master’s degree from MIT Sloan School of Management. Before learning about the crypto industry, she worked as a trader in the oil and gas industry.

Meltem Demirors helped create Digital Currency Group, where she later became the company’s vice president. She raised capital for many of the world’s major companies in that position. In 2017, she founded Shiny Pony Ventures, which invests money in cryptocurrency startups. That same year, Meltem became director of development at CoinShares.

In addition to teaching at Oxford and MIT, Meltem Demirors is a strong advocate for women’s civil rights. 

The content on The Coinomist is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content. Neither we accept liability for any errors or omissions in the information provided or for any financial losses incurred as a result of relying on this information. Actions based on this content are at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult a professional. See our Terms, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers for more details.

Articles by this author
MEMX Files for SEC Approval to List XRP ETF from 21Shares

MEMX Files for SEC Approval to List XRP ETF from 21Shares

The U.S. market is seeing a wave of altcoin ETF applications, and MEMX is the latest player to join in. The exchange has filed a request with the SEC to approve the listing of the XRP ETF introduced by 21Shares, a major name in crypto investment products.

The Coinomist
Bitcoin Bull Run Is Just Starting as Institutions Buy In

Bitcoin Bull Run Is Just Starting as Institutions Buy In

A recent Bernstein report suggests that Bitcoin could soon see strong upward momentum, driven by increasing institutional investments.

Anton Kryshtal
Mystery Coder Burns $7M in ETH—Calls Out Brain-Tech ‘Weapons’

Mystery Coder Burns $7M in ETH—Calls Out Brain-Tech ‘Weapons’

A mysterious figure, Hu Lezhi, has publicly burned millions in ETH, alleging the existence of an underground organization manipulating human consciousness.

Anton Kryshtal
Lawmaker Attacks Trump’s Meme Coin, Musk’s DOGE

Lawmaker Attacks Trump’s Meme Coin, Musk’s DOGE

Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has criticized the DOGE agency and Trump’s meme coin, arguing they represent a dangerous shift in financial oversight.

Anton Kryshtal
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 18, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 18, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 10, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 10, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 3, 2025)

Weekly Analysis of BTC, ETH, and the Stock Market (Feb 3, 2025)

An overview of BTC, ETH, XAUT, and S&P500 charts, and the current cryptocurrency market dynamics.

Artem Khomenko
How to Bump a Transaction in the Bitcoin Network

How to Bump a Transaction in the Bitcoin Network

Sometimes, Bitcoin transactions can get “stuck,” especially if a low fee was set. In such cases, you might wonder: Why is my Bitcoin transaction stuck?

bitOn
Inside Cryptocurrency Farms: How Digital Coins Are Mined

Inside Cryptocurrency Farms: How Digital Coins Are Mined

Cryptocurrency farms and mining have evolved significantly since Bitcoin launched in 2009. To understand their growth, it helps to look at the broader history of resource extraction.

The Coinomist
From Bulls to Ballers — Why Celebrities Are Flocking to Crypto

From Bulls to Ballers — Why Celebrities Are Flocking to Crypto

Trump’s meme coin isn’t an outlier—it’s part of a broader trend. Back in 2021, celebrities were minting NFTs, and by 2024, they had moved on to personal token launches. The connection between fame and crypto has been growing for years, even if many failed to see it.

Vlad Vovk
Which Macroeconomic Factors Make Crypto Rise or Fall? 

Which Macroeconomic Factors Make Crypto Rise or Fall? 

It happens when you check the market and crypto prices are up or down for no obvious reason. Then you do some research and find out that there are actually reasons outside the crypto space.

Anahit Avetisyan
How Blockchain Helps Combat Disinformation

How Blockchain Helps Combat Disinformation

Fake news has become a global issue, shaping public opinion, fueling social tensions, and even influencing political decisions. With the rise of social media, the spread of misinformation has accelerated, making it increasingly difficult to regulate. However, blockchain technology offers a promising solution in the fight against fake news.

Daryna Nesterenko
Trading Psychology: How to Avoid Falling Victim to Your Own Biases

Trading Psychology: How to Avoid Falling Victim to Your Own Biases

The most successful traders aren’t always the smartest. More often, those who excel are the ones who understand psychological traps, manage their emotions, and maintain rationality under pressure.

Vlad Vovk
Pantera’s Tax Probe: A Wake-Up Call for Crypto Investors

Pantera’s Tax Probe: A Wake-Up Call for Crypto Investors

Dan Morehead, the founder of Pantera Capital, is under investigation by the US Senate Finance Committee (SFC) over $850 million in crypto profits. The key issue is whether he avoided U.S. taxes by moving to Puerto Rico, a well-known tax haven for crypto investors.

Anahit Avetisyan
The Bitcoin Kid’s 2011 Prediction – How Right Was He? 

The Bitcoin Kid’s 2011 Prediction – How Right Was He? 

In May 2011, an unusual video surfaced on YouTube. A 12-year-old boy explained Bitcoin – how it works and what its future might hold.

Anahit Avetisyan
MORE
«Mass Adoption Isn’t About Tech – It’s About Perception». Bitmedia Founder Matvii Diadkov – About RWA, Web3, And Marketing

«Mass Adoption Isn’t About Tech – It’s About Perception». Bitmedia Founder Matvii Diadkov – About RWA, Web3, And Marketing

Matvii Diadkov, founder of Bitmedia, shared with us in an exclusive interview his expert insights on Web3 adoption, impact of GameFi and community-centering tendencies in the market.

The Coinomist
“Satoshi is CIA”: Swedish crypto bro opens up about his Bitcoin journey

“Satoshi is CIA”: Swedish crypto bro opens up about his Bitcoin journey

The first crypto craze took place almost a decade ago. Overnight, many people found out about Bitcoin and its underlying technology, blockchain.

Lesia Dubenko
MORE