To assume that the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry is male-dominated would be a fair assumption to make. This is evident by the fact that some studies estimate that women make up between four to six percent of blockchain investors. However, to assume that women aren’t pioneering cutting-edge technology in the space would be a false assertion to believe in. So much so, that for some the future of the cryptocurrency industry is female.[1][2][3]
As CoinJournal celebrates International Women’s Day, this year’s theme #pressforprogress calls for the change needed in gender equality around the world. One change that is also being called for is to see more women in technology, specifically the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry. For some, there is plenty more that needs to be done to increase women’s voices in this nascent space.
According to Jane Zhang, marketing partner at Delphy, a blockchain-powered predictive market, the world of cryptocurrencies trails behind in diversity with an underlying tone of a ‘gentlemen’s club’ culture. Even though strides are being made with gender equality in the wider technology industry, Zhang questions why cryptocurrency events are being held at gentlemen’s clubs, a possible reference to the North American Bitcoin Conference that was held at a Miami strip club earlier this year.[4]
“Why are there so many stories from women who have attended cryptocurrency events only to be subjected to sexist and condescending remarks?” she added. “An innovative and exciting new world is stuck in the dark ages.”
Rhian Lewis, co-developer of CountMyCrypto, an altcoin portfolio tracker, and co-host of London Women in Bitcoin, doesn’t agree that the industry is stuck in a gentlemen’s club era. As a software engineer, Lewis has always been interested in economics, but it wasn’t until 2013 that she bought her first cryptocurrency and started trading. Since launching CountMyCrypto in 2014 with a friend she has been immersed in the industry, speaking and writing regularly about the blockchain.
Speaking to CoinJournal, Lewis explained that it was when she was in Berlin that she attended an event a friend was running called Berlin Bitcoin Mädchenabend (Girls Night Out), providing a social yet educational setting for women who were interested in learning more about the industry. However, it was only when Lewis returned to London that she realised that there wasn’t anything similar setup, which eventually saw Lewis and friend Magda creating London Women in Bitcoin. Now events are co-hosted with Neha Murarka, CEO of Smoogs, a micropayment solution platform that lets people pay in cryptocurrency while they stream content.
Lewis said that when they initially started only a handful a people turned up, but since then numbers have increased.
“Since 2017, and particularly since Neha used her amazing energy to move the event to SkillsMatter and arrange proper talks and presentations, our attendance has rocketed and we are now sponsored by eToro,” she said. “We are an
