Key Points
- Jack Mallers is likely a 30-year-old American entrepreneur and Bitcoin advocate.
- He founded Zap and Strike, companies focused on Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network.
- Research suggests he played a key role in making Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador.
- His net worth seems to be between $50 million and $100 million, based on early Bitcoin investments and company success.
- The evidence leans toward him coming from a finance-focused family, influencing his career.
Background
Jack Mallers, born on April 9, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois, is a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency space. He is best known as the founder and CEO of Zap, a company specializing in Bitcoin investment and payments, particularly through the Lightning Network. His flagship product, Strike, is a popular app that enables fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions, making it accessible for users worldwide.
Mallers’ family background in finance likely influenced his career path. His grandfather was the chairman of the Chicago Board of Trade, and his father founded one of the largest futures brokerages in Chicago, introducing him to Bitcoin in 2013. This early exposure, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit, led him to drop out of St. John’s University after a year to pursue coding, attending a full-stack coding school in Chicago.
Achievements and Impact
Mallers has been influential in promoting Bitcoin adoption, especially in El Salvador, where he spent time in 2020 understanding the Bitcoin Beach initiative and met with President Nayib Bukele. His efforts contributed to El Salvador making Bitcoin legal tender, with Strike facilitating free remittances, a crucial aspect of the country’s economy. Strike’s no-fee app allows users to buy, sell, and receive Bitcoin payments, expanding to over 200 countries through partnerships like Bittrex and Prime Trust.
Financially, Mallers benefited from his early Bitcoin investment in 2012, when he purchased it for $250, and the success of his companies. Zap raised over $80 million since 2020, and Strike’s recent $80 million investment round valued the company at $300 million. His net worth is estimated to be between $50 million and $100 million, with potential for growth as the cryptocurrency industry expands.
Philosophy and Recognition
Mallers advocates for financial inclusion, believing Bitcoin and the Lightning Network offer innovation and accessibility to financial systems as a basic human right. His work has earned him recognition, including being listed in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Finance in 2021, highlighting his impact as a young entrepreneur in the financial technology sector.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Jack Mallers
Jack Mallers, born on April 9, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois, is a 30-year-old American entrepreneur, software engineer, and Bitcoin advocate, as of April 27, 2025. His career and influence in the cryptocurrency space are well-documented across multiple sources, including Forbes, Bitstamp Learn Center, and CoinCodex. This section provides a comprehensive overview of his background, achievements, and impact, drawing from the available information.
Family Background and Early Life
Mallers comes from a family with deep roots in finance, which likely shaped his career trajectory. His grandfather served as the chairman of the Chicago Board of Trade, and his father founded and later sold one of the largest futures brokerages in Chicago (Forbes Profile). This exposure to finance from a young age, particularly his father’s introduction to Bitcoin in 2013, set the stage for his interest in cryptocurrencies. Mallers initially enrolled at St. John’s University in New York but dropped out after a year to attend Starter School, a full-stack coding bootcamp in Chicago, reflecting his passion for technology over traditional academics (Bitstamp Learn Center).
His early tech involvement included building apps for niche markets, such as a tool for wheelchair-accessible transportation and an app for personal trainers to manage fitness clients, showcasing his entrepreneurial skills before focusing on cryptocurrency (Bitstamp Learn Center).
Entry into Cryptocurrency and Founding Zap
Mallers’ serious exploration of Bitcoin began a few years after his 2013 introduction, with a particular focus on the Lightning Network (LN) in 2017. He recognized LN’s potential for fast, easy transactions paired with Bitcoin’s security, leading him to found Zap in the summer of 2017 (Bitstamp Learn Center). Initially, Zap targeted cannabis dispensaries with a user-friendly, non-custodial wallet for LN payments, addressing a specific market need. This venture marked the beginning of his significant contributions to Bitcoin adoption.
Launch and Expansion of Strike
In January 2020, Mallers launched Strike, a rebranding of Olympus, which aimed to make LN payments accessible without requiring users to have a wallet or prior Bitcoin experience (Bitstamp Learn Center). Strike’s features include no-fee transactions, the ability to buy and sell Bitcoin without added fees, and a “pay me in bitcoin†feature for salary deposits, choosing a percentage to convert to Bitcoin. The app expanded globally in early 2021 through a partnership with Bittrex, reaching over 200 countries and adding more cryptocurrencies, and partnered with Prime Trust for custody and AML compliance (Bitstamp Learn Center).
Zap, Strike’s parent company, raised over $80 million since 2020 from investors like Ten31, University of Wyoming, and Washington University in St. Louis, with initial partners including Shopify, Blackhawk, and NCR (Bitstamp Learn Center). A notable milestone was Twitter’s announcement in September 2021 of using the Strike API for Bitcoin tipping, further integrating Strike into mainstream platforms (Bitstamp Learn Center).
Role in El Salvador’s Bitcoin Adoption
One of Mallers’ most significant achievements is his influence in making Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador. In 2020, he spent three months in the country, understanding the Bitcoin Beach initiative’s mission and meeting with President Nayib Bukele to discuss financial inclusion (Bitstamp Learn Center). At the Bitcoin 2021 conference, while Mallers spoke on Bitcoin adoption, Bukele announced El Salvador’s decision to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, a move Mallers had been advocating (Who is Jack Mallers? – Bitstamp Learn Center). Strike’s role in El Salvador is particularly impactful, offering free remittances, which is critical as remittances make up 25% of the country’s GDP and 70% of the population lacks bank accounts, reducing costs compared to traditional services like Western Union (Bitstamp Learn Center).
Financial Success and Net Worth
Mallers’ financial success is tied to his early investment in Bitcoin, purchasing it in 2012 for $250, which has significantly appreciated over time (CoinCodex). His companies, Zap and Strike, have also contributed to his wealth. Strike’s recent $80 million investment round valued the company at $300 million, and Zap raised over $80 million since 2020 (CoinCodex, Bitstamp Learn Center). His net worth is estimated to be between $50 million and $100 million as of 2025, with potential for growth due to the expanding cryptocurrency industry and Strike’s success (CoinCodex).
Mallers has also invested in cryptocurrency funds like Pantera Capital and Anthony Pompliano’s investment fund, and made angel investments in other blockchain firms, focusing solely on Bitcoin and avoiding investments in Ethereum and Solana (CoinCodex). His first company, Zap, faced initial struggles but turned into a success, demonstrating his perseverance and business acumen (CoinCodex).
Philosophy and Recognition
Mallers advocates for accessibility to financial systems as a basic human right, believing Bitcoin and the Lightning Network offer innovation, financial inclusion, accessibility, and efficient financial services (Bitstamp Learn Center). His philosophy is reflected in Strike’s mission to make Bitcoin transactions accessible to everyone, particularly in underserved regions like El Salvador. His work has earned him recognition, including being listed in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Finance in 2021, highlighting his impact as a young entrepreneur in the financial technology sector (Forbes Profile).
Summary of Key Details
To organize the information, the following table summarizes Mallers’ background and achievements:
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Jack Mallers |
| Age (2025) | 30 |
| Date of Birth | April 9, 1994 |
| Place of Birth | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Family Background | Grandfather: Chairman of Chicago Board of Trade; Father: Founded large futures brokerage |
| Education | Attended St. John’s University, dropped out; Attended Starter School coding bootcamp |
| Early Tech Involvement | Built apps for wheelchair transportation, fitness management |
| Introduction to Crypto | Introduced to Bitcoin by father in 2013, focused on LN in 2017 |
| Foundations and Roles | Founder and CEO of Zap (parent of Strike); Launched Zap in 2017, Strike in 2020 |
| Key Achievements | Influential in El Salvador’s Bitcoin legal tender, Forbes 30 Under 30 (2021) |
| Strike Features | No-fee LN payments, global expansion, partnerships with Bittrex, Prime Trust |
| Funding | Zap raised over $80M since 2020, Strike valued at $300M after $80M round |
| Net Worth (2025) | Estimated $50M to $100M |
| Philosophy | Advocates financial inclusion via Bitcoin, sees LN as innovative solution |
This table encapsulates the breadth of Mallers’ contributions and personal background, providing a structured overview for readers.
Conclusion
Jack Mallers is a pivotal figure in the Bitcoin ecosystem, known for his entrepreneurial ventures, advocacy for financial inclusion, and significant role in El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption. His companies, Zap and Strike, have not only achieved financial success but also driven innovation in cryptocurrency payments, making him a recognized name in the industry as of April 27, 2025.
Key Citations