Leah Wald

I’m originally from Washington, D.C., and studied in the Master in International Management (MIM) program at IE. My career began at the World Bank, working on projects aimed at reducing poverty and promoting economic resilience—an experience that deeply shaped my belief in financial sovereignty as a tool for empowerment. That belief later drew me to Bitcoin and digital assets, where I saw not just financial innovation, but the foundations of a more equitable and democratized financial system. Since then, I’ve co-founded Valkyrie Investments, a digital asset manager that grew to over $1.3B in AUM and was ultimately acquired, and I now serve as CEO of Sol Strategies, a publicly traded company building core infrastructure in the Solana blockchain ecosystem. From running validator networks to tokenized capital markets, my work today is rooted in the same mission I started with: creating new financial realities that expand access, opportunity, and freedom on a global scale. Fun facts: I spoke at some of the earliest Bitcoin conferences, co-authored a book on trading financial bubbles titled Hyperwave Theory, and to my knowledge, was the first—and possibly only—woman to play on IE’s football (soccer) team.

How did IE help you get to where you are today? 

IE gave me the global mindset, entrepreneurial foundation, and confidence to take unconventional paths. While at IE, I sold my first business with the guidance and support of my professors—an experience that was both formative and empowering. As one of only a few Americans in the MIM program, I was immersed in a wide range of international business perspectives that pushed me to think differently and helped me build confidence in my ability to lead and create. That foundation shaped every step of my journey since: from co-founding the successful tech platform Veterati, to launching other ventures, and ultimately leading a publicly traded blockchain company. IE didn’t just help me grow professionally—it gave me the tools and global context to dream bigger and build with purpose.

What are three achievements you are most proud of? 

• Co-founding Valkyrie Investments and pioneering U.S. crypto ETFs — We launched some of the first crypto ETFs in the U.S. and grew the firm to over $1.3B in AUM before a successful acquisition, helping legitimize digital assets in traditional finance.
• Revamping and leading SOL Strategies (CSE: HODL) to nearly $1B market cap — As CEO, I transformed a dormant public company into a leading Solana infrastructure firm, taking it from $21M to nearly $1B in market cap and from $0.09 to $6 per share in just six months.
• Launching one of the first U.S. bitcoin-focused investment arms at Lucid Investments — Early in my career, I helped launch Lucid Investments’ bitcoin strategy, making it one of the first specialized crypto investment firms in the U.S. This was long before institutional adoption. 

What does success look like for you? 

For me, success means building something that outlasts me—something that expands access, shifts paradigms, and empowers others. It’s not just about financial returns, but about changing the rules of the game to create a more inclusive, democratized financial system. Success looks like staying true to your values while navigating uncertainty, making bold decisions when the path isn’t clear, and leaving behind a legacy of impact, integrity, and innovation.