Brock Pierce is a prominent entrepreneur who has played a seminal role in shaping the cryptocurrency industry. He co-founded pioneering ventures like Blockchain Capital, Tether, and Block.one, and pushed forward digital currency adoption globally. His journey from child actor to crypto influencer reveals layers of innovation, controversy, and philanthropy.
Pierce started life in the spotlight, acting in Disney films such as The Mighty Ducks and First Kid. That Hollywood chapter closed when he shifted to entrepreneurship in the late 1990s. At 17, he co-founded Digital Entertainment Network, raising lavish funds before it collapsed amid serious allegations.
Undeterred, he pivoted into online gaming. He founded IGE in 2001, which tapped into the early gaming economy by turning virtual items into real-world currency—eventually pulling in over $100 million before being sold in 2007. This era laid the groundwork for his growing interest in digital assets.
By 2013, Pierce co-founded Blockchain Capital, one of the first VC firms focused solely on blockchain and crypto startups. The firm raised significant funds, including via their landmark BCAP token—pioneering security token fundraising.
In 2014, he took part in founding Tether (initially Realcoin), the first widely adopted stablecoin designed to mirror the US dollar’s value. Tether revolutionized liquidity and trading dynamics in crypto markets. Although Pierce says he exited active involvement in Tether by 2015 and claims he didn’t profit from it, the stablecoin continues to dominate trading volumes.
Pierce helped launch Block.one, the company behind EOS.IO. Their ICO raised over $4 billion, arguably the largest in history. He later served as chief strategy officer before stepping down in March 2018 to focus on community-building.
This meteoric rise wasn’t without skepticism. Critics cite the massive capital raised, diverging expectations, and governance concerns as flashpoints.
Beyond businesses, Pierce engaged at a geopolitical level. In June 2021, he led a delegation to El Salvador, aiding its historic decision to accept Bitcoin as legal tender. He also advised governments, lectured at top universities, and was dubbed “the Hippie King of Cryptocurrency”.
He relocated to Puerto Rico in 2017, where he focused on rebuilding post-Hurricane Maria and cultivating a crypto-powered local economy.
Pierce’s ventures often intersect with social causes. Through the Brock Pierce Foundation and Integro Foundation, he’s supported disaster recovery, civil liberties advocacy, and medical research in Puerto Rico and beyond.
On more personal notes, in 2025 he offered Wendy Williams sanctuary and medical care amid her health struggles—a gesture widely covered in media.
Pierce’s path is marked by innovation and conflict alike. His early ventures were marred by allegations that were later settled or dismissed, yet the shadows linger. His role in early crypto fundraising strategies helped redefine how startups secure capital—through tokens rather than equity.
Despite controversies, Pierce remains a key figure in crypto’s narrative—both as an architect of blockchain infrastructure and as a vocal proponent of decentralization and financial innovation.
“By having a baseline protocol that allows you to innovate around finance, a lot of interesting things can happen.”
— Brock Pierce on blockchain’s transformative power.
Brock Pierce’s crypto career is a mosaic of bold ventures, high stakes, and contentious chapters. He helped launch game-changing platforms like Blockchain Capital, Tether, and Block.one, while also advocating for global crypto adoption and applying his wealth toward social good. His story highlights both the potential and pitfalls of digital finance.
What ventures did Brock Pierce co-found in crypto?
He co-founded Blockchain Capital, Tether, Block.one (EOS), Mastercoin, and played advisory roles in many crypto startups.
Is Brock Pierce still involved with Tether?
No—he stepped away from Tether in 2015 and claims he never profited from it.
How did he enter crypto from acting?
He shifted from child acting to founding online gaming ventures, which led organically to exploring virtual economies and, later, cryptocurrencies.
What is the significance of EOS and Block.one’s ICO?
It raised over $4 billion—the largest token sale ever—and marked a high-water mark for ICO fundraising despite later criticism over execution.
What philanthropic initiatives has he led?
He has supported Puerto Rico disaster recovery, civil rights, medical research, and even offered personal help to public figures in need.
Has Pierce ever held a political office?
No—but he ran for President in 2020 as an independent and became the first candidate in US history to receive a vote via a blockchain-based app.
Crypto in gaming refers to the integration of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies into video games,…
What Crypto Trading Cards Are (and Why They Matter) Crypto Trading Cards are NFTs (non-fungible…
Crypto gifts work by transferring digital assets—like Bitcoin or Ethereum—to someone via crypto wallet addresses…
Crypto isn't dead–at least, not quite. The phrase “Crypto Is Dead?” reflects more a sentiment…
Rumors of a government bailout for cryptocurrencies are sweeping through social feeds, but there's no…
Crypto mining is noisy mainly because the hardware—especially high-powered ASICs and GPUs—runs its fans at…