Cryptocurrency and Web3 have long been seen as intimidating, complex and even exclusionary. It’s no surprise—finance and tech have traditionally been white male-dominated spaces and digital assets add yet another layer of social, political and economic complexity. But let’s be clear: this next wave of financial innovation is too important for Black women to ignore.
President Trump, seeking to make good on his campaign promise to make the United States the “crypto capital of the world“, has wasted no time dismantling protections for diversity, inclusion, equity and access. In just a few short weeks, he has appointed a MAGA-forward cabinet dedicated to implementing the Project 2025 playbook—a comprehensive conservative blueprint designed to reshape the federal government’s approach to social and economic policy.
At the same time, he has moved aggressively to fulfill his campaign promises to the crypto industry, which contributed millions to secure a pro-crypto presidency. Regulatory bodies have quickly pivoted to a more favorable stance toward crypto, abandoning the enforcement-heavy approach of the previous administration. But make no mistake: this shift reflects political loyalty, not just market strategy.
However, the public-facing figures leading this chapter of crypto’s history do not look like the diverse communities that stand to benefit the most. Crypto has often been portrayed as the playground of wealthy white men, but studies show that Black investors and builders in the United States and across the diaspora over-index in crypto usage and adoption. This means that Black communities are already engaging with crypto at higher rates, positioning us not just as participants—but as potential leaders in this new financial era.
Still not convinced this is for you? I get it. When I first started learning about crypto, I had doubts. I worried about security, questioned its legitimacy, and wondered whether it was just a fad. However, the more I learned, the more I realized something critical; this isn’t just about technology. It’s about economic opportunity, financial empowerment, and empowering Black women to bypass traditional gatekeepers and build financial systems that work for us. This isn’t about asking for a seat at the table, it’s about creating an entirely new table where ownership equals opportunity. In the Web3 economy, no one can block your access to decentralized financial technologies. But what you don’t know can harm you. And fear—of either getting in or missing out—is not the energy of wealth creation. Knowledge is power, and financial sovereignty starts with understanding how to navigate this new digital landscape.
The Wealth Gap and the Limits of Traditional Finance
The gender wealth gap is real, and it’s even more severe for Black women. Black women face systemic barriers to wealth accumulation—lower wages, limited access to venture capital, and financial systems that have historically overlooked or excluded us. The traditional banking system, with its reliance on credit scores, high fees and exclusionary practices, has done little to close these gaps.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women still earn, on average, 83 cents for every dollar a man makes. But Black women earn only 64 cents for every dollar a white man makes. This wage gap compounds over time, affecting retirement savings, homeownership, and generational wealth. Black women are also less likely to receive business loans or venture capital funding, which limits opportunities to build wealth through entrepreneurship.
The legacy of Black Wall Street serves as both an inspiration and a cautionary tale. The economic success of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, demonstrated the power of collective wealth-building and cooperative economics. Still, the violent destruction of Black Wall Street in 1921 also exposed the vulnerability of centralized, geographically concentrated wealth. Web3 offers a new way to create resilient, decentralized wealth that can’t be easily destroyed.
Why Crypto, DeFi, and Web3 Matter for Black Women
Enter crypto, decentralized finance (DeFi), and Web3. These technologies offer new ways to participate in financial systems without the traditional gatekeepers that have long excluded Black women. With crypto, you don’t need a bank’s approval to move money. You don’t need perfect credit to access financial tools. You can send remittances, save in a currency that isn’t losing value due to inflation, and participate in a global economy—all from your phone.
More importantly, Web3 introduces a new paradigm where individuals have more control over their own financial futures. It’s not just about buying Bitcoin or Ethereum; it’s about leveraging blockchain technology to access opportunities that were previously out of reach. Whether it’s earning through decentralized work platforms, gaining ownership through tokenized assets, or using smart contracts to protect wealth, the possibilities are expanding.
For Black women, this is can be a direct path to financial sovereignty in the new economy. Web3 enables cooperative economics (Ujamaa), where communities can pool resources through decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), vote on financial decisions and collectively share in the benefits. It’s also a space for self-determination (Kujichagulia), where Black women can create financial systems that work for them without depending on traditional institutions.
Beyond Investing: The Real-World Uses of Crypto
Too often, the conversation around crypto is limited to speculative investing, and that’s where the misconceptions begin. While investment is one aspect, it’s far from the whole story.
Here are some ways crypto and blockchain technology are being used beyond trading:
- Remittances: Sending money across borders is faster and cheaper with crypto than through traditional remittance services, which often charge exorbitant fees.
- Identity Protection: Decentralized identity solutions give individuals more control over their data, reducing the risks of hacking and identity theft.
- Philanthropy and Social Impact: Blockchain enables direct donations to causes without intermediaries taking a cut. Crypto donations to relief efforts, human rights organizations and educational initiatives are increasing.
- Financial Inclusion: For the 1.7 billion unbanked people worldwide, crypto offers a way to store and transfer value without requiring a bank account.
- Collective Wealth-Building: DAOs and tokenized investments allow communities to pool resources, invest in high-value assets, and share profits. This is a modern, decentralized version of the cooperative economics that defined Black Wall Street.
Black Women Need a Stake in This Future
The message is clear: Black women cannot afford to sit this one out. Historically, we’ve been told to play it safe with our money—save, budget and let the men handle the investments. But playing it safe has often meant missing out on the biggest wealth-building opportunities.
Web3 is still in its early stages, and this is the moment to get informed and get involved. Participation in crypto and Web3 isn’t just about personal financial gain; it’s about shaping the future of finance in a way that reflects our values. Black women entrepreneurs, lawyers, policymakers, and investors have an opportunity to build a financial ecosystem that prioritizes equity, access, and security.
Taking the First Step
So how do you start? Education is key. The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel stepping into this space.
If you’re new to crypto and Web3, here are five ways to begin:
- Get the Right Resources – Start with accessible and easy-to-follow learning options. Listen to the Confidently Crypto segment on the Financially Speaking podcast on the Women’s Empowerment Network. Explore beginner-friendly books and search YouTube for trusted videos on crypto basics (aka YouTube University). The goal is to find resources that explain concepts clearly and make you feel empowered, not overwhelmed.
- Join a Community – Look for a community that provides educational resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for Black women at all levels of their learning journey. A good community should foster open discussions, offer workshops or webinars, and provide access to experts who can help navigate the evolving crypto space. Most importantly, it should be a space where newcomers feel welcomed and supported while seasoned professionals find opportunities to contribute and grow.
- Start Small – You don’t have to invest thousands. Begin by setting up a digital wallet, learning how transactions work and exploring the various applications of blockchain beyond currency.
- Focus on why crypto exists, not how it works – Understanding the bigger picture—why decentralized systems matter, how they challenge traditional financial structures, and what opportunities they create—is more important than grasping the technical details.
- Challenge assumptions and focus on fact, not fiction – All the fear, uncertainty, and doubt about crypto assets? We heard the same about the Internet, credit cards, ATMs, e-commerce and online banking. All of them have their issues, but they were all new technologies that scammers exploited when people were uninformed and vulnerable. Your power is in your knowledge.
The future of finance is unfolding before us, and it’s one we can actively shape. Whether you want to invest, build, or simply learn, there’s space for you in Web3.
Knowledge is power, and action builds wealth. Let’s not just watch this transformation happen—let’s lead it.
