Meet the Blockchain Queen: Marta Belcher’s Wild Ride in Crypto!

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So, here we are, right before International Women’s Day, and who do we get to chat with? Marta Belcher! A real trailblazer in blockchain law. I mean, this woman is everywhere! She’s the president of the Filecoin Foundation, general counsel at Protocol Labs, and she even sits on the Board of Directors for Creative Commons. It’s like she’s collecting titles like they’re Pokémon cards. Gotta catch ’em all! 🎮

Crypto.News: Marta, correct me if I’m wrong, but your first big project was No Worries Now, helping teens with life-threatening illnesses. Seems a bit off from the whole blockchain scene, right? Did that experience shape your current work?

Marta Belcher: Wow, that’s a deep cut! Yes, while I was in college, I ran a national nonprofit that helped teens with life-threatening illnesses. You know, hosting events and doing policy advocacy. I learned that many of these illnesses could be cured by bone marrow transplants, but the real kicker? Many of them died because they couldn’t find a match. It’s like a bad episode of a medical drama. And don’t get me started on umbilical cord blood! It’s just sitting there, waiting to be used, but nope, it’s tossed out like last week’s leftovers. Insane, right? 🤦‍♀️

So, I became an advocate for public umbilical cord blood banking. I mean, why not? I did policy work for No Worries Now and even got involved with the National Marrow Donor Program. I was basically the superhero of umbilical cord blood. Who knew that would lead me to tech policy? It’s like a plot twist in a rom-com!

CN: How did you stumble upon Bitcoin or blockchain? Did you realize its importance right away? Did you get into tech law before or after blockchain?

MB: I started as a tech attorney, protecting civil liberties. I was a litigator, representing public interest organizations. My first taste of blockchain was in 2015, helping early blockchain companies fend off patent trolls. I wrote a paper for EFF called “Hacking the Patent System.” Sounds like a fun night, right? I was hooked because I saw the potential for privacy and civil liberties benefits. It was like finding a hidden gem in a thrift store! 💎

I had amazing clients and got to do some wild stuff—like writing the first blockchain-transferable software license. I mean, who knew that was a thing? I was basically the Indiana Jones of blockchain law, dodging patent trolls and digging up treasure!

Then I joined Protocol Labs during the early days of Filecoin. I was so excited about the vision of using blockchain to take down Big Tech. It was like being part of a superhero team, but without the capes. Just a lot of meetings and coffee. ☕️

CN: You wear so many hats—from president of Filecoin Foundation to general counsel of Protocol Labs. How do you manage your time?

MB: I probably shouldn’t say this, but I have a “work-life integration” strategy. It’s not for everyone, but for me, it’s like living in a tech utopia. I’m surrounded by people on the same mission, so it’s easy to just breathe it all in. It’s like being in a cult, but a really productive one! 😅

CN: What makes an organization attractive to you? What’s the common thread?

MB: Everything I do is about using technology to protect civil liberties. So, even though I have multiple roles, it’s really just one big job. It’s like being in a band where everyone plays different instruments, but we’re all jamming to the same tune!

CN: You won a Women’s Entrepreneurship Day award for your role in blockchain law. There’s conflicting data on the gender wage gap in web3. What’s your take on gender disproportions?

MB: Honestly, there are so many amazing women in crypto right now. All three major crypto industry groups had women as their founding executive directors. I’m surprised when people say it’s male-dominated. My experience? It’s like a women’s empowerment rally! But I get it, that’s just my perspective. 🤷‍♀️

CN: The Filecoin Foundation team is mostly women. Do you think companies with a woman majority act differently?

MB: Absolutely! Our leadership team is more than half women, and we just found the best talent. It wasn’t intentional, but hey, it’s a happy accident! There are a lot of amazing women in crypto, and we’re just getting started!

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2025-03-11 17:17