Crypto Hipster

Casey Grooms is the co-founder of Soulbound, an avant-garde social gaming platform empowering the new creator economy. Casey started his career as a Financial Analyst at Wells Fargo & Company. In 2010, he co-founded Bon La Vu, a fashiontech startup offering exclusive outfits sourced from local designers. He later co-founded Pocketmath in 2011, establishing the world's largest self-serve mobile advertising platform, which raised $20 million over our Series A and B rounds, hit $80 million a year in revenue, and scaled up to 50 employees, and exited in 2018. Casey's other investments include Uninstall.io in 2015 and MidBoss in 2016. In 2018, he founded Userbase, focusing on mobile app install services, and became a General Partner at Rhinocorn Ventures in 2021. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseygrooms/Soulbound Twitter: https://x.com/Soulbound_GG Soulbound Telegram: https://t.me/Soulbound_GG Soulbound Website: https://soulbound.gg/

James Lucas is the COO and co-founder of Lamina, a DeFi operating system driving mainstream adoption through seamless asset utilization. A proud crypto native, James entered the web3 space contributing to APAC community growth at Bybit. He previously oversaw legal operations across various hyper-growth start-ups and led partnerships and ecosystem development in multiple executive positions. James played a core role in delivering Web3 IP campaigns with FIFA, Universal Studios and Bandai Namco and managed pipelines for over $50,000,000 of brand deal volume to Web2 audiences of over 100,000,000 subscribers.James is committed to delivering a more cohesive blockchain ecosystem poised to penetrate all industries, focusing on improved UX. He founded the adoption strategy for ERC 4907 and ERC 5006, then scaled these two novel standards from zero to 100,000+ deployed contracts. James holds qualifications in Law and has a focus on compliance and risk management in Web3 innovation. Twitter: https://x.com/BuildrJ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-l-743a01191/ Lamina Twitter: https://x.com/laminafinance

Kurt Hemecker, CEO of the Mina Foundation Kurt Hemecker is CEO of the Mina Foundation, the public benefit corporation serving the Mina Protocol, the world’s first zero knowledge (ZK)-native blockchain, where he previously served as Chief Operating Officer. With extensive experience across the blockchain, payments, and mobile media industries, Kurt has held senior operating roles in the Diem Association (formerly Libra), Zong, a mobile payments company acquired by PayPal in 2011, and across various other PayPal initiatives with global mobile network carriers. 

Gabriele Giancola, CEO of The qiibee foundation, is a prominent Swiss entrepreneur known for his contributions to the Web3 and blockchain space. After graduating with a Master’s in Business Management from the University of St. Gallen, Gabriele co-founded qiibee, a blockchain-based loyalty ecosystem that helps brands run and connect loyalty programs. Gabriele has worked with brands such as Miles & More, Etihad Guest, Renault, and Coca-Cola. Dedicated to pushing the boundaries of how blockchain can be applied to solve real-world problems, Gabriele envisions rewards as one of the top three payment methods that will drive blockchain’s growth and societal impact. Gabriele’s areas of expertise include blockchain innovation and business enterprise loyalty programs. The qiibee foundation is a non-profit organization based in Zug, Switzerland established to promote and develop the qiibee loyalty blockchain infrastructure. The foundation also fuels promoting and supporting applications designed for the qiibee ecosystem. Such as the leading blockchain-based B2B rewards marketplace with instant access to world-renowned brands. The foundation bolsters the use, application, and enhancement of the qiibee rewards chain (QRC), governed by leading players of the rewards and blockchain markets. Through continued investment, innovation, and development, the qiibee foundation aims to make reward currencies one of the largest payment method globally.

Gijs op de Weegh is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur in the financial technology sector, with a particular focus on the payments industry and the integration of blockchain technology. In April 2023, Gijs founded StablR, where he currently serves as CEO and Founder. StablR is dedicated to developing a robust Euro stablecoin ecosystem, emphasizing regulatory compliance and transparency in the digital currency space. Gijs is particularly passionate about the application of stablecoins and their potential to enhance transaction efficiency and security within the financial sector.Gijs holds a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Amsterdam, which complements his strategic vision and operational expertise. He is fluent in Dutch and English, with limited proficiency in German, allowing him to engage effectively in diverse business environments.Throughout his career, Gijs has been an advocate for the adoption of innovative technologies in finance, believing that blockchain can significantly reshape the industry. His thought leadership is evident through his publications and speaking engagements, where he shares insights on the evolving landscape of fintech and the critical role of compliance in the adoption of digital currencies.In addition to his professional achievements, Gijs is committed to fostering a collaborative ecosystem in the fintech space, working closely with partners to drive growth and innovation. His vision for StablR includes leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create a seamless financial infrastructure that benefits businesses and consumers alike.Social links: LinkedInTwitter/X

Yannik Schrade is the CEO and Co-Founder of Arcium, a parallelized confidential computing network, bringing fast, scaleable and universal encryption. As the lead architect and visionary behind Arcium, Yannik created the project by leveraging his expertise in cryptography with the goal of advancing data security and confidentiality.  A renowned thought leader, Yannik has spoken at several prominent industry conferences, including the 2024 World Economic Forum, where he challenged TradFi leaders on the importance of decentralization, privacy, and trustlessness.    He previously founded ShiftScreen, an iOS app, which attracted over 100,000 paying customers and was a regular top seller globally. Yannik studied Computer Science and Mathematics at the Technical University of Munich, and he also studied law, adding another dimension to his extensive portfolio. 

Amir Forouzani is Core Contributor at Puffer Finance and an ex-scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratories. Puffer is focused anti-slashing liquid restaking technology.

As the Head of Digital Assets at io.finnet, Michael Cunningham brings a truly unique blend of technical expertise and industry experience to his role. His background includes a degree in Materials Science and Engineering , as well as previous roles as  Head of Custody at Delchain Limited, Consultant for Relm Insurance and as a Commercialization Engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This diverse background has equipped him with a distinctive perspective that fuels his innovative approach to digital assets. Michael's work at io.finnet has contributed to significant recognition, with the company being accepted into the MPC Alliance and the prestigious EY FinTech Growth Programme and receiving the FinNext Award for Excellence in Financial Institutions. These accolades are a testament to his visionary leadership and dedication to advancing io.finnet's mission. His leadership and insights make him a particularly compelling voice in the conversation around the future of digital assets and financial technology. As a recognized expert in his field, Michael continues to shape the trajectory of io.finnet through his work and foresight.

Danny Chong is co-founder of Tranchess, a DeFi protocol offering structured and liquid staking solutions. With over 17 years in investment banking at  Société Générale and BNP Paribas, he brings extensive leadership experience in trading, sales and management in the APAC region, advocating for a symbiotic relationship between DeFi and TradFi. Danny is also co-founder of the Digital Assets Association in Singapore, a non-profit association at the forefront of integrating blockchain technology into the fabric of traditional finance.

Taha Abbasi is a recognized leader in blockchain innovation, contributing significantly to the growth of decentralized finance and interoperability technologies. As the CTO of Ferrum Network, Taha has architected sophisticated systems for cross-chain communication, liquidity aggregation, and asset transfer, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the blockchain space. His work on OmniChain Liquidity and OmniSwaps has revolutionized how exchanges operate, offering seamless liquidity across multiple chains. At Ferrum Network, Taha has been instrumental in designing reward systems that enhance blockchain incentives, ensuring fair participation and engagement within the network. His pioneering efforts in Web3 conversion tracking have optimized blockchain analytics, providing valuable insights for developers and users alike. Outside the blockchain industry, Taha had a decorated career, serving as the CTO of five major companies, including National Geographic. He was also a technical consultant at Apple and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Taha is an alumnus of prestigious institutions like MIT Sloan and Harvard Extension School. Taha Abbasi's extensive experience and high-impact contributions make him a sought-after expert in blockchain technology and DeFi. His leadership and technical acumen continue to drive Ferrum Network towards new heights in the blockchain industry.