Crypto Has a Bro Problem. It’s Time We Talked About It.

Crypto has come a long way. Institutional adoption is accelerating. Regulatory frameworks are taking shape. Major players in traditional finance, from BlackRock to Fidelity, are planting their flags in Bitcoin. But as the industry matures, the culture behind it is being dragged along for the ride, and too much of that culture is still stuck in the past.

Over the last few months, I’ve attended numerous conferences and gatherings. I spoke at Bitcoin 2025, Mining Disrupt, Bitcoin Day, and more. They were all great experiences. I got a tremendous amount of positive feedback, but, on some level, I was still a little bit disappointed. One of the main reasons I embraced crypto was to further my mission of bringing more women into the space. So that they, too, can access the kind of financial freedom I discovered through digital currencies. Unfortunately, the culture that surrounds crypto still too often defaults to the worst kind of exclusionary behavior.

Too many conferences remain echo chambers for the same loud male voices, where “bullish energy” often becomes shorthand for testosterone-fueled showboating. While the technology is maturing, the culture surrounding it still too often feels like it’s still in its adolescence.

As recently as Token2049 in Dubai, The Wall Street Journal reported that the event was less about strategy and more like a hype circus.

“For some crypto fans, the glitz and glamor were the point… There were champagne parades, luxury cars on display, and a raffle for a date with an adult-film actress.” (WSJ, May 2025)

It might’ve been sold as fun, but it closed the door on anyone not comfortable with that hyper-masculine, frat–party culture. That doesn’t just look immature, it signals that crypto culture still thinks it can act like an edgy college campus, not a serious financial space.

The message is also loud and clear to every woman who walks into a crypto event and sees women in Hooters-style outfits (tight shirts, short skirts, their bodies on display) but no one who looks like her on the panels, no one inviting her perspective, no sign she was ever meant to belong.

Amanda Wick, founder of the Association for Women in Crypto, emphasizes that while the industry is maturing, toxic cultures still persist, potentially hindering progress and innovation. Notably, a significant 82% of women in the crypto sector report experiencing harassment, underscoring the urgent need for cultural reform. This entrenched “bro culture” not only alienates women but also poses a risk to the industry’s growth and reputation, highlighting the necessity for a more inclusive and respectful environment.

It’s not just about being inclusive for inclusivity’s sake. It’s about survival. If crypto is going to scale alongside traditional financial and global institutions, it needs to shed the clubhouse mentality. Because the next wave of capital, customers, and credibility won’t tolerate it.

And make no mistake, what’s at stake here isn’t just optics or tone. The crypto industry is entering a new era of global relevance. This month alone, several major pro-crypto bills cleared hurdles in Washington to become laws, signaling growing federal support for regulatory clarity and digital asset innovation. Conversations are already underway about the U.S. government adopting a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Central banks are watching. Wall Street is watching.

The next evolution of Bitcoin may not be shaped by memes or influencers, but by legislation, policy, and geopolitical strategy. If the culture surrounding crypto continues to alienate half the population, we don’t just risk bad PR, we risk undermining the trust and credibility that mainstream adoption requires. This moment demands more than tech or capital. It demands inclusivity, maturity, and a broader vision for who belongs in the future of finance.

If we want Bitcoin to be treated as serious financial infrastructure, we need to stop acting like it’s still a hobby for tech bros. That culture turns off institutions, policymakers, and regular people alike. As Arthur Hayes said in Cointelegraph, “It’s hard to imagine any ‘properly elected’ politician openly announcing that the government plans to print money to buy Bitcoin especially when the popular narrative is a bunch of Bitcoin bros going to the club.”

At BitFord, we’re focused on building that future, where women are welcomed not as afterthoughts but as investors, leaders, founders, and pioneers. Where no one has to “earn” their place in a space that’s supposed to be decentralized and open by design.

Crypto doesn’t get to claim it’s a revolution while perpetuating the same old power dynamics. If we want a better financial system, we need a better culture. One that isn’t afraid to evolve. One that includes everyone.

So to my peers, the conference organizers, and the funders shaping the space: let’s stop mistaking immaturity for edge. Let’s build something that lives up to the potential we all say we believe in.