Is International Women’s Day a celebration, or is it a reminder that the fight for equality is far from over?
While women have made progress in many industries, Web3 and crypto remain overwhelmingly male-dominated.
However, their role is expanding beyond leadership and founding positions—women in technical, operational, and strategic roles are driving innovation and shaping the industry’s future.
Despite this, disparities persist. A 2023 report by Boston Consulting Group and People of Crypto Lab found that only 13% of Web3 founding teams include at least one woman, and just 3% are composed entirely of women. Meanwhile, all-male teams raise nearly four times more capital than their all-female counterparts.
For many women in the crypto space, these figures are not surprising. They reflect ongoing barriers—limited access to funding, exclusion from key networks, and deeply ingrained perceptions that blockchain and crypto are male-dominated frontiers. Yet, rather than discouragement, there is determination.
Web3 presents an opportunity to redefine power structures, foster inclusivity, and reshape the industry in ways traditional finance and tech sectors have struggled to achieve.
CCN presents perspectives from women shaping Web3 in different capacities, sharing insights on progress made, challenges ahead, and the steps needed to build a more equitable industry.
Their experiences emphasize the importance of representation, mentorship, and structural change to ensure that talent and hard work—not gender—shape and define success.
Women Driving Web3 and Digital Identity
For Evin McMullen, co-founder of Privado ID, digital identity is the cornerstone of an inclusive Web3. Her work focuses on eliminating centralized gatekeepers by enabling individuals, institutions, and even AI agents to verify their identity securely, KYC/AML status, and credentials on-chain.
The push for greater inclusion in Web3 and blockchain goes beyond leadership roles. Women across technical, operational, and strategic positions are driving change, breaking down barriers, and reshaping the industry from within.
“To save the internet in the age of AI, we must enable digital identity for everyone, in an open and secure way,” McMullen says.
With a background spanning blockchain infrastructure, verifiable data, and decentralized identity, McMullen has founded Disco.xyz, advised emerging tech communities like Boys Club, and played key roles at ConsenSys and Berkshire Hathaway.
She remains focused on building solutions that empower users and remove barriers to participation in Web3—critical steps toward fostering greater diversity in leadership and technical roles.
McMullen emphasizes that most people enter the space through social contacts or work experience, making it crucial to develop blockchain applications that demonstrate practical value at scale.
“The most effective way to grow a more diverse contributor community is to build real technical solutions at scale, that solve real problems for real people,” she says.
Women’s Day Is a Time for Reflection and Action
Progress is real for many women in Web3, but the work is far from over.
Chrissay Brinkmann, Presales Engineer at Leaseweb, sees International Women’s Day as a moment to both celebrate achievements and recognize the work still ahead.
“International Women’s Day is an ideal time to reflect on the women who helped to break down barriers and prove that success should not be measured by anything other than your talent, hard work, and the results you deliver,” Brinkmann says.
She stresses the need to support and uplift others consistently, ensuring that progress extends beyond a single day of recognition.
“For me, I choose to celebrate International Women’s Day by both appreciating how far we’ve come, but also recognizing that there’s still work to do. I celebrate by supporting the women around me, sharing their wins, encouraging them to reach higher, and mentoring the next generation. It’s about making sure we all keep moving forward and creating space for the voices that deserve to be included at the table—not just on one day, but all year long,” Brinkmann says.
Encouraging More Women in Web3 is the Key
Jennifer Rojas, Customer Care Manager at Leaseweb Canada, highlights the importance of inspiring young girls to pursue careers in STEM and ensuring that mentorship remains a priority.
“International Women’s Day is indeed a great time to appreciate those who came before us and helped to break (or at least crack) the glass ceiling. It is also a perfect time to think about and give thanks to all of the people who inspire young girls to pursue their STEM dreams,” Rojas says.
Support from mentors and peers has shaped her journey, reinforcing the importance of fostering inclusive opportunities for future generations.
“I have been fortunate throughout my life to be surrounded by people who have encouraged me to always strive for excellence, really from the very beginning, to my education, to today, and to never let anyone else define what I’m capable of achieving,” she says.
The Power of Mentorship and Community Initiatives
For DeeDee Kato, VP of Corporate Marketing at Foxit, mentorship is not just about personal success, but about creating opportunities for future generations.
“On International Women’s Day, I am reminded that I have been in an enviable position to have had men and women throughout my life that have encouraged me to pursue my passion for STEM—teachers and mentors who believed in me, peers who inspired me, and leaders who opened doors and provided opportunities to grow, learn, and contribute—and earn my way up the corporate ladder,” she says.
She warns that companies that fail to embrace diversity miss out on innovation and limit their own potential.
“Of course, there are those that have not been as fortunate and have been perhaps hastily judged based on their gender, race, or another factor beyond their skills, experience, and potential. And while the individual suffers, the organization suffers as well—missing an opportunity to diversify their team, and bring new and innovative voices and ideas to the table,” Kato says.
She stresses that supporting diversity means taking action.
“So on International Women’s Day, and all year long, I continue to pledge myself to doing whatever I can within my community and inside my organization—from offering guidance, support, mentorship, or simple words of encouragement—to help others unlock their potential and navigate their own career journeys; as well as help to break down biases, racism, and prejudice to ensure that the most deserving, qualified person gets the job based on merit and talent alone, ” Kato concludes.
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