Leo Hayes

Born: Austin, Texas, United States

Education: B.S. Computer Science, University of Texas at Austin; Certified Bitcoin Professional (CBP)

Employment History: Charles Schwab (Software Engineer), Coinbase (Senior Protocol Analyst), Independent Analyst & Writer

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Hey there, I’m Leo. I still remember the exact moment the crypto rabbit hole really opened up for me. It was 2013, I was working as a software engineer in traditional finance- a world of legacy code and slow, centralized systems- and I was reading the Bitcoin whitepaper for the third time. Suddenly, it wasn’t just code; it was a paradigm shift. It just… clicked.

My journey wasn’t exactly a straight line. I started my career building trading tools at a major brokerage firm, so I know the “old world” of finance inside and out. But my nights and weekends? They were spent mining Litecoin on a makeshift rig in my apartment (mostly for fun, let’s be honest) and trying to wrap my head around this explosive new technology. That obsession eventually led me to a role as a protocol analyst at one of the largest US exchanges during a period of massive growth. I was in the trenches – analyzing new asset listings, identifying security risks in smart contracts, and watching the market evolve in real-time. It was the best- and most chaotic- education I could have asked for.

Why am I here, writing for you? Because I believe this technology, for all its hype and volatility, holds the key to a more transparent and accessible financial future. But getting there is tough. It’s a field filled with noise, scams, and frankly, a lot of terrible advice.

My goal is simple – to be a clear signal in that noise.

My approach is built on a few core principles:

  • Technical Rigor: I come from a developer background. I read the code, I study the architecture, and I don’t just take a project’s marketing at face value.
  • Healthy Skepticism: I’m a believer, not a zealot. I’ll celebrate the wins, but I’ll also call out the red flags and unsustainable tokenomics.
  • Empowerment: My job isn’t to give you financial advice- it’s to give you the context, data, and honest analysis you need to make your own informed decisions.

When I’m not neck-deep in whitepapers or on-chain data, you can usually find me hiking the trails around Denver, trying to disconnect for a bit. It’s all about balance, right? This space is a marathon, not a sprint, and I’m committed to being a trustworthy guide for you on that journey. Let’s figure this stuff out together.