What are cryptocurrency angels and what is their ecosystem role?

Cryptocurrency angels, similar to angel investors in traditional finance, are individuals who provide early-stage funding to cryptocurrency startups and projects. They typically offer capital in exchange for equity or tokens in the project.

These angels are often experienced in the crypto and blockchain space and can provide valuable advice, mentorship and industry connections to the startups they invest in. Their support helps new projects develop, scale and navigate the complex and rapidly evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

How do you become a cryptocurrency angel? 

To become a cryptocurrency angel, one must first gain extensive knowledge and expertise in blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency market. This involves staying updated on the latest trends in the crypto space, in addition to networking within the industry by attending conferences and meetups and engaging in online forums.

Building sufficient capital is also crucial. Cryptocurrency angels typically build their wealth through a combination of successful entrepreneurial ventures, early investments in cryptocurrencies and strategic diversification in traditional assets such as stocks and real estate. Many come from high-paying careers in the tech industry, accumulating wealth through salaries, stock options and bonuses. They may also participate in initial coin offerings (ICOs) and token sales during the early stages of a cryptocurrency boom, often to yield substantial returns.

Cryptocurrency angels and their ecosystem role

Cryptocurrency angels provide early-stage funding to nascent blockchain startups, enabling these young companies to develop their technology and bring products to market.

Beyond financial support, they offer mentorship, strategic guidance and valuable industry insights to help founders navigate the crypto landscape. Their extensive networks facilitate connections with other investors, partners and experts to enhance the startups' chances of success.

Additionally, their investments lend credibility and validation to projects. This can potentially attract further interest and capital. By identifying and mitigating risks early on and providing liquidity through token sales and ICOs, cryptocurrency angels support the financial stability and growth of the industry. Through these contributions, they foster innovation and drive the maturation of the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors.


Disclaimer: This article was produced with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3.5/4 and reviewed and edited by our editorial team.

© 2024 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

About Author

MK Manoylov has been a reporter for The Block since 2020 — joining just before bitcoin surpassed $20,000 for the first time. Since then, MK has written nearly 1,000 articles for the publication, covering any and all crypto news but with a penchant toward NFT, metaverse, web3 gaming, funding, crime, hack and crypto ecosystem stories. MK holds a graduate degree from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program (SHERP) and has also covered health topics for WebMD and Insider. You can follow MK on X @MManoylov and on LinkedIn.