{"id":"ivan-soto-wright","title":"Ivan Soto-Wright","content":"**Ivan Soto-Wright** is a financial technology entrepreneur and investor, best known as the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of [MoonPay](https://iq.wiki/wiki/moonpay), a company that develops payment infrastructure for cryptocurrency. He is also a member of the Milken Institute Fintech Advisory Council and serves on the board of directors for the Chopra [Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/foundation). [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-FOFxlwDlxL)\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=B2acTMpfdis)$$\n\n# Education\n\nSoto-Wright attended The George Washington University, where he graduated with Special Honors in Economics and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He also studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Oxford. [\\[10\\]](#cite-id-MlyIrthaLN)\n\n# Career\n\nSoto-Wright began his career at Redington, an investment advisory firm based in London. In this role, he advised major pension funds and insurance companies on strategic asset allocation and portfolio construction. Before his work in the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) sector, he co-founded and served as CEO of Saveable, a smart money application designed to help users in the United Kingdom and Europe automate savings and investments. Plum Fintech later acquired Saveable. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-FOFxlwDlxL)\n\nAs co-founder and CEO of [MoonPay](https://iq.wiki/wiki/moonpay), Soto-Wright leads the company's efforts to build financial technology infrastructure for the [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) ecosystem. Under his leadership, [MoonPay](https://iq.wiki/wiki/moonpay) was named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 list in 2022. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-FOFxlwDlxL) [\\[10\\]](#cite-id-MlyIrthaLN)\n\n# Interviews\n\n## Payment Revolution\n\nIn a fireside chat held at Proof of Talk Paris in June 2025, Soto-Wright and [Farokh Sarmad](https://iq.wiki/wiki/farokh-sarmad) discussed the evolution of [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) payments and his personal journey into the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) space. During the conversation, Soto-Wright reflected on how his initial exposure to [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) in college ignited his interest in \"internet money\" and how this led him to launch [MoonPay](https://iq.wiki/wiki/moonpay) in 2019, aiming to simplify the on-ramping process for users entering the [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) economy. He highlighted the company's growth to 30 million customers. He elaborated on strategic acquisitions, such as Helio and Iron, which aimed to enhance the user experience and integrate [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) transactions into everyday life. Soto-Wright also emphasized the importance of partnerships, particularly with Mastercard, in pushing [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) adoption forward and shared insights on the regulatory landscape, notable regulatory achievements, and the potential future of [decentralized finance (DeFi)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) versus [centralized finance (CeFi)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cefi-centralized-finance). He concluded with thoughts on the transformative role of AI in optimizing financial products and services within the [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) sector. [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-LVuQUR5lTi)\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=BHyZdw_SF9U)$$\n\n## Past, Present, & Future\n\nIn an April 2024 episode of the Digital Social Hour podcast, Soto-Wright discussed the evolution of [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) alongside [Sean Kelly](https://iq.wiki/wiki/sean-kelly), touching on both the historical context and future potential of the digital currency landscape. Soto-Wright reflected on how he recognized a significant gap in the industry regarding user experience with [crypto wallets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency-wallet), which eventually led to the creation of [MoonPay](https://iq.wiki/wiki/moonpay), aiming to simplify the process of buying [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) directly within wallets. He emphasized the growing adoption of crypto, particularly with the rise of [stablecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) and the increasing acceptance of [cryptocurrencies](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) by merchants, while also cautioning about security risks associated with wallets. The conversation underscored the significance of education and regulation in fostering a safer and more accessible [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) environment, as Soto-Wright shared his views on the potential for [cryptocurrencies](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) to compete with traditional [fiat](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fiat-money) currencies ultimately. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-cuwhAO8p7S)\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=cvDlYaIqDQ4)$$\n\n## MoonPay’s Role in Onboarding\n\nIn a fireside chat with Ophelia Brown at [NFT Paris](https://iq.wiki/wiki/nft-paris) in March 2023, Soto-Wright provided an overview of [MoonPay](https://iq.wiki/wiki/moonpay), which had undergone significant evolution since its inception as a payments company, particularly following its $500 million Series A round in 2021. He reflected on the challenges faced during the bear market of 2018-2019, including difficulties in securing funding despite having revenue-generating clients. Soto-Wright discussed the growing interest in [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) and [NFTs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/non-fungible-token-nft), noting that [MoonPay](https://iq.wiki/wiki/moonpay) aimed to simplify the [NFT](https://iq.wiki/wiki/non-fungible-token-nft) purchasing process by allowing users to buy [NFTs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/non-fungible-token-nft) directly with debit or credit cards, eliminating the need for prior [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) transactions. He highlighted the firm's recent shift towards becoming a [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) infrastructure business, emphasizing partnerships with major brands like Nike and Dolce & Gabbana that utilize [NFTs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/non-fungible-token-nft) to engage their communities. Additionally, he announced that MoonPay had attracted significant talent, including former executives from Time magazine and [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase), to help further its mission. Throughout his presentation, he stressed the importance of user experience and community engagement in driving future growth and adoption of [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) technologies. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-fbV8pg55r8)\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=IW6QBE02Y10)$$\n\n# Panels\n\n## Crypto Resurrection\n\nIn a panel discussion at the FII Priority Summit in February 2025, featuring David Faber (CNBC), Zoe Cruz (Menai Financial), Soto-Wright, and Cathie Wood (ARK Invest), the conversation centered on the potential resurgence of [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) and its implications for the financial system. Cruz shared her transformation from skepticism to advocacy for [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) technology, highlighting its ability to revolutionize value exchange. Soto-Wright emphasized [stablecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) as a significant development with the capability to facilitate access to financial services for those without traditional banking. Wood outlined the three revolutionary aspects of [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency): the monetary evolution through [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin), the emergence of [decentralized finance (DeFi)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi), and the importance of digital property rights through [non-fungible tokens (NFTs)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/non-fungible-token-nft). The panelists noted the significant transaction volumes in [stablecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin), especially in regions lacking access to US dollars, and discussed the potential for [crypto wallets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency-wallet) to replace bank accounts. They acknowledged the need for a supportive regulatory environment to foster innovation while debating the implications of institutional adoption and criticisms from skeptics within the financial community.  [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-qZ41MNkF8P)\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=erNtDVNYLcI)$$\n\n## Web3 & Cybersecurity\n\nAt the D50X Summit in November 2022, Riley de Leon facilitated a discussion on the intersection of [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) and cybersecurity featuring Jay Parikh, co-CEO of Lacework, and Soto-Wright. The panel addressed the evolving definition of [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) as a decentralized internet that prioritizes user ownership of data, contrasting it with previous iterations of the web. Soto-Wright emphasized that while [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) offers users ownership and control, the usability and security of this new technology remain significant challenges. Parikh highlighted concerns regarding cybersecurity risks, particularly the sophisticated illicit activities associated with [cryptocurrencies](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency), and urged industry stakeholders to address these vulnerabilities proactively. Both panelists acknowledged the need for education and regulation to protect users, noting that while malicious actors persist and adapt, the responsibility for safeguarding data is shifting towards individual users and businesses. The conversation culminated in a consensus on the importance of ongoing improvement and vigilance in the face of evolving cyber threats. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-ZxpTHKzxvE)\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=67WzLMuAz6Y)$$","summary":"Ivan Soto-Wright is a financial technology entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of MoonPay, a company that builds payments infrastructure for cryptocurrency. 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