Jon Matonis is widely recognised as one of the most influential voices in the fields of Bitcoin, blockchain, and digital currency. With decades of senior experience across global finance and technology, he brings a rare blend of practical expertise and visionary insight. As a founding director of the Bitcoin Foundation, Jon has been at the forefront of shaping how digital money is understood and adopted worldwide. His ability to bridge the gap between traditional financial systems and disruptive innovation makes him an exceptional choice for organisations seeking a speaker who can both inspire and educate.
Jon’s career began in the mid-1980s as a derivatives and money market trader, where he managed a $1.5 billion trading book at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. He quickly built a reputation for strategic thinking and risk management before moving into leadership roles, including restructuring interchange fees at Visa International in 1993 and later directing financial services at VeriSign. By the early 2000s, he was appointed Chief Executive at secure communications platform HushMail, followed by senior positions at Cerebra and Lydia Group. These roles laid the groundwork for his shift towards digital currencies, as he recognised the potential for cryptography and decentralised systems to transform global payments.
From 2012 onwards, Jon became a central figure in the emerging digital currency ecosystem. He contributed to Bitcoin Magazine, wrote influential columns for Forbes, American Banker, and PaymentsSource, and joined the editorial board of CoinDesk. In 2016, he co-founded the Bitcoin Foundation, driving forward public understanding of blockchain technology while engaging with central banks, regulators, and international payment networks. More recently, he has taken on high-profile leadership positions as Chief Economist at Sol Strategies Inc., Board Director at NexPay, and Board Director at CommerceBlock, where he oversaw the development of Mercury Wallet. His ongoing work highlights not only a commitment to innovation but also an ability to anticipate shifts in financial technology before they become mainstream.
Jon is frequently invited to speak at conferences, universities, and policy forums, where he distils complex ideas into practical insights for audiences ranging from financial professionals to government regulators. His extensive career across banking, cryptography, and digital assets ensures he speaks with authority, while his pioneering role in the cryptocurrency movement makes him uniquely engaging. Organisations choose Jon as a speaker because he does more than recount history—he motivates audiences to embrace change, think critically about the future of money, and take bold steps in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.
