Women in Crypto: The Women Shaping the Industry
Behind some of crypto's biggest developments are women who have helped make ideas a reality. Their achievements played an undeniable role in the growth of crypto over the years.
What about the women working in crypto? Australian employment figures specific to the industry are hard to come by, but looking at the wider technology sector, women held only 13% of CEO positions across Australian STEM industries in 2025.
The Women Who Helped Build Crypto
We all know Bitcoin, Tezos and Polkadot, but how familiar are you with the women who have helped develop blockchain technology?
Kathleen Breitman: Co-founder of Tezos (XTZ)
Alongside her husband, Arthur Breitman, Kathleen co-founded Tezos, a blockchain that allows its community to vote on network upgrades. The project introduced a different approach to how blockchains could evolve without relying on disruptive network splits.
Elizabeth Stark: Co-founder of Lightning Labs
Ever wondered how Bitcoin could work for everyday payments? Elizabeth Stark has spent years working to answer that question. As co-founder and CEO of Lightning Labs, she's helped develop technology supporting Bitcoin's Lightning Network, designed to make transactions faster and cheaper.
Jutta Steiner: Co-founder of Parity Technologies
Jutta Steiner co-founded Parity Technologies, a company involved in building the technology behind Polkadot (DOT). A skilled applied mathematician with a PhD who, behind the scenes ensured Ethereum successfully made it to its 2015 launch, then co-founded the company that built one of the fastest Ethereum clients.
Cointree’s CEO and Director, Jess Renden
Closer to home, Cointree itself is run by a prominent female figure in crypto, Jess Renden. Joining Cointree in 2017, Jess spent four years as Cointree's Chief Operating Officer and Head of Operations, before stepping into the CEO and Director position.
As Australia’s sole female CEO and Director of an Australian-only exchange, Jess continues to contribute to industry discussions around regulation, security and the future of cryptocurrency in Australia. Some notable moments include:
- Connecting crypto with traditional finance: Jess was involved in Cointree's 2020 partnership with BGL, helping integrate cryptocurrency transactions into SMSF administration software.
- Supporting Australian stablecoins: Under her leadership, Cointree became the first centralised exchange to list the licensed Australian dollar stablecoin AUDF in 2025.
- Encouraging real-world cryptocurrency payments: Jess publicly supported Cointree's involvement in enabling the Digital Economy Council of Australia to accept AUDF for membership and sponsorship payments in 2026.
- Contributing to industry discussions: Jess has represented Cointree numerous times at different important industry conversations. From events such as Women of DECA, Blockchain Week, and DECON to future-shaping conversations at the DECA Friends of Parliament Policy Paper Launch at Parliament House.
More on Jess Renden, CEO and Director of Cointree.
Cointree’s Chief Operating Officer, Harlan Lauretti
Joining Cointree in 2024, with more than 12 years of experience across business operations, traditional finance, and leadership, Harlan Lauretti recently stepped into the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), following her time as Head of Operations. Since joining Cointree Harlan has played a key role in improving Cointree’s internal systems, streamlining processes and supporting the business growth. Leading Cointree’s operational strategy, she is instrumental in driving Cointree’s integration strategy and ensuring long-term operational resilience.
Harlan regularly participates in high-level national policy forums to advocate for sustainable industry growth, clear regulatory standards, and operational excellence. Her work has earned her recognition outside of Cointree, being named a finalist for Emerging Leader of the Year at the 2026 Australian Digital Economy Awards.
More on Harlan Lauretti, Cointree’s Chief Operating Officer.
More Women, More Opportunities
There's much more to crypto than trading, and the women we've highlighted are proof of that. They've helped create cryptocurrencies, develop new technology and lead businesses in an industry that's still relatively young.
While Australian statistics show there's room for more women to get involved, there's also plenty worth celebrating. These women have already made their mark on crypto, and we're looking forward to seeing who's next.
