Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Joins Crypto Startup Equi: Report

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak said Tuesday that he's now working with investment-focused crypto startup Equi, though his role is as yet unclear.

AccessTimeIconAug 21, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. UTC
Updated Aug 18, 2021 at 9:40 p.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak announced Tuesday that he's now working with investment-focused crypto startup Equi Capital.

Speaking to Null Transaction, the bitcoin proponent said this is the first time he has worked with a blockchain company in his career, adding that he "was amazed at the technology behind [cryptocurrency]."

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • Equi aims to act as an investment firm, Wozniak said. According to the startup's Twitter page, it hopes to help both retail and professional investors purchase equity in companies in an effort to replace traditional investing firms.

    Wozniak continued:

    "Our approach is not like a new currency, or something phony where an event will make it go up in value. It's a share of stock, in a company. This company is doing investment by investors with huge track records in good investments in things like apartment buildings in Dubai. We have one person in our group who has listed out a whole apartment building for bitcoin."

    Wozniak did not provide details on what his role would be at the startup. He did indicate that the company may register in Malta, which has been working to develop a friendly regulatory environment aimed to attract firms in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.

    Continuing to tout the potential use cases for blockchain technology, he said, "I've encountered people working in real estate avenues, types of Uber systems, everything we've got in our life, especially involving transactions – retail sales, car sales, manufacturing of goods … working on bitcoin applications … and they all have value."

    The tech guru's choice of first crypto project is perhaps a little surprising. Equi, as reported by The Next Web, has had something of a bumpy path so far. Initially launching its token via an ICO, lack of interest and missed targets reportedly saw the sale cancelled and pre-sale investors refunded.

    A follow-up bounty scheme to reward users with tokens for publicizing the project also saw major issues when a partner marketing company soon walked away, the news source indicates. Going the bounty route also raises the thorny issue, as reported by CoinDesk, that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated that even giving away tokens may break securities rules.

    At press time, Equi's website was not working.

    Steve Wozniak image via Shutterstock

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.