Profile: crypto millionaire Elizabeth Rossiello

We all know that there are many crypto enthusiasts all over the world, and we have profiled several entrepreneurs in the space before to figure out who they are, why they got into crypto, and what they are up to next. 

While some people might think of crypto as a male-dominated sector, the truth is that there are plenty of women who invest in crypto. Although the stereotype persists in some circles, the gender imbalance of investment teams is rapidly evolving – as it should be – it seems strange in today’s world to talk about finance or business executives in terms of their gender. In fact, a recent report indicates that the number of women involved in crypto is on the rise. 

Today, we will be introducing you to a very influential crypto millionaire by the name of Elizabeth Rossiello. If you don’t already have Rossiello on your radar – you should. Rossiello was probably talking about Bitcoin before some of your favorite crypto influencers knew what it was, and her story is genuinely inspiring. She’s traveled the world, speaks five languages, and regularly speaks about cryptocurrency in high-profile publications. 

AZA Finance – from startup to global fintech

Rossiello is the CEO and founder of AZA Finance, a highly successful global fintech company that was born out of BitPesa, a crypto startup focused on cross-border payments. Rossiello founded BitPesa in 2013. AZA Finance is now the largest non-bank provider of FX treasury services in Africa. 

Crypto millionaires might have gained their wealth by trading crypto, and these traders tend to be more open about how much crypto they own. Since Elizabeth Rossiello is an influential entrepreneur in the crypto space, it’s easy to see why she may want to keep those numbers close. 

Regardless, given that AZA Finance has handled billions of dollars in transactions, Elizabeth Rossiello, the company’s founder, is surely a crypto millionaire several times over. AZA Finance has also raised millions of dollars, but its exact valuation is currently unclear. 

Why did Rossiello get into crypto?

One of the most exciting things about this crypto millionaire is that she wasn’t a rich Manhattan-based man with money and connections who began funding crypto startups. There was a time when Rossiello was quite a bit of an outsider, and this “outside” perspective seemed to fuel her climb. 

In a Glamour magazine interview, she recalls when she was working in finance as a pregnant woman, and noticed that she was “losing jobs to people who had less experience.” Alongside this, she was working to grow a successful startup in Kenya, which was a far cry from an international finance hub.

Rossiello had a deep interest in microfinance and working in Africa. When she began hearing about Bitcoin, she immediately realized that this was a massive improvement over the existing “mobile money” payment systems at the time. She founded BitPesa to help provide access for the unbanked, and the startup was off to the races thanks to funding from a former associate in the consulting sector. 

In her previous finance roles, Rossiello knew that Africa’s potential was consistently undervalued and downplayed. She also knew that embracing cryptocurrency was a way to change that narrative, and BitPesa, now AZA Finance, has expanded internationally since its inception. 

More than just a crypto millionaire

What do you first envision when you think about the phrase “crypto millionaire”? The first thought might involve a “finance bro” in a suit, telling people how much money he made with Bitcoin. Elizabeth Rossiello is a much different person; she was launching companies while having children and doing it all in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

With all the odds stacked against her, Elizabeth Rossellio is a crypto success story, but she didn’t become a crypto millionaire by herself. Her company grew thanks to her leadership and the contributions of her numerous employees. She has also previously pointed out that she’s also very serious about diversity and inclusion. Rossellio expects her managers to have high-performing teams that consist of 50% women, and prefers hiring African locals rather than ex-pats from other countries.

For Rossellio, it’s about more than just getting people to invest in crypto. It’s also about helping the world embrace Africa, and developing Africa’s financial infrastructure. She founded BitPesa partially because she wanted to make it easier for African businesses to accept money from other countries, and not have to wait days for transactions to settle.

What’s next for Rossiello?

It’s hard to keep reaching for new goals when you’re already a crypto millionaire backed by power players like Tim Draper, but Elizabeth Rossiello is still very active in the cryptocurrency community. In fact, she’s a co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Blockchain Council. 

Elizabeth Rossiello continues to be recognized for her incredible work. She was just named to the 2021 Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst List, a group of CEOs selected for their impact in various industries. She isn’t just trying to get people to invest in crypto; she believes that crypto is critical for cross-border payments, and critical for international businesses in general. 

As for regulation – a topic she’s regularly asked about – Rossellio thinks that it’s pretty much inevitable and that regulators will have to begin coming to the table. She points out that she doesn’t think that crypto is too big to fail, but that there is “too much velocity to stop moving forward.” The same could be said for Rossellio and her career so far.