In honor of International Women’s Month, MEXC is proud to spotlight remarkable women shaping the future of cryptocurrency and Web3 through our exclusive “Celebrating Women’s Month” interview series.
In this second episode, we sit down with Amara Achusi (@TheMarablossom), a leading crypto KOL, community builder, and co-founder of Tulay Labs, to explore her remarkable path into the crypto space and her unwavering commitment to empowering African talent in Web3.
Q: Thank you for sharing your story with us on International Women’s Day. Can you tell us how you first got into the crypto space?
My journey into crypto started in a very unexpected way.
I studied Medical Laboratory Science at university, a program known for being extremely demanding. The pressure was constant—fail a course and you might miss professional exams, get transferred to another department, or graduate behind your peers. Because of this, my life revolved almost entirely around academics. My focus was simple: graduate well.
Then 2020 and the COVID lockdown happened.
School paused, everyone went home, and for the first time, I had a lot of free time. One day while scrolling through a friend’s WhatsApp status, I saw a post about a “money-making opportunity.” Out of curiosity, I joined and invested a small amount. That was my first exposure to making money online.
It eventually turned out to be a pyramid scheme that crashed. But through the connections I made there, someone introduced me to another platform where people were earning Ethereum. At the time, I had never heard of Ethereum or cryptocurrency. I simply knew I could convert what I earned to fiat and cover some personal expenses.
By the time the program ended, I had accumulated about 1.3 ETH—most of which I had already spent before truly understanding what Ethereum was. Looking back now, it still makes me laugh.
But that experience sparked my curiosity.
I began researching cryptocurrency, blockchain, and decentralized finance. What started as a search for quick income soon turned into a deep fascination with the technology and its possibilities. I immersed myself in the ecosystem—learning, joining communities, and contributing to projects.
Over time, that curiosity evolved into a career in Web3, where I focus on community building, operations, and ecosystem growth for blockchain projects.
Today, I’m also building Tulay Labs, an initiative focused on empowering African builders and talents with the resources, networks, and support they need to thrive in the Web3 ecosystem.
I entered crypto looking for financial opportunity—but I stayed because of the technology, the communities, and the chance to help shape the future of the ecosystem.
Q: What challenges did you face as a woman entering this space, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges I experienced entering the crypto space was representation. When I first joined DeFi communities, about 90% of the people in those spaces were men. As someone new to the industry, it initially made networking and speaking up a bit intimidating because you didn’t see many women around you.
There was also a common assumption that everyone in crypto was a man. I got ‘bro-zoned’ quite a lot in conversations, people would naturally assume they were speaking to another guy. It sounds funny now but at the time it really reflected how few women were visible in the space.
Instead of letting that discourage me, it actually pushed me to be part of the solution. Around that time, my friend Sarah Idahosa, who had identified the same gap, invited me and a few other women to join her in building Women in DeFi. The goal was to educate more women about decentralized finance, expose them to the opportunities in the industry and empower them with the knowledge and skills they needed to thrive in the space.
Being part of that founding effort was incredibly meaningful because we weren’t just talking about the lack of representation, we were actively creating pathways for more women to enter the ecosystem.
Looking back, those early experiences shaped how I approach the industry today. They taught me the power of community, mentorship and representation. And it’s incredibly rewarding now to see more women confidently entering Web3, building projects, leading communities and realizing that there is absolutely a place for them in this space.
Q: How has crypto trading changed your life financially?
One of the biggest challenges I faced when entering the crypto space was representation.
When I first joined DeFi communities, about 90% of the people were men. As someone new to the industry, it made networking and speaking up a bit intimidating because you rarely saw other women in those spaces. There was also a common assumption that everyone in crypto was male. I got “bro-zoned” quite a lot in conversations. People would naturally assume they were speaking to another guy. It’s funny looking back now, but at the time it highlighted how few women were visible in the ecosystem.
Rather than letting that discourage me, it pushed me to become part of the solution. Around that time, my friend Sarah Idahosa, who had noticed the same gap, invited me and a few other women to help build Women in DeFi. Our goal was simple: educate more women about decentralized finance, expose them to opportunities in the industry, and equip them with the knowledge and skills to thrive.
Being part of that founding effort was incredibly meaningful because we weren’t just talking about the representation gap; we were actively creating pathways for more women to enter the space.
Those early experiences shaped how I approach Web3 today. They reinforced the importance of community, mentorship, and visibility. And it’s rewarding now to see more women confidently entering the ecosystem, building projects, leading communities, and realizing that they absolutely belong in this space.
Q: In what ways do you see crypto promoting financial inclusion, especially for women in Web3?
Crypto is genuinely one of the most exciting tools for financial inclusion we’ve seen in a long time, and women stand to benefit enormously from it.
At its core, crypto removes the need for traditional middlemen. Historically, access to financial services depended on proximity to banks, credit history, and systems that many people in developing economies simply don’t have. Crypto changes that equation. A woman running a small business in Lagos or Nairobi can receive cross-border payments, store value, and access global markets directly from her phone without needing a formal banking relationship. That level of access can be truly transformative.
Beyond trading or investing, Web3 also opens up new economic opportunities. Women can earn by contributing skills such as writing, design, development, and community management within decentralized projects. Because these opportunities are global and largely permissionless, they aren’t limited by geography or traditional gatekeepers, which makes the ecosystem incredibly empowering.
Equally important is education and community. When women have access to the right knowledge, networks, and support systems, they thrive in this space. That’s why initiatives focused on educating and empowering women in Web3 matter. They help close the knowledge gap and make the ecosystem more inclusive.
Ultimately, financial inclusion in Web3 isn’t just about access to money. It’s about access to opportunity, ownership, and participation in shaping the future of the digital economy.
Q: What advice would you give to other women considering crypto trading?
My first advice to new female crypto traders is to start with education. The space can look very exciting, but like any financial market, it requires understanding the ecosystem, market cycles, and risk management. Taking time to learn first will give you confidence and help you make more informed decisions.
Secondly, start small and be patient. It’s easy to get drawn in by stories of quick profits, but sustainable growth comes from discipline, consistency, and emotional control. Chasing hype often leads to unnecessary losses.
It’s also important to build a strong support network. Join communities where you can ask questions, learn from others, and feel supported. The crypto space is still largely male-dominated, so having peers and mentors—especially other women—can make a big difference in helping you grow with confidence.
Lastly, remember that trading is just one way to participate in Web3. The industry offers many opportunities beyond trading, including roles in community building, operations, marketing, design, and development. Find what aligns with your strengths, focus on adding value, and most importantly, don’t be afraid to speak up and claim your space.
About MEXC
MEXC Global is a leading digital asset trading platform committed to expanding financial access worldwide. With deep liquidity, a wide range of trading products, and a focus on technological innovation, MEXC empowers users to explore, trade, and grow with confidence across crypto, traditional finance, and beyond.
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If you’d like to share your own journey with us, please contact MEXC PR team: [email protected]
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