Joe Bruzzesi is a finance and technology professional and venture capitalist with experience in digital assets, trading infrastructure, and blockchain-focused investment. His work has included roles in digital asset custody, stablecoin development, and early-stage investing in financial technology, blockchain, and artificial intelligence.^[1]

Education

Bruzzesi attended the University of Scranton, where he studied finance and economics. He completed his studies in 2014, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in these fields before beginning his professional career. ^[2]

Career

Bruzzesi began his career in 2014 as an analyst at Bloomberg LP. The following year, in 2015, he joined CrediFi, a financial technology company, as one of its first employees in the United States. He started in an associate role and was later promoted to director, contributing to the company's growth in both its team and funding. In 2018, Bruzzesi transitioned to the digital asset sector by joining BitGo, a digital asset trust and security company. At BitGo, he initially served as a director before being appointed managing director for the Americas. His responsibilities covered a range of the company's services, including digital asset custody, wallet infrastructure, trading operations, and stablecoin development. In 2022, he became a general partner at RW3 Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm established in partnership with The Raptor Group. The firm focuses on investing in infrastructure, protocols, and applications related to Web3 and artificial intelligence. ^{[1] [3]}

Panels

Avalanche VCs

At the Avalanche Summit in London in May 2025, venture capitalists gathered to discuss the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investment and the role of VCs in the space. Participants included Bruzzesi, Anjan Vinod from ParaFi Capital, Rob Hadick from Dragonfly, and Matthew Potts from Coindfund, who shared insights on the shifting dynamics of crypto funding. The discussion highlighted concerns about the alignment of incentives among investors, founders, and market structures, suggesting that many VCs might not be effectively contributing to product-market fit for startup projects. Furthermore, speakers emphasized the need for improved transparency in token economics to foster confidence among investors. They pointed to Avalanche's progress in business development but noted a lack of awareness about its innovations compared to other ecosystems. The panelists encouraged a focus on DeFi and stablecoin projects as areas for growth. They stressed the importance of building a developer ecosystem, citing that ultimately, having more developers would drive the success of the Avalanche platform. ^[4]

Scaling the Future

The Bridge Conference in December 2024 featured a discussion moderated by Bruzzesi and Luigi D’Onorio Demeo, the COO of Ava Labs, who shared insights on the Avalanche blockchain. Demeo recounted his trajectory from traditional finance into the crypto space, highlighting Avalanche's unique "network of networks" design that allows users to deploy their own interconnected blockchains. They discussed the significance of Avalanche's upcoming upgrade, Avalanche 9000, aimed at reducing costs for launching new blockchains and enhancing accessibility. Demeo addressed the need for regulatory clarity following recent political events and how institutional interest in blockchain technology is expected to grow. The conversation also touched on real-world applications, including gaming and partnerships with major financial institutions like JP Morgan and Citigroup, demonstrating Avalanche's potential to revolutionize finance and decentralized applications. Ultimately, the panel emphasized the importance of long-term thinking in the crypto industry amidst concerns over unsustainable capital allocation and the proliferation of lower-quality projects. ^[5]

VCs and Web3

At the Avalanche Summit LATAM in November 2024, a panel of venture capitalists discussed their perspectives on the current state of the Web3 and cryptocurrency industries. The panelists, including Paul Piotrowski from CMCC Global, Bruzzesi, Austin Barack from Relayer Capital, Rob Hadick from Dragonfly, and Brandon Potts from Framework Ventures, shared insights on the bullish outlook they held despite recent challenges, such as the FTX collapse. They highlighted factors like the increasing institutional interest in cryptocurrency, the emergence of innovative applications, and the maturation of infrastructure as indicators of positive growth. Additionally, they explored various investment opportunities in areas such as decentralized finance, gaming, and real-world applications of blockchain technology, emphasizing the need for sustainable business models and a focus on user experience. The discussion also touched on challenges surrounding speculative investments and the need for more thoughtful tokenomics, suggesting that a balance between real-world utility and investment strategies would be essential for the industry's future. ^[6]

2023 VCs

At the Avalanche Summit II in May 2023, a panel of venture capitalists discussed their investment approaches and the current challenges in the venture landscape. The panel, moderated by Lyllah Ledesma of CoinDesk,  included Bruzzesi, Bryan Myint from Republic Crypto, and Sarah Gottwald of the Blockchain Founders Group, who emphasized the importance of early-stage investments. They shared insights about investing in infrastructure and the need for founders to remain lean and focus on product development amidst a tougher fundraising environment influenced by recent market downturns. The panelists advised founders to be organized, set realistic valuations, and clearly articulate their business value to attract investors. They highlighted the shifting trend away from high valuations typical in previous years towards a more conservative approach similar to traditional markets. The discussion also touched on emerging trends within the crypto space, including the potential for blockchain technology to intersect with environmental initiatives and the necessity for easier user onboarding for Web3 applications. Overall, the talk provided practical tips for navigating the changing venture capital landscape. ^[7]