Anthony Di Iorio is a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and blockchain pioneer. He is best known as one of the co-founders of Ethereum, one of the world's largest and most popular decentralized platforms for building decentralized applications (dApps).

Education

Anthony Di Iorio obtained a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) degree in Marketing from Ryerson University. He attended the university from 1994 to 1998, where he focused on marketing principles and practices within the broader context of commerce and business administration. ^[1]

Career

Anthony Di Iorio is the CEO and Founder of Decentral Inc., a company he established in January 2014 in Toronto, Canada. Decentral created Toronto’s first two-way Bitcoin ATM and currently focuses on software development. The company facilitates networking and information sharing in the blockchain, fintech, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized technologies sectors, having hosted over 100 events. It has also partnered with MaRS Discovery District to host larger events, including the DEC_TECH series. ^[2]

Di Iorio is also the CEO and Founder of Decentral.tv, a 24-hour interactive internet dashboard launched in December 2014. This platform provides video segments, news, interviews, and other content related to decentralized and disruptive technologies. It also features live broadcasts of Decentral Toronto meetup events. ^[2]

In academia, Di Iorio serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, teaching a course on cryptocurrencies and crypto ventures since September 2016. He was also a lecturer at the University of Nicosia from June 2015 to June 2016, where he taught the Principles of Disruptive Innovation course as part of the Digital Currency Master's Program. ^[2]

Di Iorio has held several other positions. He was the inaugural Chief Digital Officer at the Toronto Stock Exchange (TMX Group) from January to August 2016, exploring blockchain applications for exchanges. From February 2015 to June 2016, he was a Cryptocurrency Advisor to the Fintech Cluster at MaRS Discovery District, helping connect the financial services sector with fintech startups. Additionally, he was a founding member and Executive Director of the Bitcoin Alliance of Canada from August 2013 to December 2014, promoting Bitcoin awareness and adoption in Canada. ^[2]

He also founded Kryptokit, a Bitcoin wallet service, in November 2013, and led the company until December 2015. Earlier in his career, Di Iorio owned and managed various businesses in the geothermal drilling and property management sectors and held management roles in manufacturing and emission control technology companies. He played a significant role in the early days of Ethereum, serving as a founder and funder from December 2013 to December 2015. ^[2]

Ethereum

Anthony Di Iorio is a co-founder of Ethereum. He was among the first individuals Vitalik Buterin approached to join the project as a co-founder. In 2013, Anthony Di Iorio, along with Charles Hoskinson, Mihai Alisie, and Vitalik Buterin, co-founded the smart contract platform and provided funding for its development. ^[3][4]

Presentations

In a keynote presentation released on the Blockchain Futurist Conference YouTube channel on September 20, 2024, Anthony Di Iorio shared his perspective on leadership, problem-solving, and the role of decentralization in the future.

According to Di Iorio, the blockchain ecosystem thrives on community collaboration, and he emphasized the importance of fostering these connections to drive innovation. He introduced a problem-solving framework he developed, which he applies both personally and professionally, to guide individuals in addressing challenges efficiently.

Di Iorio also unveiled the concept of the “One Button Economy,” which leverages AI to enhance productivity through streamlined automation. He connected this vision to his ongoing Andiami project, which aims to further decentralize the blockchain space by encouraging individuals to run nodes, thus reducing reliance on centralized systems.

In addition, Di Iorio discussed his plans to open a new event space in Toronto, designed to promote community engagement and collaboration. This initiative is aligned with Decentral’s broader mission of empowering users to control their digital lives, reflecting growing concerns about data privacy and personal autonomy.

Finally, Di Iorio highlighted the significance of leadership development, aiming to nurture the next generation of leaders and problem solvers. Through innovative educational programs, he seeks to prepare individuals for a future where decentralized technologies and strong leadership will be key to overcoming global challenges. ^[5]