The new year is finally upon us, and here at WEMP, we have been reflecting upon the last year, as another unprecedented 12 months have gone before us. Although 2021 kicked off with hopes that the pandemic was on its way out, the recent emergence of the omicron variant and lockdowns around the globe have once again shown the world that we never know what the future may hold. While the age of the pandemic continues to set new precedents for the healthcare landscape, simultaneously, so has the dawn of DeFi. As people stayed locked down at home, the retail investing trend took the world by storm, and the new era of cryptocurrency has increasingly gained momentum throughout the last year, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin all making consistent headlines. In addition to providing financial security for those living in governments with financial control, the emergence of cryptocurrency trading has been a welcome new form of income in a time where mass lay offs occured and economic uncertainty ravaged the globe. The digital asset has been thrust into the spotlight over the past year, creating a frenzy of trading activity. Despite its widespread benefits and its rapidly increasing adoption, though, according to a 2021 State of U.S. Crypto report, 75% of crypto holders are men. This disparity in the cryptocurrency space, though, more and more women are starting to stake their place in the male-dominated space. In fact, in 2020, Cointelegraph reported that the number of female cryptocurrency users had grown by 160% on the majority of top crypto exchanges. To celebrate and encourage women in the crypto space, here at WEMP we’re highlighting some of the most inspirational women in the male-dominated industry as of today. Caitlin Long Caitlin Long (@CaitlinLong) is our first woman we are celebrating who is helping smash through the glass ceiling of the crypto space. The businesswoman is chairman of WyoHackathon, a blockchain event especially designed for developers and entrepreneurs. Long has been in the crypto and blockchain space since 2012 and is also the co-founder of Wyoming Blockchain Coalition. Lyn Alden Another impressive female blockchain enthusiast is Founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy, Lyn Alden (@LynAldenContact). The businessoman has been giving investment research for over 15 years. The Bitcoin veteran’s expertise in engineering and finance and unique approach to fundamental investing with a global macro overlay has allowed her with extensive media presence across cryptocurrency media outlets. Meltem Demirors Cryptocurrency personality Meltem Demirors (@Melt_Dem) is the Cheif Strategy Officer of CoinShares (@CoinSharesCo), a financial services firm in London and New York that focuses on alternative assets including cryptocurrency. The businesswoman also hosts a weekly podcast and the annual Crypto Springs conference in Palm Springs. According to her website, Demirors’ passion is the future of finance, and she has a “thing for bitcoin, sci fi novels, and talking with my hands.” Elizabeth Stark Blockchain entrepreneur, educator, and open-internet advocate Elizabeth Stark (@starkness) is the cofounder and CEO of Lightning Labs, a network client that scales and speeds up the Bitcoin network. A self-professed “big fan of the internet”, Stark is a fellow at Coin Center, the leading digital currency policy organization, and an advisor at Chia, a company building a new, easy-to-use blockchain protocol. Cathie Wood Cathie Wood (@CathieDWood) is one of the biggest names in the investment world today and an inspiration to women everywhere. The CEO and Chief Investment Officer at ARK Invest, one of the main players in the investment world, focuses solely on disruptive innovation and offers investment solutions to investors seeking long-term growth in the public markets. The OG investor has been a long time advocate of Bitcoin and blockchain based innovation and pioneered the development of ARK’s philosophy and investment approach. Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release, and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice