Carel van Wyk is a distinguished engineer and serial entrepreneur renowned for harnessing blockchain technology to deliver innovative payment solutions to global markets. As a pioneering figure in the South African fintech landscape, he was a co-founder of Luno, one of the continent’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, and served as an early engineer at SnapScan, where he helped shape the future of mobile payments. His career is characterized by a unique ability to bridge the gap between complex technical infrastructure and mainstream commercial adoption.

Currently, Carel is the Founder and CEO of MoneyBadger (formerly CryptoConvert), a venture dedicated to revolutionizing the payments industry by enabling merchants to accept digital currencies seamlessly. His strategic leadership was instrumental in the landmark partnership with Pick n Pay, making it the first major retailer in Africa to accept Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network. With a Master’s degree in Augmented Reality and an extensive background in software development, Carel remains at the forefront of the “crypto-as-money” movement, building globally scalable platforms that challenge traditional financial networks.