- Ben Lakoff switched from corporate financing to cryptocurrency, driven by curiosity and belief in Defi’s transparent and integrative potential.
- He founded Bankless Consulting with the aim of bringing different cultural mentalities together in addition to different Fin technologies.
Ben Lakoff’s path from traditional finance to cryptocurrency was more than just a professional step. It was a long journey full of surprises, challenges and decisions that did not always make sense on paper – but made sense from the gut.
The graduate of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business used to wore suits and spoke about mergers and reviews. Now discussed is Better about token design, Daos and the future of Web3. His lifestyle has changed – not because he follows trends, but because he believes that you are generally moving towards a more open and decentralized world.
Tradfi questioned
Ben’s career started “classic” in the investment and corporate world and held various positions in large companies on various continents. Like many financial experts, he appreciated structure, security and a clear framework.
But when the market began to talk about cryptocurrencies and the potential of Defi in 2017, its curiosity was awakened. He saw first -hand how susceptible the global financial system was – and this frustration opened the door for deeper research.
He also realized that Defi was not just an unconventional project of young people on the Internet. There was structure, reason and even sophistication that were in no way inferior to those of traditional systems. However, the transparency fascinated the most – everyone was able to participate in the creation, not only those who had access to money markets or expensive law firms.
Beyond NFTS: Ben’s immersion in invited particles
Ben did not stop at his curiosity, but plunged directly into a project called “Charged Particles”, a protocol that enables NFTs to absorb defi assets. Imagine NFTS as small boxes that can store money and grow over time. Sounds strange? Is it too. But that is exactly what makes your charm. This project not only questions the standard, but also paves the way for more complex use of NFTs than just as a profile picture.
When working on this project, he was becoming increasingly certain that the digital innovation has not yet reached its climax. He longed to do more than just follow the electricity. He wanted to design his own current. And in this phase the concept of Bankless Consulting began to grow.
Building bridges: Ben’s vision with Bankless Consulting
Together with many colleagues from the Banklessdao-Community, Ben Bankless Consulting, a web3 consulting company that is supposed to connect the blockchain world with traditional companies. But imagine an office with uniformed employees or Glass Room meetings. The employees are connected via Discord and crypto wallets and work out from all over the world.
For companies that are interested in web3, Bankless Consulting specializes in topics such as DAO structure, tokenomics design and blockchain introductory strategies. Conversely, they also ensure that Rohe Web3 projects appear mature when they come onto the market.
Fascinatingly, according to Ben, the biggest challenge is not the technology, but the culture. In a community interview, he said:
“It is not easy, the way of thinking of the people of ‘We’ve always done it that way’ to ‘We can try out new ways’.”
Today, in 2025, Bankless Consulting has become a reference point for various web3 projects and global companies that want to find their way around this new world without getting lost. And Ben? He is still the heart of the whole – he teaches, advises and sometimes even correct and correct customer projects if necessary. There is no rigid hierarchy, just a team that constantly learns together.
No Comments