Key Takeaways
- Mo Shaikh Co-founded Aptos, a layer-1 blockchain, after years in finance, investment, and blockchain strategy.
- Growing up in Brooklyn, Shaikh studied Psychology, Economics, and Accounting at Hunter College before earning an MBA.
- He entered blockchain in 2017, joining ConsenSys as Director of Strategy to help develop blockchain infrastructure.
Who Is Mo Shaikh?
Mo Shaikh, short for Mohammad Shaikh, is a business leader and investor known for co-founding Aptos, a layer-1 blockchain that uses proof-of-stake. He grew up in Brooklyn in a family supported by his father, a taxi driver, and his mother, a homemaker, with welfare help.
As a first-generation immigrant, he studied at Hunter College, earning a degree in Psychology, Economics, and Accounting. He later went to the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, where he completed an MBA in Organization Strategy & Finance.
Early Career in Finance
Mo Shaikh began his career in finance, gaining experience in investment and strategic consulting. From June 2007 to November 2010, he worked as a Senior Associate at KPMG, focusing on financial analysis and advising clients.
In October 2010, he joined the Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets as a Senior Analyst, where he analyzed investment opportunities. His knowledge of real estate investments expanded when he started working at BlackRock in August 2012 as a Real Estate Associate in New York.
Experience in Investment and Private Equity
In the summer of 2015, Shaikh built on his investment knowledge through hands-on experience. He worked as a REIT Analyst at ClearBridge Investments, where he studied real estate investment trusts. Later that summer, he joined The Abraaj Group in Karachi, Pakistan, as a Private Equity Associate, where he learned about global private equity markets. These roles helped him understand large-scale investment strategies and how major financial decisions are made.
Consulting and Strategy Work
In September 2016, Shaikh started working as a consultant for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he helped businesses plan for growth in different industries. His time at BCG improved his skills in business strategy, decision-making, and studying market trends.
Transition to Blockchain and Role at ConsenSys
In 2017, Shaikh turned his attention to blockchain technology after seeing how it could change financial systems. In September of that year, he joined ConsenSys as Director of Strategy, where he worked on building blockchain infrastructure, managing investments, and helping businesses grow. His role at ConsenSys made him an important part of the blockchain industry.
Founding Meridio
While working at ConsenSys, Shaikh also started Meridio, a platform that used blockchain technology to let investors buy and trade smaller real estate shares. This project was one of the early efforts to use blockchain to make real estate investing easier and more accessible.
Joining Meta and Focus on Digital Payments
In May 2020, Shaikh joined Meta (formerly Facebook) to work on Strategic Partnerships for Novi, Meta’s digital wallet project. He helped develop financial solutions using blockchain technology, which deepened his knowledge of digital payments and decentralized finance. He stayed at Meta until December 2021.
Co-Founding Aptos
In December 2021, Shaikh co-founded Aptos with Avery Ching to create a secure, scalable, and fast blockchain. As CEO, he led the development of Aptos, which introduced advanced features like Block-STM, a system for processing transactions simultaneously, and a Byzantine Fault-Tolerant (BFT) proof-of-stake system for securing the network. Under his leadership, Aptos teamed up with major companies like NPIXEL, Google Cloud, Pontem Network, and MoonPay, helping it grow in Web3 applications, gaming, and decentralized finance.
Growth of Aptos and Its Impact
Aptos became well-known as a top layer-1 blockchain, drawing developers and businesses looking for a secure and fast network. The Aptos Foundation helped its growth, and by 2023, it planned a network upgrade and more openness about its tokens. Aptos also introduced its APT token, which became an important part of its system.
Stepping Down as CEO
On December 20, 2024, Shaikh announced on X that he would step down as CEO of Aptos to explore new opportunities. He spoke about his commitment to fair financial systems and thanked the team for their hard work. Under his leadership, Aptos partnered with big companies like BlackRock, Google, Microsoft, and Mastercard. Avery Ching will take over as CEO, while Shaikh’s future plans are unknown, but he is expected to keep shaping the blockchain world.
Mo Shaikh’s Impact on Blockchain
Shaikh’s work has connected traditional finance with blockchain technology. From investment banking and private equity to leading a major blockchain project, he has focused on new ideas and making finance more accessible. His leadership at Aptos made a mark on Web3, and his future projects will likely keep advancing blockchain growth.
Final Thoughts
Mo Shaikh’s path from finance to blockchain shows how he connected traditional investing with new technology. At Aptos, he helped build a fast and secure blockchain. Now stepping down as CEO, he leaves a strong impact on Web3. His next steps are unknown, but he will likely keep shaping the future of blockchain.
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