Since arriving on the scene, people around the world have been looking at ways blockchain technology can have an impact on the industries as well as communities. At first, the technology was mainly associated with cryptocurrencies; Bitcoin being the flagship product. In the main, this association has grown stronger with the acceptance of Bitcoin all across the world, and has resulted in more and more of the general public employing the likes of the Luno Bitcoin wallet to conduct everyday transactions.
However, blockchain is, without doubt, something which can have a positive effect on a multiple areas, especially when it comes to making a real difference in communities. The technology’s versatility has encouraged everyone to get involved, and women have definitely taken advantage of this.
Daisy Ozim
Daisy Ozim (pictured above) was introduced to blockchain three years ago in 2016 and saw a fantastic opportunity to combine her background in public policy and community organising with blockchain technology. It was at this point that Ozim founded Blockchain for Social Justice, which is made up of a clutch of people aiming to use blockchain to help the most vulnerable in communities. As well as founding Blockchain for Social Justice, Ozim also founded Resilient Wellness too. Resilient Wellness is a non-profit organisation which again uses blockchain to the advantage of those in need. The focus in public health, where policy and system change, as well as improvements to healthcare, are backed.
Thea Sommerseth Myhren
It was during travelling the world where Thea Sommerseth Myhren recognised how blockchain technology could have a positive impact on people’s lives, and on her return home she set up Diwala. Diwala is a platform running on the blockchain which allows people to verify both personal and educational growth, which in turn will see them able to move forward with their lives, rather than being limited in their options.
Preethi Kasireddy
Preethi Kasireddy has established herself as a name in the cryptocurrency scene by operating as a highly respected blockchain engineer and alumni of the likes of Andreessen Horowitz, Goldman Sachs and CoinBase. Kasireddy has now waved goodbye to Silicon Valley, the tech capital of the world, and moved to LA to embrace business ventures of her own. Kasireddy remains a role model for women, not just in the crypto scene but in tech, and her social media presence and blogs continue to be popular.
Chris Zhong
Blockchain technology is having a positive influence when it comes to humanitarian projects around the world, and Chris Zhong harnessed its potential to do so when she founded the Blockchain Philanthropy Foundation. Since 2017, Zhong and volunteers at the non-profit organisation have attempted to bridge the gap between blockchain tech and philanthropy. Zhong is determined to use blockchain for humanitarian purposes, with its cryptographically secure ledger and the transparency it brings key.
Laura Shin
You will struggle to find a woman as influential in the mainstream media as Laura Shin. Shin works as a senior editor with Forbes, and her focus is, of course, cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Shin also hosts a podcast called Unchained, where she discusses every topic imaginable when it comes to blockchain. She’s one of the most knowledgeable and informed people around on the subject, and knows everything there is to know about Bitcoin, ICOs, blockchain, Ethereum, and a whole lot more.
