Who is Jack Mallers?

Jack Mallers, born on April 9, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois, is a prominent entrepreneur recognized in the cryptocurrency community for his pioneering contributions to Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. Raised in a family deeply embedded in the financial industry, Jack benefited from early exposure to markets and trading. 

Early Years & Education

His grandfather, William J. Mallers Sr., made a significant contribution to the establishment of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, while his father, William Mallers Jr., co-founded the brokerage firm First American Discount Corporation. This early exposure to markets shaped his future path.

He initially attended St. John’s University in New York but left after less than a year, drawn by his passion for technology. He attended Starter School, a coding bootcamp in Chicago, where he honed his software development skills and launched several applications targeting fitness management and transportation accessibility. 

Professional Career

His engagement with Bitcoin began in 2013, sparked by his father’s introduction to the cryptocurrency. By 2017, Jack saw significant potential in the Lightning Network to improve Bitcoin transactions, prompting him to establish Zap, a user-friendly, non-custodial Lightning wallet initially aimed at cannabis dispensaries facing banking restrictions. 

Zap evolved to focus on mainstream adoption, launching "Olympus" in 2019, enabling users to purchase Bitcoin with fiat currency. In 2020, Olympus was rebranded as Strike, making it simpler for users to conduct Lightning Network transactions without directly holding Bitcoin. It launched integrations with Visa and Shopify, and expanded worldwide to facilitate remittances and payments.

Bitcoin Advocacy

He played a key role in El Salvador's groundbreaking decision to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, working closely with President Nayib Bukele to demonstrate the practical benefits of crypto in financial inclusion. Strike's technology significantly improved remittance processing in El Salvador, reducing transaction costs and providing economic benefits to citizens.

Twenty One Capital

In April 2025, Jack became CEO and co-founder of Twenty One Capital, a Bitcoin-native company launching via SPAC (through Cantor Equity Partners) and backed by Tether, SoftBank, and Cantor Fitzgerald. Starting with over 42,000 BTC (~$3.6 billion), it aims to pioneer Bitcoin-denominated products and measure performance in Bitcoin per share.

His strategic vision involves mainstreaming Bitcoin integration within global financial systems to enhance efficiency and accessibility. He consistently emphasizes Bitcoin’s capacity to offer genuine financial freedom and independence through his podcast, The Money Matters Podcast.

Jack Mallers' Net Worth in 2025

As of 2025, Jack Mallers' net worth is firmly estimated between $50 million and $100 million, a range supported by multiple reputable financial profiles, including Forbes. Here are the key drivers of his wealth:

• Strike’s Ownership Stake: Since its launch in 2020, Strike has raised significant capital, including $80 million in 2022, which has led to a valuation of around $300 million. His shareholding in Strike is the primary contributor to his net worth.
• Early Bitcoin Investments: He began investing in Bitcoin as early as 2012–2013, when prices ranged from $200 to $250. Those early positions have appreciated dramatically over time and remain a solid foundation of his wealth.
• Zap and Other Ventures: Zap, the Lightning Network wallet Jack launched before Strike, raised over $80 million, which helped further elevate his portfolio.
• Other Investments and Diversification: Profiles suggest that Jack has diversified beyond his own companies, investing in cryptocurrency funds, startups, and possibly real estate, although detailed valuation information remains less available.

His financial standing reflects a combination of entrepreneurial success, strategic equity ownership, early adoption of Bitcoin, and ongoing growth in the payments and crypto infrastructure space. As Strike continues to scale and Bitcoin adoption expands, his net worth may lean toward the higher end of current estimates.

How Much Bitcoin Does Jack Mallers Own?

Public disclosures focus exclusively on Twenty One’s treasury. Jack's personal Bitcoin balance hasn’t been disclosed. What is clear is that under his strategic leadership, over 46,800 BTC are held in the company he runs.

• 42,000 BTC Treasury at Launch - As CEO and co-founder of Twenty One Capital, Mallers oversees a public Bitcoin-native business that debuted with a 42,000 BTC treasury, making it the third-largest publicly held Bitcoin reserve after MicroStrategy and MARA Holdings.
• PIPE Funding and Strategic Partners - The treasury includes contributions of approximately 23,950 BTC from Tether, 10,500 BTC from SoftBank, and 7,000 BTC from Bitfinex. Twenty One also secured $585 million in PIPE financing, earmarked specifically for expanding its Bitcoin holdings.
• Additional BTC Purchases - In May 2025, Twenty One and Tether jointly added another 4,812.2 BTC, valued at roughly $458.7 million, as part of ongoing accumulation.

He has also stated on X that he does not own any cash and that 100% of his wealth is held in Bitcoin. Given the significant appreciation of Bitcoin's value over the years, these early investments have likely grown considerably.

What is Zap?

Zap, founded in 2017, is a non-custodial Bitcoin wallet that simplifies transactions via the Lightning Network. Initially targeted toward cannabis dispensaries affected by banking limitations, Zap soon broadened its scope to general Bitcoin users, emphasizing accessibility and low transaction fees.

In 2019, Zap launched Olympus, a service enabling users to quickly purchase Bitcoin with fiat currency and immediately access it through Lightning. Utilizing innovative "Turbo channels," Olympus removed delays traditionally associated with on-chain confirmations, making the onboarding process frictionless and instant.

The company further strengthened its market position by joining Visa's Fintech Fast Track Program, introducing plans for a co-branded Visa debit card, and launching the Strike Global app to facilitate borderless remittances. Zap's developer-friendly approach, marked by modular, open-source features, positioned it as a pivotal player in scaling the Lightning ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

Jack Mallers exemplifies how early conviction in Bitcoin, backed by his substantial net worth of $50 million to $100 million, can fuel transformative ventures in crypto. His journey shows the value of identifying breakthrough technology, dedicating to a clear mission, and iterating as markets evolve.