At RootstockLabs, we’ve always believed that Bitcoin’s story is still being written. We truly are still so early. Today, we begin a new chapter in this story with two important updates.
First, I am returning as CEO of RootstockLabs. Second, we are expanding our Board of Directors with two remarkable leaders: Antoine Blondeau and Michael Jackson.
For over a decade we have been flying the flag for the utility of Bitcoin beyond a store of value. Not only is it the hardest money in the world, it is the foundation of the global financial system of the future. Finally the market is validating us. So now the time has come for us to accelerate our work, deliver our vision to the masses and create a new generation of Bitcoin powered fintechs.
Over the past few years, the Rootstock ecosystem has matured, Bitcoin DeFi has evolved, and Rootstock has become the most resilient and impactful network in the space. As the industry enters a new phase driven by scalability, interoperability, and institutional adoption, the time to accelerate our mission and leadership has come.
Where We Stand
When we launched Rootstock, our vision was bold: to make Bitcoin the foundation of an open and programmable financial system. We exist to make Bitcoin work for everyone. That purpose hasn’t changed, but the world around us has.
Today, Rootstock is proving that Bitcoin DeFi is not a dream. It is a reality. With over $269 million in total value locked, more than 200 apps and services, and seven years of uninterrupted uptime, Rootstock has become a cornerstone of Bitcoin’s next evolution.
The next challenge for us is not about technology. It is about scale, governance, and strategic execution. That is why I have chosen to return as CEO: to help guide RootstockLabs into this new era of growth, working closely with our world-class team, our newly expanded Board and our Ecosystem.
From AI to Bitcoin: Introducing Antoine Blondeau
As Co-founder and Managing Partner of Alpha Intelligence Capital, Antoine Blondeau has spent his career at the frontier of deep-tech AI. His earlier company, Dejima, created the technology that later powered Apple’s Siri. He also co-founded Sentient Technologies, a pioneer in distributed artificial intelligence, and led Zi Corporation, which brought predictive text to mobile phones long before smartphones existed. Today he serves as independent director on the Crypto.com board.
Antoine sees Bitcoin’s evolution much like the early days of AI, a growing movement ready to transform the global economy.
“RootstockLabs is building critical infrastructure for the next wave of Bitcoin adoption,” he says.“Its vision aligns with the institutional-grade transformation we’re seeing across digital assets and AI, and I’m excited to contribute to that evolution.”
Scaling Innovation: Introducing Michael Jackson
As Director at Fabric Ventures, Michael Jackson has guided startups into global category leaders. Before that, he was COO at Skype, helping it grow into a business with over €400 million in annual revenue before its acquisition.
His journey from the early internet to today’s decentralized web gives him a unique perspective on how to bridge traditional finance and the emerging digital economy.
“Bitcoin is entering its most exciting chapter,” says Michael. “The combination of scalability, security, and institutional participation that Rootstock enables represents a step-change moment for decentralized finance on Bitcoin.”
What’s next?
With the addition of Antoine and Michael, who join Joey Garcia, a leading voice in global blockchain regulation and Executive Director at Xapo Bank, RootstockLabs’ Board now brings together deep experience across AI, fintech, policy, and Web3. In the coming months with the support of our new Board members, RootstockLabs will focus on scaling the ecosystem, strengthening decentralized governance, and building bridges between Bitcoin and the broader financial world.
This new chapter, with renewed leadership, a strengthened Board, and a unified mission, is about unlocking Bitcoin’s full potential. Bitcoin’s revolutionary role doesn’t stop at becoming the ultimate store of value network, Bitcoin is also becoming via Rootstock, Lightning and others the decentralized security infrastructure of the financial system of the future. As Bitcoin grows, so will the world’s access to a more open, fair, and inclusive financial system.
A Personal Note
As I return to lead RootstockLabs, I do so with the same conviction that inspired its creation: that Bitcoin can serve humanity. What began as an idea shared among a few dreamers in a Buenos Aires coffee shop has grown into a global movement powered by builders, developers, and communities who believe in financial freedom,inclusion and prosperity.
We have the people, the technology, and the momentum to take Rootstock and Bitcoin to the next level. The path ahead is ambitious, but so is our mission. Together, we will continue building the bridge between Bitcoin and the world, one block at a time.