March 13, 2025
My professional journey has been anything but conventional.
When people ask me how I went from being an actuary to working in the cryptocurrency space, I often smile—the path makes perfect sense to me, even if it appears circuitous to others.
My Professional Evolution
My journey began in the world of numbers.
After studying business with a focus on actuarial science, I started my professional life as an actuary—essentially a mathematician and statistician focused on risk assessment.
While the technical aspects of the work fascinated me, I soon found myself drawn to broader business challenges.
The Consulting Chapter
This curiosity led me to strategy consulting at McKinsey, where I had the privilege of advising Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups, primarily in the health tech and health insurance sectors.
The consulting world expanded my horizons beyond pure analytics into strategic business thinking and organizational transformation.
Each project offered a new challenge, a different industry perspective, and invaluable lessons in dissecting complex business problems.
Entering Crypto
I moved from McKinsey to Kraken, where I now work in corporate development. My focus is on mergers and acquisitions in the crypto space.
This transition came from my desire to use my strategic expertise in an industry pushing the boundaries of financial innovation.
At Kraken, I analyze businesses to understand how they function within the broader crypto ecosystem and identify opportunities that could enhance our product offerings.
Why Cryptocurrency Matters
Many people ask why I chose to focus on cryptocurrency.
The answer is simple: I believe we’re witnessing the early stages of a financial revolution.
While there’s certainly noise in the industry—meme coins, speculative projects with little value, and yes, opportunities for gambling—beyond all that noise lies revolutionary blockchain technology with profound global applications.
The Power of Blockchain Technology
Blockchain technology enables unprecedented transparency, efficiency, and democratization of financial services.
Cross-border transactions that once took days and incurred substantial fees can now happen almost instantly at a fraction of the cost.
People living in regions experiencing hyperinflation can access relatively stable digital assets, providing a crucial hedge against local currency devaluation.
Decentralization and Digital Transformation
The concept of decentralization is particularly powerful. As our world becomes increasingly digital, blockchain offers a path toward individual empowerment.
Paper money is already becoming obsolete – most transactions happen digitally through credit cards and banking apps.
Blockchain simply provides a more efficient, transparent, and secure infrastructure for these exchanges while generating valuable data about how money flows through the economy.
The Future of Adoption
I believe we’re just scratching the surface of mainstream adoption. The technology is still young, and we’re in the early stages of discovering its full potential.
While speculative investment dominates headlines today, blockchain’s fundamental applications are gradually taking root across various sectors.
One misconception I frequently encounter concerns accessibility, particularly in developing nations. Many assume cryptocurrency adoption requires sophisticated financial infrastructure like traditional banking.
The reality is quite the opposite – regions with less developed banking systems are often leapfrogging directly to crypto-based solutions.
Throughout the developing world, people with internet access but no traditional banking services can now participate in the global digital economy through cryptocurrency.
In countries experiencing hyperinflation, citizens, and sometimes even governments, are turning to Bitcoin and other digital assets as stability mechanisms.
The Journey Ahead
There will inevitably be winners and losers as the industry evolves. The key to positioning yourself advantageously is education.
Understanding blockchain technology, its applications, and the problems it solves gives you a tremendous advantage in navigating this space.
In my role at Kraken, I’m constantly analyzing opportunities for geographic expansion and product enhancement.
I believe in focusing on substantive projects that deliver real value rather than chasing short-term trends.
The companies that survive and thrive will be those building genuine solutions to real-world problems.
Balanced Perspective on Cryptocurrency
While I remain enthusiastic about cryptocurrency’s potential, I maintain a balanced perspective. Not every blockchain project will succeed, and there will be volatility along the way.
However, the core technology and its capacity to transform financial services are undeniable.
As we move further into this digital age, blockchain will increasingly become an essential part of our global financial infrastructure.
Conclusion
Looking back at my journey from actuary to crypto professional, the common thread has been my fascination with systems, risk, and transformation.
At each stage, I’ve sought to understand how things work fundamentally and how they might improve.
In cryptocurrency, I’ve found the perfect intersection of technological innovation, financial evolution, and global impact – a space where my analytical background and strategic thinking can contribute to building tomorrow’s financial systems.