Key Takeaways
- Vinny Lingham is a South African and American entrepreneur who has helped many crypto startups in recent years, following his career as a venture capitalist.
- Despite co-founding the Civic project, he has helped many crypto startup projects raise over $33 million through initial coin offerings (ICOs) within the crypto community.
- His investment, co-founding Civic, and helping many crypto projects have led to speculation of amassing wealth in the region of over $50 million.
The blockchain industry has seen many investors and venture capitalists explore the much talked about opportunities that crypto startups present, including Vinny Lingham, who has invested in so many emerging companies and helped them to secure funding. He has contributed to several projects; however, a notable impact has been seen in co-founding Civic, a decentralised identity verification platform.
Who is Vinny Lingham? American Venture Capitalist
Vinny Lingham studied Information Systems at the University of Cape Town, but never completed it, as he was more open to pursuing an entrepreneurial journey. He later earned a specialization from Harvard Business School’s Executive Program.
However, before this recognition in his venture’s journey, Vinny founded IncuBeta, an investment holding company providing services in the digital market and technologies. While its subsidiary, Click2Customers, specializes in SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
IncuBeta was sold off in 2003 after achieving huge success. In 2007, Vinny Lingham founded Yola, a startup specializing in web development for businesses, and secured over $25 million in funding.
Lingham, following his exposure to Bitcoin, co-founded Gyft, a mobile gift card platform with Bitcoin payment integration, which was later sold for $50 million.
Building on his success, Vinny Lingham co-founded Civic, a decentralized blockchain verification platform. He served as CEO, helping the platform raise over $33 million in funding through its Initial Coin Offering (ICO).
Crypto Contributions

Source – Vinny Lingham on X (formerly Twitter)
Vinny Lingham, over the years, has co-founded the following and acted in different roles as shown below:
- Co-founded Rumi.ai, an AI platform for capturing user information and client interactions
- Co-founded Newtown Partners, a venture capital firm for blockchain startups
- General partner of Multicoin Capital, leading investments in crypto startups
- Co-founded Praxos Capital, a crypto hedge fund
Lingham is regarded as a thought leader and speaker, sharing his growth in the crypto space over the years through his activities on his X account.
Vinny Lingham’s Net Worth in 2025
Following his entrepreneurial success, estimates suggest that Lingham is worth over $50 million, driven by his co-founding of several crypto platforms, AI technologies, and his active involvement in the venture capital industry.
Conclusion
Lingham has enjoyed a remarkable career in the blockchain industry, following the success of founding Civic and investing in rising crypto startups. He is currently active on X, where he constantly shares his insight into the space and attends conferences and other media appearances.
FAQs
Who is the billionaire Vinny?
Vinny is an American entrepreneur with roots in South Africa, contributing to blockchain startups.
Who is the founder of GYFT?
Vinny Lingham is the founder of GYFT, a Bitcoin payment technology.
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