A Look Inside The ‘Fidelity Mafia’ Of Crypto: Who Are They And What Do They Do Now?

cryptonews.com:

Fidelity Investments might seem an unlikely player in the cryptocurrency universe as it has been operating for nearly eight decades. Fidelity’s reputation in the traditional financial management industry is unrivaled which makes it surprising to some to learn it is an early pioneer and adapter of Bitcoin.

In a landscape typically devoid of associations with cryptocurrency in the early 2010s, Fidelity was mining Bitcoin back in 2014. This early adoption earned the company a unique distinction as a pioneer within the cryptocurrency universe.

Notably, many individuals who once formed part of Fidelity's crypto workforce have gone on to assume pivotal roles in leading cryptocurrency companies, forming what's now termed as the "Fidelity Mafia."

Prominent among this group is Alex Thorn, a recognizable figure according to The Wall Street Journal. Presently the head of research at Galaxy Digital, Thorn reflects on Fidelity's daring approach, emphasizing management "took a huge step" into crypto, rather than approaching it “with kid gloves on."

Juri Bulovic, head of mining at Foundry, and Matt Walsh, founding partner of Castle Island Ventures, are among other members of this unique clique.

Fidelity's early embrace of the cryptocurrency realm attracted talented individuals to join a firm that embraced, rather than trashed Bitcoin. As WSJ highlights, the company's progressive stance on digital currency went as high as Fidelity Investments CEO Abby Johnson. 

Her proclamation in 2017 that Bitcoin must become more accessible for individuals and institutions resonated in an era when other financial titans, like Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan, were openly disparaging the nascent digital currency. Recall it was Dimon who said at around the same time