Mary-Catherine Lader
Financial innovator, leader in DeFi, and founder of Native Markets
New York, New York, United States
Summary
Mary-Catherine Lader is a prominent figure in the fintech and decentralized finance (DeFi) space, currently serving as the Founder and CEO of Native Markets, a venture focused on building a better dollar for the Hyperliquid blockchain. Her transition into this role follows a distinguished tenure as President and Chief Operating Officer at Uniswap Labs, where she was instrumental in scaling the Ethereum-based DeFi protocol, overseeing significant growth in product launches, fundraising ($165 million), team expansion (from 15 to 150 employees), and achieving profitability. She continues to provide strategic guidance to Uniswap Labs in an advisory capacity, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to the DeFi ecosystem. bcaresearch+3
With extensive experience at major financial institutions, Mary-Catherine Lader held various leadership positions at BlackRock, including Managing Director & Global Head of Aladdin Sustainability & Aladdin Climate and Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer of BlackRock Digital Wealth. In these roles, she spearheaded the firm's digital assets initiative starting in 2015, drove sustainable investment strategies, led strategic fintech investments in companies like Acorns and ClarityAI, and co-founded BlackRock's AI Labs with Stanford University. Her career began as an Investment Analyst in Goldman Sachs' Special Situations Group during the financial crisis, demonstrating a long-standing engagement with financial innovation and market dynamics. milkeninstitute+3
Mary-Catherine possesses a unique blend of legal and business acumen, holding both a Juris Doctor (JD) from Harvard Law School and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School. As an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center, she actively researched and contributed to discussions on critical cyberlaw topics such as broadband access for underserved communities, the evolving landscape of digital media and content distribution, and the impact of digital platforms on the nature of work. Her academic background underscores her interdisciplinary approach to tackling complex challenges in technology and finance. milkeninstitute+3
Beyond her executive roles, Mary-Catherine is actively involved in broader industry and policy discussions. She is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, serves on the board of Tech:NYC (a tech industry association), and is a member of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Global Markets Advisory Committee. Her leadership extends to advisory and board positions with Torch Capital Management LLC and Oaktree Acquisition Corp. III, reflecting her engagement with emerging companies and investment strategies in the financial sector. milkeninstitute+3
Work
Education
Writing
Berkman Community Newcomers: Mary-Catherine Lader
January 1, 2014An interview discussing her interest in cyberspace, current work on broadband access for low-income Americans, the future of premium content distribution, and how digital platforms are changing work, particularly as a JD/MBA Candidate and Berkman Affiliate.
Forum to address slavery and justice report today
October 1, 2006An article published in The Brown Daily Herald as editor-in-chief, reflecting on the university's engagement with its historical ties to slavery.
Eight projects that will alter Brown's campus
October 1, 2006An article in The Brown Daily Herald detailing eight physical development projects at Brown University that were in design, fundraising, or construction stages.