Skip to content
MM

Malek Malyen

Growth & Ecosystem Lead | DeFi, Infrastructure, Protocol Strategy

📍 paris, france

🟡Lurking

Growth operator with 4+ years scaling blockchain infra and DeFi products. Scaled a validator business from 1 chain to 15+ networks and $500M AUM at peak. Onboarded banking institutions, T-bill issuers and custodians into crypto. Led governance at ATOM Accelerator Recently solo-built FreeFlo, a trustless USDC-to-fiat offramp using zkTLS: from idea to MVP in 2 months.

Work Preferences

Salary

USD 100120

Skills

Validator Operations9/10
Governance9/10
Blockchain Infrastructure9/10
Research & Content Writing8/10
DeFi8/10
Business Development (8/10)Ecosystem Partnerships (8/10)Growth Strategy (8/10)Cosmos SDK (8/10)Protocol Economics (8/10)zkTLS (7/10)Community Management (7/10)DeFi Analytics (7/10)Lending Protocols (7/10)Liquidity Management (7/10)RWA Onboarding (7/10)Treasury Management (7/10)Blockchain Analytics (7/10)TLSNotary (6/10)React (5/10)

Work Experience

Governance Lead

ATOM Accelerator

Jun 2024Jan 2025

Led emergency security response after Lazarus Group involvement in a Cosmos SDK module. Introduced an on-chain clawback mechanism via governance for treasury management. Guided grantees through funding proposals and stakeholder navigation. Hosted hacker houses and workshops for developers focused on BD and growth.

Growth & Governance Strategist

Citadel One

Mar 2024Present

Write research reports on protocol economics and governance informing internal validator strategy and delegator-facing educational content. Source and onboard new chains. Run ecosystem partnerships and marketing campaigns. Active participation in governance forums: authoring proposals, publishing voting rationales and representing Citadel One in on-chain discussions.

BD & Ecosystem Lead

Ki Foundation

Dec 2021Mar 2024

Scaled validator infrastructure (Klub Staking) from single-chain to 15+ networks with $500M AUM at peak. Designed incentive mechanism that 10x'd delegators and grew AUM by 500%. Built in-house analytics suite. Brought banking institutions and RWA issuers to Atlas Protocol. Launched first Cosmos-based index product and yield-bearing stablecoin. Handled risk and treasury management. Ran social channels, community programs and liquidity incentive campaigns.

Education

ESCE (Ecole Supérieure de Commerce Extérieur)

MSc · Finance