As sustainable finance and financial inclusion continue to gain traction on a global scale, technology-powered solutions leveraging blockchain and Web3 are playing a key role in addressing traditional financial challenges.
As part of this movement, Swiss blockchain company Fedrok AG, says it has been actively working on creating a more inclusive, transparent, and ESG-aligned financial ecosystem through its Proof of Green (PoG) consensus mechanism.
As a supporter of the upcoming “Master Your Money” event to be held in Zürich, Switzerland, Fedrok AG is focused on contributing to financial literacy and investment empowerment for women.
Organized by Bossladies Zürich and Action for Women, the session aims to equip women with investment strategies, financial education, and insights into sustainable finance.
In a recent interview with CI, we caught up with Philip Blazdell, CEO of Fedrok AG. Blazdell talked about the importance of financial literacy for women, the future of sustainable finance, as well as the transformative role of blockchain technology in advancing financial inclusion.
Crowdfund Insider: What can be done to improve financial literacy for women, and what types of initiatives would help create impactful investment strategies?
Philip Blazdell: Improving financial literacy among women and fostering effective investment strategies requires a multi-faceted approach that includes education, resource accessibility, mentorship, and policy reforms.
Practical knowledge on budgeting, saving, investing, and retirement planning can be delivered through workshops, webinars, and community-based training programs whilst integrating financial education into school and university curriculums. This ensures that young women develop strong money management skills from an early age.
Providing access to investment resources is essential for helping women build confidence in financial decision-making. Women-focused investment funds, user-friendly investment platforms, and financial coaching programs can empower them to take control of their financial future with confidence. Additionally, online courses, mobile apps, and gamified learning platforms can make financial education more engaging and widely accessible.
Mentorship initiatives that connect women with financial advisors or experienced investors can offer personalized guidance and support. Creating strong investment networks and peer support groups can boost confidence and get more women involved in financial markets. Women-led investment clubs, angel networks, and venture capital opportunities for female entrepreneurs allow women to team up and invest in exciting projects. Organizing networking events and conferences with successful female investors and business leaders can also inspire and teach women about smart investment strategies.
Technology and media play a crucial role. Podcasts (e.g., The Female Investor), blogs (like Investing in Women), and social media campaigns showing successful female investors and entrepreneurs can inspire women to engage more actively in financial markets. AI-powered financial advisory tools, such as Ellevest or Cleo, help women make investment decisions that fit their goals and risk tolerance.
Finally, Policy changes and workplace support can make a big difference. Pushing for equal pay and wealth equity gives women the financial foundation they need to grow their wealth. Companies can help by offering financial wellness programs, like salary negotiation training and investment education, whilst support for parental leave and career breaks can ensure women stay financially secure while juggling work and family responsibilities.
When we combine these strategies, we create an inclusive financial world that allows women to grow their wealth and achieve financial independence in an evolving global market.
Crowdfund Insider: What is the current state of sustainable finance on a global level? Are there any projects aimed at creating a more inclusive environment for women investors?
Philip Blazdell: Towards the end of 2023, sustainable investment products, including bonds and funds, reached a value exceeding $7 trillion, marking a 20% increase from the previous year. This upward trajectory has persisted despite global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, elevated inflation rates, and international conflicts
Green bonds have been a key driver in this sector, with issuance climbing to $872 billion in 2023, a 3% rise from 2022. This trend is expected to continue, with projections indicating that green bonds will remain a dominant force in sustainable finance throughout 2025,
In terms of inclusivity for women investors, several initiatives have been launched to create a more supportive environment. One example is Nell Daly’s introduction of Revenge Capital, a £50 million investment fund and mentoring scheme in the UK, launched to support female entrepreneurs. The goal is to address funding disparities for women-led businesses, particularly in male-dominated industries.
Beyond financial backing, Revenge Capital builds a network of female investors and entrepreneurs, providing mentorship and resources to help women navigate the investment landscape. This initiative is part of a larger movement to increase the presence of women in entrepreneurial ecosystems, where funding has traditionally been skewed toward male entrepreneurs. Other organizations, such as AllBright (UK) and Women’s Venture Fund (U.S.), are also working to close the gender investment gap by providing financial support and mentorship programs.
Additionally, globally, female-focused venture capital funds like Female Founders Fund and Aspect Ventures are growing in number and have proven successful in increasing investment in women-led startups.
Organizations like the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) are actively working to enhance women’s participation in sustainable finance and supports projects such as the Business Resilience Assistance for Value-Adding Enterprises (BRAVE) in Nigeria and initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of women pepper farmers in Vietnam. These programs focus on providing financial resources and capacity-building opportunities to women entrepreneurs in developing countries.
Networks like Women in Sustainable Finance (WISF) offer platforms for female professionals to collaborate and transform the financial industry towards greater sustainability and inclusivity. WISF provides networking opportunities, educational resources, and events designed to empower women in the finance sector.
By highlighting and supporting these projects, we can help change the narrative around women in business and ensure they have equal access to investment opportunities.
Crowdfund Insider: How can Web3 and blockchain technology enable greater financial inclusion for women investors and traders?
Philip Blazdell: Web3 and blockchain technology have tremendous potential to eliminate barriers that have traditionally excluded women from financial markets.
One of the biggest challenges women face in traditional finance is the need for credit history, collateral, or banking intermediaries, all of which disproportionately affect women, especially in developing economies.
Blockchain-based decentralized finance (DeFi) allows permissionless access to financial services, allowing women to invest, trade, and access credit without the need for a traditional bank account. Blockchain’s transparency and immutability provide a secure environment where women can engage in trading and investment activities without fear of fraud, hidden fees, or discrimination.
But there are many more benefits. Smart contracts ensure that agreements are automatically enforced, reducing reliance on intermediaries and increasing trust in financial transactions.
Decentralized lending platforms can enable peer-to-peer lending, microfinance, and collateral-free loans, giving women entrepreneurs and investors access to capital without requiring a high credit score or formal banking history. It allows the tokenization of assets such as real estate, stocks, and commodities, making it easier for women to participate in traditionally male-dominated investment markets whilst fractional ownership lowers the capital required, enabling women to invest in high-value assets with smaller amounts. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) can provide financial education, networking, and community-driven investment pools tailored for women, while Web3-based communities enable peer support, mentorship, and collective decision-making.
Additionally, blockchain-powered remittance solutions make it easier and more affordable for women, especially in emerging markets, to send and receive funds securely and at low cost. Self-sovereign identity (SSI) solutions on the blockchain allow women to establish verifiable digital identities and financial reputations, enabling them to access financial services and build credit histories without relying on exclusionary traditional systems.
By leveraging these innovations, women can gain greater control over their financial futures, participate in global investment opportunities, and break traditional barriers to wealth accumulation.
Crowdfund Insider: What are some key blockchain and fintech industry trends you anticipate in 2025 and beyond?
Philip Blazdell: There are three big trends I anticipate in 2025 and beyond:
1. Integration of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI): The convergence of blockchain and AI technologies is creating new opportunities, with the market projected to exceed $703 million in 2025. This integration addresses critical challenges in data integrity and operational efficiency while democratizing access to AI capabilities. Smart contracts are becoming more sophisticated, incorporating AI-driven conditional decision-making based on external data while maintaining blockchain’s transparency and security.
2. Expansion of Decentralized Finance (DeFi): DeFi continues to gain traction, with traditional financial institutions exploring its efficiency, transparency, and global accessibility without intermediaries. Stablecoins are expected to play a central role in this expansion, facilitating over 1 billion transactions annually and transferring a total value exceeding $8 trillion.
3. Regulatory Developments & ESG Compliance:
Governments and financial institutions are focusing more on data transparency, sustainability, and compliance with ESG regulations. Fintech firms will need to adapt to these changes while driving innovative solutions.
Crowdfund Insider: You’ve mentioned that Fedrok AG is a Swiss-registered blockchain company, which aims to standardize the carbon credit market through its Proof of Green (PoG) consensus mechanism. Can you tell us more about this initiative?
Philip Blazdell: Unlike other projects that simply tokenize existing carbon credits, our Proof of Green (PoG) consensus mechanism guarantees that new tokens are only created when new, clean Bitcoin is mined.
Our blockchain is directly tied to real-world carbon reduction efforts. Instead of relying on traditional carbon registries or unverifiable claims, we integrate Bitcoin’s full ledger into our blockchain, allowing us to track exactly which miners are using renewable energy sources. Only verified “green” Bitcoin miners can generate Fedrok tokens, ensuring each coin represents a measurable emissions reduction.
This process is embedded in our consensus mechanism, which mints Fedrok tokens exclusively when a provably clean Bitcoin is mined. This eliminates double-counting, fraud, or unverifiable carbon credits, which are some of the biggest issues in today’s carbon markets.
By combining blockchain technology with verified environmental impact, we’re not just digitizing carbon credits, we’re ensuring that every token minted reflects real sustainability efforts. This approach provides trust, accountability, and compliance for institutions looking for reliable, ESG-backed digital assets.