Why a Fund Manger Left BlackRock to Trade Bitcoin and Pudgy Penguins NFTs
Jennifer Thornton transitioned from a decade-long career at BlackRock to the crypto industry in 2021, now serving as a senior index fund portfolio manager at Bitwise. She manages investment strategies across various portfolios, including the Bitwise Blue-Chip NFT Index Fund. Thornton highlights the opportunities for women in crypto, despite its male dominance. The crypto workforce reached 199,000 in 2023, with most employed by exchanges and financial firms, compared to over 6 million in traditional finance. As institutions invest in crypto, Bitcoin's price nears its all-time high, suggesting potential for increased talent attraction. Thornton notes significant differences between crypto and traditional finance, such as market hours and decimal precision in trading. She aims to apply the same rigor in managing crypto portfolios as she did in traditional finance.
