In every industry, there are always a few key figures who truly drive progress, the ones whose ideas push everything forward. Crypto is no exception. Amid the noise about emerging technologies and volatile prices, it’s easy to overlook the individuals actually guiding the industry. Increasingly, many of those at the helm are women.
Across the sector, women are shaping crypto’s future, navigating complex regulatory landscapes in Washington, leading communications for global exchanges, and educating millions about how the system works. Their contributions are both strategic and hands-on. It’s time to spotlight a few of these influential leaders who are actively helping define what the next chapter of crypto will look like.
Four Women Making Waves in Crypto
While the full list of trailblazers is long, here are four women whose current work is directly influencing the direction of the industry.
1. Rachel Conlan: Taking Charge of Marketing at Binance
Running the global marketing show at Binance, the world’s biggest crypto exchange, is Rachel Conlan. As Binance CMO, Conlan is bringing over 20 years of experience from the traditional marketing and media world, having worked with big-name luxury brands and entertainment giants. That background gives her a unique perspective in the whirlwind world of Web3.
If you suggest women are rare in crypto, Rachel Conlan will likely correct you pretty fast. During a recent interview with Emirates Women at the Token2049 conference, she hit the nail on the head regarding the perception of women in the space. “That there aren’t women in Web3, that’s the biggest misconception,” Conlan declared. She pointed to Binance’s own team as proof of change, mentioning that women account for 45% of their staff worldwide.
For her, though, it’s not just about the statistics. She’s putting effort into action, championing programs like the Binance Women in Technology Academy in Turkey, designed specifically to teach blockchain skills to thousands of women.
For Conlan, it comes down to practical things: better access, strong community ties, solid education, and even making it less dry.
She’s determined that women shouldn’t get sidelined in this potential financial shift. Her focus is on using smart, user-centered strategies to grow Binance while embedding a more inclusive culture throughout the industry.
She’s also realistic about the hurdles. While celebrating progress, Conlan readily acknowledges the big gaps that still exist for women, especially when it comes to leadership positions and getting venture funding. Her approach involves direct action, like those education programs and community events, to chip away at these barriers and make crypto a genuinely more welcoming place.
2. Natalie Brunell: Telling Bitcoin’s Story
Explaining complicated financial stuff in a way that clicks? That’s a real talent, and Natalie Brunell does it exceptionally well for the Bitcoin crowd. Through her popular podcast, Coin Stories, she sits down with major voices from the worlds of economics and crypto, translating complex ideas into relatable conversations. Interestingly, her roots aren’t in finance; she spent more than ten years as an investigative reporter and TV journalist.
What reportedly pushed Brunell towards advocating for Bitcoin was seeing her own family navigate the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis. That experience led her to question the traditional financial system and look for alternatives. Now, her podcast is essential listening for many people trying to understand BTC, featuring big names like Michael Saylor and Raoul Pal. By weaving together personal stories and straightforward explanations, she’s playing a key part in making crypto less mysterious for a broad audience, women very much included.
3. Senator Cynthia Lummis: Wyoming’s Pro-Crypto Lawmaker
Untangling the mess of crypto regulation is no small feat. And Senator Cynthia Lummis has become a central figure in this effort. She’s known for actually understanding the tech and speaking up about it within the government.
Coming from Wyoming, a state that’s been notably proactive with crypto laws, Lummis consistently argues for clear, fair digital asset regulation. She’s not new to this either; she started investing in Bitcoin back in 2013, giving her a deeper understanding than many policymakers.
You won’t find Senator Lummis holding back when it comes to demanding clearer cryptocurrency rules. She’s openly criticized the previous SEC leadership’s habit of “regulation by enforcement,” basically, suing first and asking questions later. Instead, she strongly believes assets like Bitcoin should be treated as commodities, meaning the CFTC (not the SEC) should be the main agency overseeing them.
Her most headline-grabbing move lately was introducing the BITCOIN Act. The proposal suggests the US government should create a strategic reserve by buying up about 5% of all Bitcoin. She’s even floated the idea of selling off some Treasury-held gold to help pay for it, arguing BTC is a better hedge against inflation. This kind of forward-thinking makes her a central figure in deciding how crypto fits into America’s legal future.
4. Perianne Boring: DC’s Blockchain Advocate
While Senator Lummis pushes from inside Congress, Perianne Boring has been one of the industry’s most effective advocates working from the outside for many years. She founded the Digital Chamber of Commerce, now the largest blockchain trade group globally, and has been a constant presence in Washington, DC, arguing for smart, pro-growth crypto policies. Her influence was recognized early; Forbes put her on their “Top 50 Women in Tech” list back in 2018.
Boring knows the DC ropes, having started her career as an economic analyst on Capitol Hill, where she first encountered Bitcoin way back in 2011. That policy background lends weight to her arguments. Echoing Senator Lummis, she’s consistently challenged the SEC’s stance, maintaining that most digital assets function more like commodities and belong under the CFTC. Her persistent work and clear grasp of both policy nuances and crypto tech have earned her widespread respect.
Making Their Mark on Web3’s Future
Looking at the work of influential female leaders like Rachel Conlan, Natalie Brunell, Cynthia Lummis, and Perianne Boring, you really get a sense of the different — but equally vital — roles women are playing in crypto’s evolution. They’re shaping how the biggest companies talk to the world, making complex ideas understandable for millions, writing the actual laws that could govern the space, and fighting for the industry’s interests in the halls of power. Each one is leaving a clear imprint.
Their efforts, along with those of so many other women who are coding, founding companies, investing, and building communities in Web3, are incredibly important. They challenge the old boys’ club stereotypes, bring much-needed different viewpoints, and help make sure that the financial future being built is genuinely more inclusive than the one it’s trying to replace. Big hurdles definitely still exist on the path to real gender equality, but you can’t deny the growing impact of women in crypto. It points towards a more balanced, vibrant, and ultimately stronger ecosystem for everyone.
