TIMELINE

WE ARE CRYPTO captures the journey and footprint of Black, Latino, Indigenous, AAPI pioneers in blockchain and cryptocurrency since 2009. They lead national crypto adoption. WE do not just buy and trade cryptocurrencies. WE have a large footprint across DeFi and Web3. WE are creators, innovators, builders. WE are developing products and services that consumers, institutions want and need. 

Despite the preoccupation of Washington policymakers, industry executives, media outlets with crypto-bros…we are crypto!

(Small sampling compiled by Cleve Mesidor)

2008:

(Bitcoin white paper is released in October)

2009:

(First Bitcoin is mined in January)

• Bitcoin ‘original’ Ernest Mbenkum, founder of Interstellar, was an early bitcoiner in 2009. He is also credited for helping to start the Bitcoin and blockchain movement in Canada with Vitalik Buterin, Peter Todd, Anthony and Di’Iorio when they came together in a downtown pub in Toronto on 11/2/12 to create Ethereum. 

2011:

(Bitcoin surpasses value of one U.S. dollar for the first time in February)

2012:

• Sinclair Skinner launches 1911 United Political Action Committee, which will later become the first super-PAC in the United States to accept bitcoin contributions in 2014.

2013:

• Cleve Mesidor first learns about bitcoin while serving as Political Appointee in Obama Administration.

• The late Nipsey Hussle, who started investing in Bitcoin. In an XXL Magazine interview, he remarked that he brought crypto to the hip-hop consciousness. “If you can understand supply and demand, if you can understand throwing out free music and monetizing via the tour, you can understand cryptocurrency.”

2014:

• Sacramento Kings is first pro sports franchise to accept bitcoin for tickets and merchandise.

• Detroit native Arthur Hayes is CEO and Co-founder of BitMEX.

2015:

• Movie Dope, directed by Rick Famuyiwa, is released in theaters and accepts Bitcoin for ticket purchases. Producers and executive producers of the film include Forest Whitaker, Pharrell Williams.

• Wu-Tang auctioned off only physical copy of their seventh studio album, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,” which later becomes an NFT.

• Sinclair Skinner and Christopher Mapondera launch BillMari, a bitcoin startup to foster economic growth in Zimbabwe.

2016:

(Second Bitcoin halving takes place in July)

2017:

(Bitcoin hits nearly $20K for the first time in December)

• Georgetown Law Professor Chris Brummer hosts inaugural Washington DC Fintech Week.

• Dr. Ali Emdad, Associate Dean at Morgan State University's Graves School of Business, creates the Center for the Study of Blockchain and Financial Technology.

• Gentlemen of Crypto podcast airs.

• Deidra McIntyre creates Black People & Cryptocurrency Facebook group.

• Developer Tavonia Evans creates a cryptocurrency, Guapcoin.

• Lindsay Nuon launches Women of Color in Blockchain group.

2018:

• Soulja Boy released his hit song, “Bitcoin.”

• Rapper Akon launches Akion and announces plans to create a crypto city in Senegal.

• Elena Giralt launches Blockchain Latinx.

• Inaugural Black Blockchain Summit at Howard University hosted by Sinclair Skinner and John Wainaina Karanja.

• Actor Erika Alexander is using blockchain to make journalism more inclusive through her company, Color Farm Media.

• Lamar Wilson launches Wacionda, a Black Facebook group that is centered around cryptocurrency and financial education.

2019:

• Lil Nas X‘s song, “Old Town Road,” was spoofed by YouTuber Lil Bubble whose version was a parody about the financial highs and lows of crypto hodlers. 

• Isaiah Jackson publishes his signature book, Bitcoin & Black America.

• Cleve Mesidor organizes inaugural Congressional Briefing of Women of Color in Blockchain on Capitol Hill.

• Basketball player Spencer Dinwiddie creates blockchain-powered DREAM Fan Shares platform to launch his token through SD8 LLC.

2020:

• PopCom CEO Dawn Dickson delivers testimony before the U.S. House Small Business Committee blockchain Hearing: “Building Blocks of Change: The Benefits of Blockchain Technology for Small Businesses.”

• Bahamas becomes first nation in the world to launch a central bank digital currency.

• Lamar Wilson and Isaiah Jackson hosts the largest Bitcoin club on Clubhouse, creating Black Bitcoin Billionaires network.

2021:

• Micah Johnson sold a whopping $1.4 million worth of his AKU NFT in just one minute by mobilizing the Black crypto community.

• Lady PheOnix collaborates with Christie’s Auction House on first-ever NFT sale of its kind.

• EMTECH CEO Carmelle Cadet delivers testimony before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee Hearing: "Digitizing the Dollar - Investigating the Technological Infrastructure, Privacy, and Financial Inclusion Implications of Central Bank Digital Currencies."

• Actor Hill Harper and Najah Roberts launch Black Wall Street App and Digital Wallet.

• The Central Bank of Nigeria launched the eNaira, the second CBDC fully open to the public after the Bahamas.

2022:

• Cleve Mesidor organized virtual briefing with U.S. Senator Cory Booker and Black and Latino crypto industry leaders.

• Commodity Futures Trading Commission Commissioner Kristin Johnson convenes the first of two Roundtables with Black crypto leaders focused on digital asset policy, innovation, legislation and regulation. 

• Cleve Mesidor member of Women In Web3 Delegation in Abu Dhabi hosted by ADGM.

• IndigiDAO is launched by New Mexico Community Capital. 

• Web3 Familia is launched by founder Orlando Gomez.

• Hola Metaverso is launched. 

2023:

• Cleve Mesidor and Tiffany Smith co-hosts inaugural Blockchain Braintrust Retreat on Martha’s Vineyard.

2024:

(Bitcoin hits $100K for the first time on Dec 4)

• Cleve Mesidor launches butterscotch Media, the only media outlet exclusively covering news about inclusion in Web3, DeFi, crypto. 

2025:

(GENIUS stablecoin bill signed into law)

• Inaugural Crypto Ball during inauguration of President Donald Trump.

2026:

• Cleve Mesidor speaker during Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos as part of the Global Blockchain Business Council's Blockchain Central.