The cryptocurrency industry was built on principles of financial inclusion and individual empowerment, yet it continues to struggle with gender imbalance. Years after crypto’s rise to prominence, men continue to dominate the space—both as investors and entrepreneurs. Despite recent progress, women remain underrepresented in both crypto ownership and leadership roles. What are the key gender trends in the crypto sector today?
Women as Crypto Owners
A study by BDC Consulting found that over half of women who enter the crypto space do so to improve their financial well-being. Women are also more likely to hold crypto long-term rather than engage in short-term trading. However, barriers such as a lack of educational resources, shared family budgets, and negative social perceptions continue to discourage female participation.
The Global State of Crypto 2024 report by Gemini highlights a growing gender gap in crypto ownership. In 2022, women accounted for 42% of crypto owners, but by 2024, that figure had dropped to 31%. Despite this decline, women and men share a similar mindset when it comes to buying and holding crypto as a long-term investment.
Interestingly, in the UK, the percentage of female long-term holders is higher than their male counterparts, suggesting that when women do enter the space, they often take a strategic investment approach.
Women in the Crypto Industry
Gender disparity is even more pronounced when looking at women in leadership roles. According to Forex Suggest, out of the top 50 crypto companies, only three have female CEOs. The most influential women leading blockchain companies include:
- Ola Doudin – CEO of BitOasis
- Ambre Soubiran – CEO of Kaiko
- Simone Maini – CEO of Elliptic
Unlike their male counterparts, these CEOs do not have the same visibility or web presence, which often leads to less recognition for their work.
The Wage Gap in Web3
The wage gap remains a contentious issue. According to Forbes, the 2024 Web3 Finance Compensation Report revealed that women in Web3 earn 46% less than men—a gap far wider than that in traditional finance. Additionally, venture capital funding for women-led crypto startups stood at just 7% in 2024—a notable increase from the previous year but still significantly lower than male-founded startups.
However, Pantera Capital’s study presents a contradictory picture. Their research, based on 502 U.S. respondents, found that in Web3 finance, women earn 14.67% more than men. This is in stark contrast to traditional finance, where women earn 84 cents for every dollar men earn. The study attributes this “reverse wage gap” to the fact that women in crypto tend to hold senior-level positions, while entry-level jobs are predominantly filled by men.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Despite these findings, the low overall number of women in the crypto sector remains a major issue. The challenges that women face in male-dominated industries—including lack of representation, unconscious bias, and limited access to leadership opportunities—persist in crypto as well.
To bridge this gap, the industry must:
- Expand education and mentorship programs to encourage more women to explore crypto and blockchain.
- Highlight and amplify the voices of female leaders in the space.
- Promote inclusivity at conferences and industry events to ensure balanced representation.
- Address wage disparities and ensure equal funding opportunities for women-led projects.
The crypto industry has made strides toward greater inclusivity, but there is still significant work to be done. By addressing these challenges, the sector can move closer to its foundational goal of financial empowerment for all.
