Haley Cromer is leading the charge at CrossFi, a company that is redefining the boundaries of decentralized finance (DeFi) by bridging the gap between traditional finance and the rapidly expanding world of Web3. As the Ecosystem Department Chief, Cromer plays a pivotal role in fostering the development of a robust ecosystem that connects developers, partners, and users worldwide.

From Blockchain Evangelism to Ecosystem Leadership

Cromer’s journey with CrossFi began as the Head of Developer Relations and Blockchain Evangelism, a role that put her at the forefront of building relationships and expanding the developer community. Over the past year, she helped scale the company’s ecosystem, guiding the development of new features and creating partnerships. Her work led her to the position of Ecosystem Department Chief, where she is now shaping the company’s long-term vision by overseeing its rapidly growing global network.

The company, which operates in nearly 100 countries, aims to offer a decentralized, user-friendly financial ecosystem. For Cromer, the transition from a technical role to a leadership one felt natural, as it allowed her to build on the foundation she had helped lay. With a team now bolstered by a developer relations engineer and a head of the ambassador program, CrossFi’s ecosystem is poised for even greater expansion.

CrossFi: A New Era of Crypto and Traditional Finance Integration

At its core, CrossFi seeks to be the first Web3 bank, functioning as a bridge between decentralized finance and traditional banking services. The company’s layered approach integrates Cosmos and Ethereum to offer high transaction speeds, a necessary feature for real-time payments. By allowing users to convert their crypto into fiat currency instantly, through partnerships with companies like Visa, CrossFi makes it possible to pay at any point-of-sale terminal with crypto, just as one would with a traditional debit or credit card.

Cromer describes CrossFi as aiming for something akin to “Apple Pay for crypto.” This integration into real-world transactions is pivotal, especially as the world becomes more comfortable with the idea of digital assets. But navigating regulatory landscapes, particularly in the U.S., presents a challenge. As crypto regulations evolve globally, the company’s vision of offering decentralized finance solutions to users in places like Iran or Hong Kong may soon expand to the U.S., which is currently a tough market for crypto adoption.

Empowering the Unbanked and Underbanked

One of CrossFi’s defining goals is to serve populations that have traditionally been excluded from financial systems. Cromer draws comparisons to women in the U.S. pre-1970s, who couldn’t access credit, to illustrate how many people globally still face similar challenges today. By targeting the unbanked and underbanked, CrossFi offers an alternative to failing local currencies and provides a platform for financial freedom.

CrossFi’s platform incorporates synthetic assets, allowing users to invest, stake, and manage their wealth without the traditional financial infrastructure. This holistic approach to DeFi extends beyond simple transactions, offering users the ability to engage in lending, borrowing, and asset management. By using blockchain technology, CrossFi enables users from developing countries to make financial decisions previously inaccessible to them.

Innovating with AI and Accelerating Development

As the company continues to scale, Cromer is equally passionate about advancing CrossFi’s technological capabilities, particularly by integrating artificial intelligence. From AI-powered chatbots to decentralized identity (DID) solutions, CrossFi’s use of AI enhances user experience and operational efficiency. The company’s app also leverages AI to help users navigate blockchain tools with ease, further simplifying the process for non-technical people.

Alongside its technological innovations, CrossFi’s commitment to fostering developer talent is evident through its hackathons and grant programs. With an emphasis on DeFi, GameFi, AI, and interoperability, these initiatives support developers in creating applications on CrossFi’s blockchain. This year’s hackathon, already underway, includes workshops from major industry partners like Alchemy and offers up to $500,000 in grant funding to winning projects.

CrossFi’s broader vision includes a new platform, CrossFi University, that will host a suite of educational tools and resources for developers, users, and anyone interested in learning more about the evolving world of decentralized finance. This platform will combine training, expert advice, and resources to help individuals navigate the world of Web3, bringing everything together into one cohesive ecosystem.

Navigating Fragmentation and Ensuring Accessibility

Despite CrossFi’s many advancements, Cromer acknowledges that challenges remain, particularly around the fragmentation of the Web3 space. The issue of gas fees and slow transaction speeds in established networks like Bitcoin continues to hinder mass adoption, and CrossFi’s approach to interoperability is one step toward addressing this. By offering solutions to move seamlessly between different blockchains, CrossFi is making it easier for users to manage their digital assets without facing steep losses.

CrossFi’s model focuses on simplicity and user experience, with the ultimate goal of making cryptocurrency as accessible as traditional finance. By creating user-friendly interfaces and minimizing complex processes, the company hopes to bring crypto into the mainstream, making it as easy to use as Apple Pay or a traditional bank card.

A Look Ahead: The Future of Crypto Banking

For Cromer, the key to widespread crypto adoption lies in a seamless, user-friendly experience that allows anyone, even a grandma, to understand and use the technology. While regulatory and technological challenges remain, CrossFi is committed to moving forward with a global-first mindset. As adoption grows and the legal landscape becomes clearer, the vision of a decentralized, global financial ecosystem becomes ever closer to reality.

In the coming years, as more countries come on board with crypto regulations, CrossFi is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of decentralized finance. With its innovative use of blockchain, its commitment to serving underserved populations, and its emphasis on simplicity and accessibility, CrossFi is positioning itself as a leader in the next phase of the financial revolution.

Want more CryptoCurrents? Read more articles or head over to YouTube or Apple Podcasts.