Not all prisons have bars. Some are made of fear, doubt, shame, and the stories we tell ourselves. From the concrete walls of correctional facilities to the invisible walls of our own making, prison takes many forms. This SheCrypto "Unchained" episode is raw commentary on the lines between real prisons ~ the kind that strip away physical freedom ~ and the invisible prisons we walk into every day.

GM, everyone! Welcome back to the SheCrypto podcast.

Today, I’m spotlighting a woman whose story embodies resilience, redemption and reinvention in the world of Bitcoin: Jill Ford, co-founder of Bitford Digital.

I met Jill earlier this year at The Bitcoin Conference - right after she took the stage at the event, which is one of the biggest in the industry, alongside Justin Rhedrick, aka Bitcoin Vegan, founder of the Bitcoin Transformation Community and author of From Bars To Bitcoin.

Together, Jill and Justin unveiled a bold new initiative aimed at bridging the worlds of digital assets and social impact. At the conference, the duo introduced a dual-pronged program designed to funnel outdated mining equipment and hashpower into hands-on job training and workforce reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals.

From Setback to Strength

What I admire most about Jill is that she doesn’t shy away from her past. In 2023, she faced a major setback, serving seven months in federal prison for bank fraud and money laundering. For some, that could’ve been the end of the story. But for Jill, it was fuel for transformation.

Behind bars, she saw the inequities of traditional finance up close. That experience deepened her conviction that Bitcoin isn’t just an investment … it’s a tool for liberation. For people often shut out of wealth-building opportunities, Bitcoin represents access and autonomy.

Building Bitford Digital

When Jill walked out of prision, she didn’t just rebuild - she redefined.

She launched Bitford Digital, a company focused on ethical and sustainable Bitcoin mining.

“Bitford was born from a desire to bring more integrity into a space where profit can sometimes overshadow principle,” Jill has said. And that vision flows through everything the company does - from teaching both large and small organizations cleaner mining practices to supporting smarter logistics for miners around the world.

Beyond Mining: Education & Inclusion

But Jill’s mission doesn’t stop at building a company. She’s using her platform to educate minoritized communities on financial literacy and crypto, working to ensure that Bitcoin breaks, rather than reinforces, cycles of economic disenfranchisement.

At Bitcoin 2025, she said it best:

“This isn’t just about crypto. It’s about rebuilding trust, rewriting narratives, and proving what’s possible when we stop gatekeeping financial freedom.”

Jill Ford Is Making Moves

Jill is proof that setbacks don’t define you. It’s the way you rebuild - and what you do with your time here on Earth to help others - that counts.

By focusing on social responsibility, she’s not just leading a company; she’s helping lead a movement toward a more inclusive, ethical, and accountable future.

🎧 Catch my full SheCrypto podcast interview with Jill Ford for even more of her story.

To learn more, visit Jill’s website: https://bitford.digital or connect with her on X, Telegram or Instagram.

SheCrypto by Kelly Ann Collins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

About SheCrypto

SheCrypto is a creative media endeavor that I (Kelly Ann Collins) founded in 2021. In collaboration with Unstoppable Future Corporation, my Washington, D.C.–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which is behind the Women In Blockchain initiative, we’re on a mission to expand access to blockchain, crypto and Web3 information for women and minoritized communities - working alongside an incredible network of partners and collaborators.

Our 2025 collaborators and partners include:

* Stand With Crypto, a grassroots advocacy group

* The Bitcoin Conference, the world’s largest gathering of Bitcoin enthusiasts

* Blockchain Futurist Conference, top Canadian Web3 event, now also in the U.S.

* ETHWomen, empowering women in Web3

* Consensus by CoinDesk, crypto’s most influential annual summit

* ETHToronto, the Ethereum hackathon that connects builders and creators

* Litecoin Summit, covering privacy, regulation, and innovation

* European Blockchain Convention, accelerating blockchain in Europe

SheCrypto, in partnership with Unstoppable Future’s Women In Blockchain initiative, is also the organizer behind the popular Crypto & Coffee event series, where community building meets casual conversation.

Disclaimer

This podcast and all content by SheCrypto is for informational and entertainment purposes only ~ not financial advice. SheCrypto and its partners and collaborators do not guarantee that all news, statements, or facts referenced are true or complete. SheCrypto, Kelly Ann Collins, Unstoppable Future Corporation, Women In Blockchain as well as all collaborators and partners are not responsible for any investment decisions you make or any of the information in this newsletter / post. Always DYOR (do your own research) and consult a licensed professional before making financial moves. Full disclaimer here.

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Taylor Swift just got engaged to Travis Kelce (yes, it’s official 🥂). While the world obsesses over the ring, I can’t stop thinking about how Taylor is basically blockchain in human form.

Stay with me.

Blockchain’s core promise is financial sovereignty: no gatekeepers, no middlemen, no one telling you what’s yours. You own it. You control it.

Taylor did exactly that in music. She reclaimed her masters, rewrote the rules of the industry, and built a billion-dollar empire from her own art. In crypto terms: she held her private keys when the suits tried to lock her out.

Swiftonomics: Proof of Work, IRL

Her Eras Tour turned cities into booming economies. CNN called it out—hotels sold out, restaurants thrived, local shops saw record traffic. One woman, moving billions. That’s not just fandom—it’s economic decentralization in action.

This is Taylor’s version of “Proof of Work.” Every re-recorded album, every stadium sold out, every girl singing All Too Well at the top of her lungs—it’s her mining blocks of cultural and financial value.

Billion-Dollar Sovereignty

Taylor is worth ~$2 billion today—making her the richest female musician in the world. She’s outpaced Madonna, Dolly, U2, even Mick Jagger. The only one ahead is Jay-Z … and let’s be real, she’ll probably flip him soon.

Here’s the magic: she didn’t need a perfume line, tequila brand, or fashion house. Just music. Just sovereignty. Just Taylor.

If blockchain is about building wealth through ownership, Taylor is its flesh-and-blood case study.

Love + Power = The New Feminine Flex

Her engagement isn’t just sweet—it’s symbolic. Girls are watching and realizing: you can build billion-dollar wealth, reclaim your art, and get engaged to the NFL’s golden boy. You don’t have to trade softness for strength. You can be sovereign and in love.

That’s real empowerment.

Taylor Swift = The Blockchain Energy We Need

When I look at Taylor, I see:

* Financial Sovereignty → Masters = private keys.

* Decentralized Empowerment → Fans, local economies, women everywhere benefiting.

* Proof of Work → Her hustle is the hash power.

* Future-Ready → The wealthiest woman in music, and still climbing.

Taylor is living proof that when women own their value, they change the system.

So yeah, today’s about an engagement. But really? It’s about watching a woman who turned herself into a global, decentralized, unstoppable force.

Taylor Swift is a DAO. We’re all token holders. And, I’m here for it.