In an increasingly technological world, development teams are designing the future. However, when women are not represented in these teams, innovation is affected. The lack of women in tech, especially in emerging industries like blockchain and Bitcoin, leads to products that don’t adequately address the diversity of users and perpetuate inequality.
One of the most discussed examples is Amazon Alexa. In its early versions, Alexa was criticized for not knowing how to respond to abusive comments toward women. Developed mainly by men, Alexa normalized verbal abuse by failing to provide an appropriate response to sexist remarks. According to The Guardian, Amazon had to correct this issue after it was pointed out as a serious design flaw.
The Apple Watch case is equally telling. While the device monitored multiple health metrics, it initially omitted menstrual cycle tracking. This oversight sparked a wave of criticism toward Apple for ignoring a fundamental health need for women, a mistake that could have been avoided with more gender diversity in the development teams.
Another example of how the lack of women affects tech development is bias in artificial intelligence (AI). Research shows that facial recognition algorithms are less accurate when identifying women and people of color, which can lead to significant errors. A study by MIT Media Lab found that algorithms perform significantly worse on dark-skinned women than on white men, reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
As Melina Masnatta, co-founder of Chicas en Tecnología, notes, “Technology is shaped by the biases of those who design it. If those teams are not diverse, they perpetuate inequalities and create products that don’t represent the entire population.”
The blockchain and Bitcoin industry has been promoted as an inclusive revolution, but the gender gap remains evident. According to a Coin Dance study, only 19% of people in the crypto industry are women. This low representation affects both professional opportunities for women and the quality of the products developed in this space.
In a recent interview, Gloria Zhao, a Bitcoin Core developer, highlighted the importance of being cautious with Bitcoin protocol modifications, mentioning that sometimes it’s necessary to “invasively change something to make it more scalable,” but always with care. This reflects the need to include diverse voices in critical decision-making, not only to avoid bias but also to foster innovation and ensure the system’s sustainability.
Blockchain and cryptocurrencies represent not just a technological revolution but also a professional growth opportunity for women. As an emerging industry, there is still room for more women to take on key roles, from software development to governance in decentralized networks.
As Paola Sierra, a STEM specialist, points out, “When women participate in the development of technological products, the result is more inclusive technology that represents global diversity.” This is especially true in the crypto industry, where innovation depends on inclusion.
Closing the tech gender gap is essential not only to create fair products but also to ensure that future technologies are genuinely inclusive. The blockchain and Bitcoin industry has a unique opportunity to be a space where women can lead and contribute their perspectives, ensuring that technological innovation becomes more equitable and effective.
