{"id":"opal-graham","title":"Opal Graham","content":"**Opal Graham** is a [Blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) Security Engineer at [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) and a former mathematics professor. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-T51wqZQrm6YPfb7O) She holds a PhD in Mathematics with a specialization in projective and hyperbolic geometry, and she applies her academic background in formal logic to the field of [smart contract](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract) security. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-Z6Qk2ypWkk5jwWIW) [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-T51wqZQrm6YPfb7O)​\n\n## Education\n\nOpal Graham earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Pure Mathematics from Florida State University, completing the program between 2014 and 2020. She previously completed a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics at the University of North Florida from 2012 to 2014.  [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-Z6Qk2ypWkk5jwWIW) \n\n## Career\n\nGraham's professional life consists of two distinct phases: a career in academic mathematics followed by a transition into the blockchain technology industry. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-Z6Qk2ypWkk5jwWIW) [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-iK4gLkmjsbxD1Tq3)​\n\n### Academia\n\nPrior to her work in [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) security, Graham was an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of North Georgia (UNG). \n\nDuring her time in academia, Graham's teaching responsibilities covered a range of undergraduate mathematics courses. In the Fall 2021 semester, she taught:\n\n* **Calculus I:** A foundational course for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, covering limits, derivatives, and integrals.\n* **Introduction to Mathematical Proof:** A course designed to develop students' abilities in logical reasoning and the construction of rigorous mathematical arguments.\n* **Math Models:** An applied mathematics course where students learn to build and analyze mathematical models of real-world phenomena.. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-iK4gLkmjsbxD1Tq3)\n\n### Transition to Blockchain Security\n\nGraham transitioned from her professorial role in academia to a new career path in blockchain security sometime after the Fall 2021 academic semester. This move represented a shift from theoretical mathematics to the applied technological field of [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3). The motivation for this career change was her interest in applying her deep background in formal logic to the practical challenge of making [smart contracts](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract) more secure. [Smart contracts](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract), which are self-executing programs on a [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain), depend on precise logical operations, making them a suitable domain for the application of formal methods and rigorous logical analysis to identify potential vulnerabilities.\n\nAs of early 2026, Graham is a [Blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) Security Engineer at [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase). In this role, her work focuses on analyzing and strengthening the security of [smart contracts](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract) and [decentralized applications](https://iq.wiki/wiki/decentralized-application). She utilizes her expertise in logic to audit code, identify potential flaws, and contribute to the overall security and reliability of [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain)-based systems. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-Z6Qk2ypWkk5jwWIW) [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-T51wqZQrm6YPfb7O) [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-iK4gLkmjsbxD1Tq3) ","summary":"Opal Graham is a Blockchain Security Engineer at Coinbase. She holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics and was formerly a mathematics professor. Graham now applies her background in logic to enhance the security of smart contracts.","images":[{"id":"QmSPU97rFifSPncdGJb25Wv6khKqfKjX46BiUuN6qZao9C","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"people"}],"tags":[{"id":"PeopleInDeFi"},{"id":"Developers"},{"id":"Speakers"},{"id":"Ethereum"}],"media":[],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"T51wqZQrm6YPfb7O\",\"description\":\"ETHDenver 2026 Speaker Profile for Opal Graham\",\"timestamp\":1769261729017,\"url\":\"https://ethdenver.com/speakers/opal-graham/\"},{\"id\":\"Z6Qk2ypWkk5jwWIW\",\"description\":\"LinkedIn: Opal Graham\",\"timestamp\":1769261716635,\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/opal-graham/\"},{\"id\":\"iK4gLkmjsbxD1Tq3\",\"description\":\"Opal Graham's Academic Website at  University of North Georgia (UNG)\",\"timestamp\":1769261802036,\"url\":\"https://mathograham.github.io/\"}]"},{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/opal-graham/"},{"id":"website","value":"https://mathograham.github.io/"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/OP_0xG"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"\"Added wiki page for Opal Graham\""}],"events":[{"id":"be2c5ad0-9af6-4ae3-8460-5ac988a9acc4","date":null,"title":"Earned Ph.D. in Mathematics","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Mathematics with a concentration in projective and hyperbolic geometry.","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"continent":null,"country":null,"action":"CREATE"},{"id":"2d54f672-bad1-4d1d-86d3-a9e7e7b62dab","date":"2021-09","title":"Assistant Professor of Mathematics","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Served as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of North Georgia, teaching courses during the Fall 2021 semester.","link":"https://mathograham.github.io/","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"continent":null,"country":null,"action":"CREATE"},{"id":"347c9cd3-4c60-41d2-a356-da8f4cf2559e","date":"2022-01","title":"Career Transition to Blockchain Security","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Transitioned from a career in academia to a professional role in blockchain security, focusing on applying logic to secure smart contracts.","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"continent":null,"country":null,"action":"CREATE"},{"id":"a8d57f1a-c3b9-45ff-a8ac-aa77e6beb38d","date":"2026-01","title":"Speaker at ETHDenver","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Presented as a speaker at an ETHDenver event, sharing expertise on topics within the Ethereum ecosystem.","link":"https://ethdenver.com/speakers/opal-graham/","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"continent":null,"country":null,"action":"CREATE"}],"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"operator":{"id":"0x4a2bC97afBF41a2Cbf4b4628F63420682Ff4CF2a"},"language":"en","version":1,"linkedWikis":{"blockchains":[],"founders":[],"speakers":[]}}