Ivan Soto-Wright is a financial technology entrepreneur and investor, best known as the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MoonPay, a company that develops payment infrastructure for cryptocurrency. He is also a member of the Milken Institute Fintech Advisory Council and serves on the board of directors for the Chopra Foundation. ^[1]

Education

Soto-Wright attended The George Washington University, where he graduated with Special Honors in Economics and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He also studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Oxford. ^[10]

Career

Soto-Wright began his career at Redington, an investment advisory firm based in London. In this role, he advised major pension funds and insurance companies on strategic asset allocation and portfolio construction. Before his work in the cryptocurrency sector, he co-founded and served as CEO of Saveable, a smart money application designed to help users in the United Kingdom and Europe automate savings and investments. Plum Fintech later acquired Saveable. ^[1]

As co-founder and CEO of MoonPay, Soto-Wright leads the company's efforts to build financial technology infrastructure for the Web3 ecosystem. Under his leadership, MoonPay was named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 list in 2022. ^{[1] [10]}

Interviews

Payment Revolution

In a fireside chat held at Proof of Talk Paris in June 2025, Soto-Wright and Farokh Sarmad discussed the evolution of crypto payments and his personal journey into the cryptocurrency space. During the conversation, Soto-Wright reflected on how his initial exposure to Bitcoin in college ignited his interest in "internet money" and how this led him to launch MoonPay in 2019, aiming to simplify the on-ramping process for users entering the crypto economy. He highlighted the company's growth to 30 million customers. He elaborated on strategic acquisitions, such as Helio and Iron, which aimed to enhance the user experience and integrate cryptocurrency transactions into everyday life. Soto-Wright also emphasized the importance of partnerships, particularly with Mastercard, in pushing crypto adoption forward and shared insights on the regulatory landscape, notable regulatory achievements, and the potential future of decentralized finance (DeFi) versus centralized finance (CeFi). He concluded with thoughts on the transformative role of AI in optimizing financial products and services within the crypto sector. ^[5]

Past, Present, & Future

In an April 2024 episode of the Digital Social Hour podcast, Soto-Wright discussed the evolution of cryptocurrency alongside Sean Kelly, touching on both the historical context and future potential of the digital currency landscape. Soto-Wright reflected on how he recognized a significant gap in the industry regarding user experience with crypto wallets, which eventually led to the creation of MoonPay, aiming to simplify the process of buying cryptocurrency directly within wallets. He emphasized the growing adoption of crypto, particularly with the rise of stablecoins and the increasing acceptance of cryptocurrencies by merchants, while also cautioning about security risks associated with wallets. The conversation underscored the significance of education and regulation in fostering a safer and more accessible cryptocurrency environment, as Soto-Wright shared his views on the potential for cryptocurrencies to compete with traditional fiat currencies ultimately. ^[3]

MoonPay’s Role in Onboarding

In a fireside chat with Ophelia Brown at NFT Paris in March 2023, Soto-Wright provided an overview of MoonPay, which had undergone significant evolution since its inception as a payments company, particularly following its $500 million Series A round in 2021. He reflected on the challenges faced during the bear market of 2018-2019, including difficulties in securing funding despite having revenue-generating clients. Soto-Wright discussed the growing interest in Web3 and NFTs, noting that MoonPay aimed to simplify the NFT purchasing process by allowing users to buy NFTs directly with debit or credit cards, eliminating the need for prior cryptocurrency transactions. He highlighted the firm's recent shift towards becoming a Web3 infrastructure business, emphasizing partnerships with major brands like Nike and Dolce & Gabbana that utilize NFTs to engage their communities. Additionally, he announced that MoonPay had attracted significant talent, including former executives from Time magazine and Coinbase, to help further its mission. Throughout his presentation, he stressed the importance of user experience and community engagement in driving future growth and adoption of Web3 technologies. ^[4]

Panels

Crypto Resurrection

In a panel discussion at the FII Priority Summit in February 2025, featuring David Faber (CNBC), Zoe Cruz (Menai Financial), Soto-Wright, and Cathie Wood (ARK Invest), the conversation centered on the potential resurgence of cryptocurrency and its implications for the financial system. Cruz shared her transformation from skepticism to advocacy for blockchain technology, highlighting its ability to revolutionize value exchange. Soto-Wright emphasized stablecoins as a significant development with the capability to facilitate access to financial services for those without traditional banking. Wood outlined the three revolutionary aspects of crypto: the monetary evolution through Bitcoin, the emergence of decentralized finance (DeFi), and the importance of digital property rights through non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The panelists noted the significant transaction volumes in stablecoins, especially in regions lacking access to US dollars, and discussed the potential for crypto wallets to replace bank accounts. They acknowledged the need for a supportive regulatory environment to foster innovation while debating the implications of institutional adoption and criticisms from skeptics within the financial community. ^[6]

Web3 & Cybersecurity

At the D50X Summit in November 2022, Riley de Leon facilitated a discussion on the intersection of Web3 and cybersecurity featuring Jay Parikh, co-CEO of Lacework, and Soto-Wright. The panel addressed the evolving definition of Web3 as a decentralized internet that prioritizes user ownership of data, contrasting it with previous iterations of the web. Soto-Wright emphasized that while Web3 offers users ownership and control, the usability and security of this new technology remain significant challenges. Parikh highlighted concerns regarding cybersecurity risks, particularly the sophisticated illicit activities associated with cryptocurrencies, and urged industry stakeholders to address these vulnerabilities proactively. Both panelists acknowledged the need for education and regulation to protect users, noting that while malicious actors persist and adapt, the responsibility for safeguarding data is shifting towards individual users and businesses. The conversation culminated in a consensus on the importance of ongoing improvement and vigilance in the face of evolving cyber threats. ^[2]