Binance Setting the Stage for Financial Literacy and Equality in Crypto

Let's talk numbers. About 39% of crypto holders are women as of 2024. Not terrible, right? But dig deeper, and the picture changes fast. Only 6% of blockchain companies have female CEOs. Male founders outnumber women almost nine to one.

Money tells an even rougher story. Women working in Web3 make about 46% less than men. That's worse than traditional finance, where the gap sits at 39%. Venture funding? Over 90% goes to male-led teams. All-male founding teams raise nearly four times more cash than all-female ones. And when crypto media needs an expert quote, they pick women just 12.7% of the time.

But women aren't waiting for permission to succeed. Laura Shin built "Unchained" into one of crypto's most trusted podcasts. She breaks down complex topics without dumbing them down. Tavonia Evans created GUAP Coin to help Black communities—especially women—build real economic power. These aren't feel-good stories. They're proof that talent finds a way.

Other women are making their mark too. Olayinka Odeniran founded the Black Women Blockchain Council, creating safe spaces for learning and mentorship. Cleve Mesidor bridges policy and education, helping women understand both the tech and the rules that govern it. And Binance's Rachel Conlan advocates for empowering women in crypto as the Chief Marketing Officer at the world's largest exchange. As Conlan recently remarked, “Binance remains a leader in driving gender diversity across crypto and tech. Women now represent 40% of our workforce and half of our marketing team.”

Conlan continued, “While progress has been made, there is still work to be done to usher more women into crypto. Through our International Women’s Day events, we aim to celebrate and inspire women.”

These leaders aren't just participating. They're reshaping how crypto education happens.

Binance decided to do something about these gaps. Inside the company, women now fill 40% of all roles and half the marketing team. But it doesn't stop at hiring. As CMO Rachel Conlan says, it's about "financial empowerment and breaking down barriers to industry knowledge and participation."

Take the Binance Women in Technology Academy. It launched with Turkey's Women in Technology Association and teaches everything from blockchain basics to AI and NFTs. The goal? Train 5,000 women in Turkey over five years. That's ambitious.

Africa gets its own program, too. The Blockchain for Women Bootcamp with Utiva drew 3,000 applications. They picked 300 women for intensive training in trading and blockchain tech. These aren't token efforts—they're serious skill-building programs.

The results speak volumes. Graduates like Esther Nwanagu and Zainab Owolabi aren't just learning—they're building. They're launching projects, joining blockchain teams, and mentoring others. Each success story creates a ripple effect. And this inspires more women to take the leap.

Binance also spotlights its "Binance Angels." These are real women in the community sharing their crypto journeys. No corporate speak, just honest stories about finding their way in. It makes the whole space feel less like a boys' club and more like somewhere you could actually belong.

The company backs this up with cold, hard cash. Binance Charity pledged $2 million in 2022 for Web3 scholarships. That money funded over 36,000 women across countries from Brazil to Nigeria. For International Women's Day 2025, it organized events in 11 cities. Not just panel discussions—actual workshops where women learned practical skills from female Web3 leaders.