Matt Luongo is the co-founder and CEO of Thesis, a venture production studio established in 2014 that focuses on the development of projects within the blockchain and decentralized technology sectors. Thesis has been involved in the creation of several projects, including Keep Network, tBTC, and Fold, a Bitcoin rewards application. ^{[3] [4] [8]}

Education

Luongo earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2009. During his academic career, he worked as an undergraduate assistant in the College of Computing and served as a tutor for an introductory logic course, focusing on foundational computing concepts. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Career

Luongo began his professional career as a software developer at The Proven Method, contributing to technical projects. He later transitioned into leadership roles in startups, where he developed expertise in technology and team management, it was a basis for working with blockchain technologies in the future.

In 2010, he joined Scholrly as Chief Technology Officer, where he oversaw the technical development of an academic research platform. During this time, he contributed to the development of Neo4django, an open-source tool that integrates the Neo4j database with Django frameworks.

From 2013 to 2014, Luongo served as Head of Research at AtlAtl, where he worked on data-driven marketing and business solutions. Concurrently, he was a Technical Lead at Agency Spotter, a platform connecting businesses with marketing agencies.

In 2014, Luongo co-founded Thesis, a venture studio focused on blockchain technology. One of its early projects was Fold, a Bitcoin rewards application that later became an independent company. Luongo served as Fold’s CEO until 2018 and continues to act as a board member.

Thesis has also developed Keep Network, a protocol designed for securely storing and sharing private data on public blockchains, and tBTC, a system that bridges Bitcoin and Ethereum networks. These projects emphasize privacy and interoperability within blockchain ecosystems. In 2021, Thesis raised $21 million in Series A funding, supporting its ongoing development efforts.

Luongo's work has centered on creating tools and systems that address privacy and usability challenges in blockchain technology. His efforts have supported the development of decentralized applications and protocols aimed at improving the functionality and accessibility of blockchain networks. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [9] [10]}

Interviews

Matt Luongo Discusses Bitcoin’s Role in DeFi #01

In a June 21, 2024 interview on the YouTube channel "Coinage," Matt Luongo, CEO of Thesis, shared his perspective on the evolving role of Bitcoin in decentralized finance and the potential of platforms like Mezo and Acre to transform how Bitcoin holders engage with financial products. He explained how these platforms enable users to earn yield on their Bitcoin holdings while maintaining a focus on security and transparency. Unlike previous centralized systems that faced failures, Mezo prioritizes low-risk options and offers on-chain transparency, allowing users to track the origins of their yield and fostering trust.

Luongo emphasized Bitcoin's unique qualities compared to assets like Ethereum, noting its inability to be arbitrarily created beyond mining. This characteristic, he argued, makes Bitcoin a particularly stable and reliable foundation for financial systems. He also discussed how Mezo is working to integrate Bitcoin into real-world financial applications, including mortgages, demonstrating the asset's potential to move beyond its traditional role as a store of value and into practical, everyday financial systems.

Looking to the future, Luongo highlighted the increasing demand for Bitcoin-based financial products, suggesting this could drive significant market growth. He pointed to metrics like Total Value Locked (TVL) as evidence of growing confidence in Bitcoin’s use within decentralized finance. In his view, Bitcoin has the potential to become a substantial economic layer, potentially matching or even exceeding the GDP of the United States.

Luongo also discussed the importance of user education in the adoption of these platforms. By understanding the risks and mechanisms involved, users can avoid repeating mistakes from past centralized crypto platforms. He noted that while developments like Ethereum ETFs could impact the market, Bitcoin-focused projects must continue to adapt and innovate to maintain their relevance and unique advantages.

Throughout the interview, Luongo offered a vision of Bitcoin evolving into a cornerstone of global financial systems, supported by secure, transparent, and practical applications like those being developed by Thesis. His insights underscore a broader belief in Bitcoin’s ability to reshape traditional finance and offer new opportunities for users worldwide. ^[1]

A New Chapter for Bitcoin in DeFi #02

In a December 12, 2023 interview on the Solana YouTube channel, Matt Luongo, CEO of Thesis, shared his perspective on the formation of Threshold, a decentralized Bitcoin-backed token born from the merger of tBTC and New Cypher. According to Luongo, the initiative reflects a broader effort to enhance Bitcoin’s utility in decentralized finance, moving beyond its traditional role as a speculative asset.

Luongo explained that the merger was initiated by community members from both projects, highlighting the grassroots nature of the collaboration. The process involved extensive proposal writing and iterative feedback to develop a solution that aligned with the shared goals of both communities. He emphasized the importance of accountability and the need to define clear exit strategies in such ambitious undertakings, particularly in projects that involve multiple stakeholders.

A significant focus of the discussion was on usability versus price speculation. Luongo pointed out that while the crypto market often centers on price movements, the Threshold project aims to prioritize practical applications of Bitcoin, such as facilitating its integration into decentralized financial ecosystems. This shift, in his view, represents a maturation of the crypto space, moving towards real-world utility and impact.

The formation of Threshold also underscores the importance of collaboration in the crypto industry. By bridging the gap between Bitcoin and decentralized finance, the project showcases how cooperative efforts can drive innovation. Luongo noted that the ability to adapt and iterate during the proposal process was essential to achieving a successful merger and aligning the goals of the two communities.

Looking ahead, Luongo highlighted the need for robust security and accountability frameworks to ensure the sustainable growth of decentralized projects. He also emphasized that enhancing Bitcoin’s utility through initiatives like Threshold could have a broader economic impact, expanding its role beyond a store of value to become a key component of decentralized financial systems. ^[2]