Caitlin Long #36

Biography:

Caitlin Long is an American entrepreneur and 22-year Wall Street veteran who is also an expert in Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Her academic achievements include completing studies at Harvard Law School, the Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Wyoming. She has had numerous publications, press and speaking engagements with Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times and CNBC, to name a few. 

Long’s journey in Bitcoin started in 2012, and in 2014, she was already a blockchain evangelist. Two years later, she received the Women in Finance Award for excellence in blockchain by MarketsMedia.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential women in blockchain, Long’s reputation has perhaps been built more around her leading role in drafting Wyoming’s pioneering blockchain legislation. Her greatest achievement in the crypto regulatory framework thus far is the Wyoming Blockchain Task Force’s setup from 2018 to 2020. 

Long’s mission as the Wyoming Blockchain Task Force gubernatorial appointee was to make her native state of Wyoming a congenial environment for blockchain companies in the United States, and in fulfilling that mission, she has helped Wyoming pass over 20 blockchain-friendly laws. 

Since 2019, Long has been chairwoman of WyoHackathon, a celebratory blockchain event for developers, entrepreneurs and established companies. In 2020, she founded and became CEO of the first crypto-native bank in the U.S., Avanti Financial Group.

Long’s 2021:

Avanti Financial group started to grow as a crypto-financial solution in digital asset banking, custody and payments. The company has raised over $44 million in funds since its inception, and in 2021, it paved the way to become one of the leading financial players in Wyoming for combining digital assets and traditional finance.

After nearly 25 years of living on the East Coast of the U.S., Long finally moved back to her home state of Wyoming. Her continued involvement within the U.S. digital asset regulatory system produced its first results in July 2021, with Wyoming becoming the first U.S. state to officially recognize a decentralized autonomous organization.

Wyoming was also the first U.S. state to authorize a new crypto asset custodial institution that provides storage, protection and banking services to blockchain businesses.

Throughout 2021, Long continued appearing in podcasts and conferences. Through her elaborate tweets, she explained complicated legal matters in a straightforward manner, thereby enhancing her role as a blockchain expert and educator for both insiders and outsiders of the industry.

Long’s 2022:

Long’s commitment in 2022 will revolve around the management and growth of her startup, Avanti. The Wyoming-based crypto bank could become a Federal Reserve Member Bank and Federal and Deposit Insurance Corporation bank, as Avanti applied to join both memberships in late 2021.

With these applications, Avanti has accepted the same regulatory capital, compliance and supervisory examination standards that apply to traditional banks, thereby reaffirming Long’s plans to build a bridge between conventional banking and crypto.

Avanti’s ambitious plans include offering API-based U.S. dollar payment services for wires, automated clearinghouses and SWIFT, issuance of a tokenized, programmable U.S. dollar, and management and custody services for Bitcoin and other digital assets. 

Long remains very optimistic about the future of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. In 2022, she is expected to continue the educational journey through various podcasts and conference presentations, which she seems to enjoy as one of the most prominent blockchain spokeswomen in the space.