The Association for Women in Crypto: how Amanda Wick is changing the space for the better

We need more women in Crypto - this is our small contribution: A bi-weekly segment dedicated to the women changing the space.

The Association for Women in Crypto: How Amanda Wick is Changing the Space for the Better:

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Amanda Wick, the former chief of legal at analyst firm Chainalysis, wants to make a difference for women in Web3 — and she’s putting her money where her mouth is. Wick has launched a new nonprofit organization, The Association for Women in Crypto, predicated by her earlier work at Chainalysis promoting women's professional growth. According to the group's mission statement, the association, which is preparing to petition for 501(c)(3) registration, will focus on expanding crypto understanding and education:

"[W]hile advancing the opportunities for women and the role they will play in the future of digital finance."

The first membership of the organization consists primarily of attorneys and compliance experts. Among the founding members are former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Kathy Kraninger, current CFTC Senior Innovation Advisor Shivon Kershaw, Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Sheila Warren, and Michelle Korver, head of crypto regulatory relations at a16z. In addition to government institutions like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, firms like Aave and Elliptic are also represented.

The nascent association’s board is made up of Jane Khodarkovsky, general counsel at Celo Foundation, Jennifer Farer, a prosecutor at the Justice Department, Laurel Loomis Rimon, a partner at the law firm Paul Hastings and a former senior official in multiple government departments, and Wick, who has worked for the Departments of Justice and Treasury in addition to Chainalysis. Wick’s parting message gives inspiration and voice to all women in crypto:

"I wanted people who really work in the space who do the work, do crypto compliance, invest in venture, do marketing for crypto companies. Women who are in crypto. But most importantly women who support other women."

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