{"id":"mara-schmiedt","title":"Mara Schmiedt","content":"**Mara Schmiedt** is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Alluvial, a company focused on enterprise and institutional [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking) solutions through its flagship initiative, [Liquid Collective](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-collective). She is a [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) executive recognized for her work in [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) solutions and [decentralized finance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi).  [[1]](#cite-id-2R79aGL6oO) [[2]](#cite-id-EZMGajptqU) [[5]](#cite-id-8yGOaOTrYV)\n\n# **Education**\n\nSchmiedt earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), graduating with First Class Honours. She has obtained additional professional certifications, including the Business and Financial Modeling Specialization from The Wharton School and PwC’s Data-driven Decision-Making course.  [[1]](#cite-id-2R79aGL6oO) [[10]](#cite-id-mrjQYcpIEn)\n\n# **Career**\n\nSchmiedt started her professional career in financial consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). She later worked as a Summer Analyst at Endeavor, focusing on entrepreneurship ecosystems, and briefly interned at JPMorgan Chase & Co. These early experiences in finance and strategic consulting contributed to her later work in [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) infrastructure.\n\nIn 2018, she joined ConsenSys, where she worked as a Venture Architect and Strategy Manager. At ConsenSys, she contributed to the development of Codefi, a [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain)-based application suite for [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) commerce and finance. She co-authored research on [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) and [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking) mechanisms and collaborated with the [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef) on projects related to staking infrastructure and [validator](https://iq.wiki/wiki/validator) coordination.\n\nShe later transitioned to Bison Trails in 2020, a [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) infrastructure provider, where she was responsible for business development initiatives. Following [Coinbase’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) acquisition of Bison Trails in 2021, she became Head of Sales for Coinbase Cloud, where she managed [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) services for institutional clients and worked on blockchain infrastructure solutions.\n\nIn 2022, Schmiedt co-founded Alluvial and became its CEO. Alluvial focuses on developing [Liquid Collective](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-collective), an enterprise-oriented [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking) protocol. Before becoming CEO, she served as the company's Chief Growth Officer, leading strategic initiatives related to partnerships and industry engagement. She is also a board member at Obol Labs, where she supports the development of distributed validator technology (DVT) to improve [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) infrastructure resilience.\n\nSchmiedt has contributed to research on blockchain and staking technologies, including \"The Internet Bond\" and \"Ethereum 2.0 Staking Ecosystem Report\". Her work has explored liquid staking and validator coordination in decentralized networks.\n\nIn 2024, Schmiedt was listed in Forbes’ _30 Under 30 Europe_ in the Finance category for her contributions to [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) infrastructure and finance. Schmiedt is also involved in open-source technology initiatives and angel investing.  [[1]](#cite-id-2R79aGL6oO) [[2]](#cite-id-EZMGajptqU) [[3]](#cite-id-P0lOJ51qeK) [[4]](#cite-id-Je8NqOuG6x) [[6]](#cite-id-TBy3MCRYO3) [[7]](#cite-id-3i85tdvNAt) [[8]](#cite-id-NHQR5gxbNg) [[9]](#cite-id-5trFTLENql)\n\n# Interviews\n\n### **Mara Schmiedt on Staking and Decentralization #01**\n\nOn November 5, 2023, Mara Schmiedt appeared on the \"Korea Blockchain Week\" YouTube channel, where she discussed the evolution of [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking), security risks, and the role of decentralization in the broader adoption of [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) technology.\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](PeF__rwt-sU)$$\n\nDuring the interview, she outlined how [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) has transitioned from a niche activity to a fundamental component of blockchain ecosystems, driven by increasing participation from enterprises and institutions. According to Schmiedt, staking not only enhances network security but also serves as a safeguard against inflation, making it a key element for asset protection.\n\nShe emphasized the importance of risk management, particularly in relation to slashing, and highlighted the need for participants to be well-informed about potential vulnerabilities. [Ethereum’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) decentralized design was also discussed as a critical factor in maintaining network resilience, reducing correlated risks, and reinforcing overall security.\n\nSchmiedt further elaborated on the advantages of [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking), which she described as a mechanism that allows users to participate in staking while retaining liquidity. She noted that this approach simplifies the user experience and makes blockchain participation more accessible. Throughout the discussion, she underscored the significance of collaboration within the blockchain industry, stressing that collective efforts are essential for developing secure and sustainable staking solutions. [[11]](#cite-id-pZU9bx4Vyw)\n\n### **Institutional Staking and Market Dynamics #02**\n\nOn May 17, 2024, Schmiedt was featured on the Epicenter Podcast, where she discussed the impact of spot [Bitcoin ETFs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin-etfs), institutional [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking), and the evolving landscape of [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) staking and decentralization.\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](-vBPc0kYk6w)$$\n\nIn the interview, she examined the influence of spot Bitcoin ETFs on market participation, noting that the significant assets under management indicate strong institutional interest in [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) investments. She highlighted the need for robust security and compliance measures in institutional staking, pointing to initiatives like [Liquid Collective](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-collective) as efforts to address these concerns while fostering participation.\n\nSchmiedt addressed the balance between decentralization and centralization in staking, explaining that while [liquid staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid-staking) enhances flexibility, it may also concentrate control among a few entities. She emphasized the importance of architectural design in ensuring true decentralization.\n\nShe also discussed the risks associated with increased [staking](https://iq.wiki/wiki/staking) participation, noting that while it strengthens network security, it may also impact [Ethereum’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) monetary policy and staking yields. The conversation included insights on multi-operator staking architectures, which can reduce risks linked to centralization while enhancing security.\n\nAccording to Schmiedt, the [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) ecosystem continues to evolve, with new solutions emerging to encourage diverse participation and mitigate centralization trends. She noted that institutional engagement in Ethereum staking is increasing, reflecting broader adoption and the maturation of the ecosystem. [[12]](#cite-id-mTLs8i9L66)","summary":"Mara Schmiedt is a blockchain executive and CEO of Alluvial, known for her work in liquid staking and decentralized finance. She has a strong background in fina...","images":[{"id":"QmWXgTTjfemaBdfb1h6FyHxHBBMTVAruy1NfmZTSnGxUky","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"People in crypto"}],"tags":[{"id":"Founders"}],"media":[{"id":"QmabzdNfyyrrQ9qS3kmNQ5dRgvyicpCsfGCQniYKYL5ZdS","size":null,"name":"Design sem nome (1).png","type":null,"source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"QmdJuF8nZ1uEyWWs6qySPXU4oskk53eh3W76gNL6ewYfYQ","size":null,"name":"mara-schmiedt.jpg","type":null,"source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"QmbRR8p5SQ6oQoqu11ej5e2BmNN1XF9Nr7v7nMf3p8FcjB","size":null,"name":"0x0.webp","type":null,"source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"QmPzLMQLtwn498XmRENB73qUZQFXwDkw9uPRU3YtyHPj9w","size":null,"name":"xlarge.png","type":null,"source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"QmPHb62QAYbMmrrK2munV4at3fFnYb2vtnW7DM58mXDM2J","size":null,"name":"56584365-fe13-4cf6-a77a-be2cff6ddafc_thumb.webp","type":null,"source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeF__rwt-sU","size":null,"name":"PeF__rwt-sU","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vBPc0kYk6w","size":null,"name":"-vBPc0kYk6w","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"}],"metadata":[{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-schmiedt-506862124/"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/MaraSchmiedt"},{"id":"medium_profile","value":"https://medium.com/@mara.schmiedt_48469"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmbGmGbexSgoinJnFTVdPQtPhodkCC2BvF4ETQ1KseXemK"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmbGmGbexSgoinJnFTVdPQtPhodkCC2BvF4ETQ1KseXemK"},{"id":"references","value":"[{\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-schmiedt-506862124/\",\"description\":\"LinkedIn: Mara Schmiedt\",\"id\":\"2R79aGL6oO\",\"timestamp\":1738470925283},{\"url\":\"https://alluvial.finance/team/mara-schmiedt/\",\"description\":\"Alluvial: Mara Schmiedt\",\"id\":\"EZMGajptqU\",\"timestamp\":1738470977220},{\"url\":\"https://alluvial.finance/mara-schmiedt-epicenter-podcast/\",\"description\":\"Mara Schmiedt on the Epicenter Podcast\\n\",\"id\":\"P0lOJ51qeK\",\"timestamp\":1738471008874},{\"url\":\"https://alluvial.finance/fireside-chat-mara-schmiedt-variant/\",\"description\":\"Fireside Chat: Alluvial CEO Mara Schmiedt at Variant LP Day 2023\\n\",\"id\":\"Je8NqOuG6x\",\"timestamp\":1738471022357},{\"url\":\"https://www.forbes.com/profile/mara-schmiedt/\",\"description\":\"PROFILE\\nMara Schmiedt\",\"id\":\"8yGOaOTrYV\",\"timestamp\":1738471054773},{\"url\":\"https://blockworks.co/speaker/mara-schmiedt\",\"description\":\"Alluvial | CEO & Co-Founder\",\"id\":\"TBy3MCRYO3\",\"timestamp\":1738471075086},{\"url\":\"https://www.theblock.co/profile/293291/mara-schmiedt\",\"description\":\"Mara Schmiedt is the CEO of Alluvial.\",\"id\":\"3i85tdvNAt\",\"timestamp\":1738471098625},{\"url\":\"https://www.emergence.xyz/speakers/19698154/\",\"description\":\"Speakers: Mara Schmiedt\",\"id\":\"NHQR5gxbNg\",\"timestamp\":1738471129501},{\"url\":\"https://www.ccn.com/news/mara-schmiedt-unpacks-dencun-upgrade-impact-future-ethereum/\",\"description\":\"Ethereum’s Next Frontier: Mara Schmiedt Unpacks Dencun Upgrade and Its Impact\\n\",\"id\":\"5trFTLENql\",\"timestamp\":1738471162412},{\"url\":\"https://www.finnotes.org/people/mara-schmiedt\",\"description\":\"Finnotes: Mara Schmiedt\",\"id\":\"mrjQYcpIEn\",\"timestamp\":1738471187909},{\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeF__rwt-sU\",\"description\":\"Exclusive Interview with ALLUVIAL CEO Mara Schmiedt\",\"id\":\"pZU9bx4Vyw\",\"timestamp\":1738471584058},{\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vBPc0kYk6w\",\"description\":\"Alluvial: Institutional Liquid Staking and Spot Ethereum ETF - Mara Schmiedt. Ep. 548\",\"id\":\"mTLs8i9L66\",\"timestamp\":1738471841931}]"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmbGmGbexSgoinJnFTVdPQtPhodkCC2BvF4ETQ1KseXemK"},{"id":"commit-message","value":""},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmbGmGbexSgoinJnFTVdPQtPhodkCC2BvF4ETQ1KseXemK"}],"events":[],"user":{"id":"0xd5893989b9952c6568a99F854795AcC5Ae480D56"},"author":{"id":"0xd5893989b9952c6568a99F854795AcC5Ae480D56"},"language":"en","version":1,"linkedWikis":{"blockchains":[],"founders":[],"speakers":[]}}