Blockstream named Michael Minkevich chief operating officer on October 15, 2024. The hire came inside the same release that disclosed a $210 million convertible note financing round led by Fulgur Ventures, under a section titled "Leadership Expansion: Michael Minkevich Joins as COO"1.
Four leadership moves at Blockstream on the record since 2016
Every move CryptoLately has verified there, by the day it became public
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct. 3, 2016 | Back became CEO. Adam Back was named Chief Executive Officer of Blockstream |
| Oct. 3, 2016 | Hill left as CEO. Austin Hill left as Chief Executive Officer of Blockstream |
| March 1, 2022 | Mow left as Chief Strategy Officer. Samson Mow left as Chief Strategy Officer of Blockstream |
| Oct. 15, 2024 | Minkevich became COO. Michael Minkevich was named Chief Operating Officer of Blockstream |
39 executive hires on the record in 2024
Executive hires CryptoLately has verified, by year; 2026 through Oct. 2, 2026
- 2024: 39
- 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 27 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2025 | 59 |
| 2026 | 45 |
The hire
Blockstream's release credited Minkevich with “over two decades of experience in developing advanced technological solutions for traditional industries, including finance”1. CoinDesk's independent report confirmed the appointment on October 15, 2024, too. “The company, co-founded by legendary bitcoin developer Dr. Adam Back, has also appointed Michael Minkevich as chief operating officer,” the outlet wrote2. Minkevich framed the move as a bet on Blockstream's engineering strength. “Blockstream has a unique product portfolio and one of the best engineering teams building reliable Bitcoin solutions, making it perfectly suited to lead the ongoing transformation of the fintech industry,” Minkevich said. “I'm thrilled to work with Dr. Adam Back, one of the pioneers of the Bitcoin revolution on helping our customers bring digital assets to the mainstream”.
Blockstream before and after
Minkevich came from Luxoft, where CoinDesk reported he "was previously responsible for product engineering" at the enterprise technology services firm2. Blockstream's own release went further. The release said he had “played a key role in expanding the company's services to a global Fortune 500 client base” and had been "instrumental in the company's successful US IPO"1. Back, Blockstream's co-founder and chief executive, called the financing round "a defining moment for Blockstream" in the same statement. He said the company was "especially excited to welcome Michael Minkevich as COO". By the company's own count, Blockstream's Liquid Network had by then carried "over $1.8 billion in assets, including stablecoins, tokenized bonds and securities".
What the record shows
Both sources date to October 15, 2024, and carry the hire and the raise together12. A Google News search on October 3, 2026, looked for a later page on Minkevich's work at Blockstream. That search returned only reports from the week of the raise.
Sources
- "Blockstream Secures $210M Led by Fulgur Ventures to Drive Layer-2 Growth and Expand Bitcoin Treasury," Blockstream, October 15, 2024, https://blockstream.com/press-releases/2024-10-15-blockstream-secures-210m-dollars-led-fulgur-ventures-drive-layer-2-growth-expand-bitcoin-treasury/
- "Blockstream Raises $210M in Convertible Note Financing Round," CoinDesk, October 15, 2024, https://www.coindesk.com/business/2024/10/15/blockstream-raises-210m-in-convertible-note-financing-round