Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins

• Co-founding a stealth-mode startup focused on next-gen multi-agent AI operating systems and private digital infrastructure. (Further details under NDA / on request.)

• Spearheaded end-to-end marketing strategy for ThresholdDAO, including brand narrative development, go-to-market, and full-funnel digital campaigns for tBTC—the first truly decentralized BTC derivative for the Ethereum ecosystem.
• Developed and launched thUSD, the first Bitcoin-backed stablecoin fully managed on-chain; managed narrative, educational, and launch strategy from whitepaper through major exchange listings.
• Built and managed analytics dashboards, reporting real-time KPIs for leadership, governance, and the DAO community; produced actionable insights driving product and community growth.
• Oversaw major multi-platform content campaigns (explainer videos, technical docs, social media threads, meme-driven virality, livestreams, and partnership spotlights), resulting in significant upticks in tBTC mints and thUSD adoption.
• Served as on-air host, podcast guest, and event MC—personally representing the DAO on Twitter Spaces, technical AMAs, and industry panels.
• Drafted, edited, and managed production for flagship animated explainers (thUSD, tBTC, threshold cryptography), collaborating directly with design and product teams; managed vendor and creative agency relationships.
• Directed the DAO's cross-channel press, securing Tier 1 coverage and crypto influencer amplification (Coindesk, The Defiant, Bankless, and others).
• Designed and executed meme contests, technical writing bounties, and viral marketing initiatives to grow DAO and governance participation.
• Authored weekly market and governance analysis (macro, technical, and DeFi sector), distributing through blog, newsletter, and partner channels.
• Acted as product marketing liaison, translating technical product roadmaps into digestible launch comms and user onboarding guides for multiple protocol upgrades and liquidity incentives.
• Developed advocacy and partnership strategy for cross-chain integration, collaborating with key Ethereum, Bitcoin, and DeFi ecosystem partners (Uniswap, Balancer, Curve, LayerZero, Socket, etc.).
• Coordinated thUSD's go-to-market for protocol integrations, CEX/DEX listings, and influencer campaigns.
• Collaborated with executive, product, and community teams to achieve significant adoption milestones, including record mints and cross-chain liquidity expansion.

• Directed and executed the entire product roadmap, user growth, and GTM strategy for an emerging social/AI/crypto platform, from pre-launch through public betas and initial growth.
• Drove all product requirements: facilitated design sprints, stakeholder meetings, and wrote technical specs for rapid AI feature prototyping and launch.
• Led a cross-functional engineering, design, and growth team to ship new social features, embedded on-chain rewards, and generative AI integrations (including LLM-based user services, automated content curation, and moderation tools).
• Owned prioritization of user requests, conducted dozens of structured customer interviews, and implemented data-driven feedback loops—resulting in multiple rapid iterations and high user satisfaction scores for early cohorts.
• Designed, executed, and tracked multiple viral growth loops, including on-chain referral, ambassador, and bounty campaigns that seeded the first 5,000+ verified wallets.
• Managed all product analytics, establishing KPI dashboards for user engagement, retention, and on-chain activity; reported results directly to the founders and investors.
• Coordinated market positioning, partnership onboarding (wallets, NFT communities, DAOs), and all early-stage user acquisition.
• Created launch collateral, developer docs, and UX guides; acted as product evangelist in AMAs, Discords, Twitter Spaces, and industry demo days.

• Built and managed content for Substack, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and paid newsletters.
• Created content for a variety of platforms, providing on-air analysis and direction around Bitcoin, blockchain, and decentralized technology.
• Developed marketing campaigns and audience engagement strategies to drive revenue and subscriber growth.
• Managed cross-platform brand messaging and collaborated with content creators and editors.

• Led all marketing, operations, and governance execution for the world's most visible crypto-powered advocacy DAO focused on prison reform, crypto education, and the case of Ross Ulbricht.
• Designed and delivered multi-phase narrative and media campaigns: grew DAO's earned media reach to millions via major press (NY Times, Wired, Coindesk), Twitter campaigns, influencer/celebrity engagement, and creative drops.
• Oversaw and directed the "FreeRoss Art Collection" launch and auction—one of the highest grossing NFT advocacy drops, raising millions for legal defense, prison reform, and advocacy orgs.
• Acted as pod leader for decentralized ops: managed all campaign budgets, DAO multi-sig wallets, governance proposals, and partner initiatives, including PR, partnerships, and artist relations.
• Built and managed internal project management stack, cross-functional pods, and all public comms pipelines (newsletter, social, Discord, Mirror/Blog, legal response).
• Coordinated major fundraising and advocacy events (live streams, art auctions, metaverse gallery shows, and IRL meetups).
• Drafted and shipped press releases, managed influencer partnerships, coordinated with major advocacy orgs (EFF, criminal justice reform partners), and spoke as on-record media liaison.
• Co-authored and edited DAO governance and operational documentation; facilitated on-chain voting, proposal writing, and treasury management.
• Delivered market, legal, and policy research memos for DAO working groups and public distribution.
• Worked directly with artists, legal team, core contributors, and cross-DAO partners to maximize impact and narrative reach.

• Led the core development pod for UkraineDAO, the Web3-native collective raising and distributing millions in direct aid to Ukrainian civilians and NGOs during the Russian invasion.
• Coordinated smart contract deployment, operational security, and multisig treasury management for one of the largest fundraising DAOs of 2022–2023 (over $7M in initial donations, including a record-setting NFT auction of the Ukrainian flag).
• Developed and managed contributor onboarding, pod structure, and developer workflow for global volunteer teams—covering Solidity, multisig ops, transaction vetting, and DAO-wide comms.
• Architected key governance and operational protocols, adapting from experience at FreeRossDAO, including on-chain proposal flows, grant allocation, and treasury disbursement transparency.
• Led daily dev standups, triaged technical support, and coordinated with founders, legal counsel, and core contributor teams across multiple time zones and organizations.
• Acted as liaison between engineering, product, and community pods to ensure reliable technical execution and strong information flow.
• Supported due diligence and compliance, coordinated distribution of crypto aid (including direct wallet payments, third-party vendors, and public wallet audits).
• Co-authored technical documentation, community updates, and post-mortems on major campaigns and security events.
• Represented the DAO in ecosystem collaborations (NFT partners, legal, logistics, and media), bringing a cross-DAO operational lens to UkraineDAO's emergency response efforts.

• Built and launched blockchain GameFi titles (Lord of Monster, Metakingdom).
• Oversaw game development, product strategy, and community growth.
• Managed partnerships, internal engineering, and go-to-market planning for crypto gaming products.

• Recruited by founding partners (oil & gas veterans in my network) to validate, design, and help launch a large-scale Bitcoin mining operation in North Texas.
• Acted as technical and blockchain consigliere to the executive team, providing hands-on IT architecture, systems integration, and operational best practices for multi-site mining infrastructure.
• Designed and implemented strategies for custody, security, and compliance—including a custom hardware wallet onboarding solution for new-to-crypto customers.
• Led customer education efforts: authored onboarding materials, hosted in-person and virtual training, and provided white-glove support for clients adopting self-custody and DeFi yield products.
• Consulted on treasury management and DeFi strategy, helping optimize bitcoin liquidation, minimize impermanent loss, and deploy on-chain hedging instruments for stable cash flow.
• Established vendor and partner relationships for equipment procurement, hosting, and power contracts.
• Enabled Geosyn's transition from "traditional" energy to crypto-native operations, connecting industry best practices from oil & gas, fintech, and blockchain.
• Equity partner and advisor; involved in strategic growth, client onboarding, and industry networking.

• Operated as principal technology strategist and blockchain lead for a fast-growing, crypto-centric hedge fund specializing in large-scale OTC Bitcoin trading and settlement.
• Designed and managed the architecture for secure, compliant onboarding of high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients transacting in Bitcoin and digital assets.
• Developed proprietary trading, custody, and reporting tools to streamline complex multi-party settlements, automate compliance tracking, and reduce operational risk.
• Led all IT, security, and digital asset management—covering wallet infrastructure, trade reconciliation, internal controls, and incident response protocols.
• Served as direct OTC desk lead for high-volume client trades: sourced liquidity, negotiated pricing, and executed settlements for both USD and alternative asset pairs.
• Provided strategic counsel to the executive team and partners on emerging DeFi products, KYC/AML compliance, and risk mitigation for US and international deals.
• Built and managed confidential communication pipelines for sensitive client engagement, balancing discretion with robust technical documentation.
• Supported ARS's evolution from boutique desk to multi-state OTC operator, facilitating rapid growth in trading volume and regional network expansion.
• Worked closely with regulators on legal, compliance, and external counsel during periods of regulatory scrutiny and enforcement risk.

• Founded Roger Wilco as a SiliconANGLE spin-out, quickly establishing it as the backbone of Dallas's startup media, content marketing, and emerging AI and crypto ecosystems.
• Built and led a modular team that staffed, trained, and supported nearly every major newsroom, content operation, and early-stage company in North Texas during the company's heyday.
• Specialized in live video production, digital marketing, and process automation—helping DFW startups, consumer brands, and VC-backed ventures launch, scale, and grow their audiences.
• Early IBM Watson Preferred Partner: piloted AI-powered projects for enterprise and startup clients, including structuring unstructured data and processing mass drone footage for analytics.
• Collaborated with AT&T and Robokind to develop a robotic concierge system, merging advanced conversational AI with hardware robotics for real-world deployments.
• Integral to Barista Ventures' success, partnering with portfolio startups for GTM, branding, product demos, and fundraising content.
• Trusted agency partner for enterprise clients, including IBM (where I earned the "Futurist" title and led blockchain/AI marketing campaigns) and Cyrus One (managed internal broadcasts and executive comms).
• Produced Dallas New Tech (monthly startup showcase) and Dallas Ignite (quarterly national event), becoming a linchpin for the region's founder and investor ecosystem.
• Embedded in the crypto and Web3 community—Roger Wilco became synonymous with DFW's blockchain scene, serving as "fractional C-suite," event organizer, and early tech evangelist for Web3 projects.
• Developed a white-labeled, end-to-end content management and marketing suite, deployed across client orgs from newsrooms to high-growth startups.
• Played a key (but discreet) role in several client acquihires and M&A events.
• Transitioned the agency and core team to new ventures following acquisition by a client, while maintaining advisory and leadership roles in Dallas's innovation and blockchain communities.

• Anchor partner in Dallas office, focusing on operations, marketing, and media for dozens of consumer/business startups.
• Ushered clients through product design, go-to-market, and brand development cycles, including:
• Pickup (Uber for pickup trucks, full lifecycle product/ops support)
• Gasliter (e-commerce replacement parts for gas-lit ovens/heaters, ops and digital)
• Managed vendor and client relationships and launched/optimized digital campaigns.

• Founding Executive, Employee Zero: Architected SiliconANGLE from inception, transforming the company from early-stage blog to a global leader in enterprise tech news, live event coverage, and content innovation, reaching $10M+ annual run rate at peak.
• Executive Producer & Founding Host (TheCUBE): Conceived, built, and launched TheCUBE, pioneering the "ESPN of Tech Events" model for live, on-site video journalism. Served as principal host in its first year, setting the on-air tone and interview format that became the brand's signature.
• Operations & Org Scaling: Built and managed a distributed newsroom, scaling from a handful of writers to 80+ full-time and freelance journalists, producers, editors, and field crew.
• Editorial, Content, and Format Innovation: Directed all daily editorial output, long-form and breaking news, live video, branded content, and post-production. Drove continuous format innovation, launching new show types, branded coverage packages, and remote/virtual event broadcasts.
• Event Strategy & Technical Execution: Engineered SiliconANGLE's event coverage machine—end-to-end logistics, set design, A/V production, streaming infrastructure, on-site ops, and post-event syndication for dozens of the world's top tech conferences.
• Business Development & Partnerships: Developed and maintained strategic relationships with global enterprise technology vendors and sponsors (IBM, Dell, VMware, EMC, Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, and others).
• Talent Recruitment & Development: Personally recruited, hired, and mentored dozens of the industry's top tech journalists, video producers, editors, and field crew.
• Exit & Legacy: Departed SiliconANGLE at its operational and brand high point, with TheCUBE recognized as the industry's gold standard for tech event coverage.

• Early Employee & Editorial Leader: Joined as employee number six, working directly under founder and Editor-in-Chief Pete Cashmore during Mashable's meteoric rise from tech blog upstart to global top-10 digital media brand.
• Rich Media Pioneer: Conceived, produced, and scaled Mashable's first podcasts and video shows, laying the foundation for the site's transformation from a text-centric blog to a multimedia powerhouse.
• Editorial Management: One of three senior editors, managed day-to-day editorial calendars, coordinated with writers and contributors, and ensured on-time delivery of high-impact, platform-native content across multiple channels.
• Cross-Platform Innovation: Drove early experimentation in multimedia content syndication, live streaming, and video-first news—testing emerging tools and formats that set industry standards years before they became mainstream.
• Legacy: The rich media strategies, editorial ops, and cross-functional workflows established at Mashable directly informed later successes at SiliconANGLE, TheCUBE, and Roger Wilco.

• Served as project lead and principal developer for the pioneering "Digital Services" initiative, driving Nokia's early efforts to create new digital revenue streams beyond hardware
• Authored and implemented key parts of the SMS 2.0 specification, including the Nokia RTX v.2a file format, which enabled the first generation of downloadable ringtones—helping establish industry standards for mobile content delivery.
• Maintained and upgraded NokiaUSA.com, the flagship product and e-commerce portal for the US market, ensuring robust uptime and rapid deployment of new product features.
• Developed software and tools across Visual Basic/Studio, Liberty Basic, QuickBasic, TCL/TK, Perl, HTML, and ASP, collaborating closely with engineering, product, and marketing teams
• Recognized internally as the go-to subject matter expert on digital services and SMS protocol integration outside the R&D division.
• Work at Nokia contributed to the global transition from basic mobile phones to content-rich, monetized mobile platforms—laying the groundwork for future mobile ecosystems.

• Early Career (Systems Analyst, Enterprise IT): Advanced from Level 1 Support Specialist to Systems Analyst, supporting mission-critical IBM client environments across SAP, Apriori, AS/400, Siebel, and Lotus Notes.
• Developed and maintained code in FORTRAN, BASIC, and other languages to troubleshoot and optimize legacy enterprise infrastructure.
• Recognized as a trusted "fixer" for the toughest integration, migration, and troubleshooting challenges, often resolving high-priority escalations for Fortune 500 clients.
• Later Career (Futurist, Blockchain & AI Advisor): Returned to IBM as a Futurist—providing thought leadership, strategy, and advisory services on blockchain, cognitive/AI, and IoT innovation for IBM and its enterprise partners.
• Worked directly with product, marketing, and research teams to design and evaluate pilot projects in Web3, digital transformation, and automation.
• Frequently served as IBM's public-facing speaker and panelist on future-of-tech topics—contributing to conferences, industry events, and internal summits.
• Coordinated closely with IBM's Watson team and led key partnership projects as a Watson Preferred Partner through agency work (Roger Wilco), integrating advanced AI into client solutions.
• Helped shape IBM's approach to blockchain, crypto, and digital asset strategy—bringing real-world insight from consulting, product, and media experience.

• Early Builder & Co-Founder: Joined as one of the earliest employees of Internet Tyler, a mom-and-pop ISP that would later become TCA Cable, and ultimately the backbone of Cox Communications' regional internet operations.
• First Mover: Personally brought in the company's first 100 internet customers—helping to bootstrap both local adoption and company revenue in the early internet era.
• Webmaster & Web Pioneer: Served as the first "webmaster" for the company (and among the first in East Texas), designing, building, and maintaining commercial websites for clients and internal use—setting design and tech standards in a 100-mile radius.
• Network Admin & NOC Leadership: Advanced through roles from Internet Technician to Shift Lead, Webmaster, and Network Administrator; co-managed the Network Operations Center, supervised technicians, and implemented key systems.
• Cable Modem Trailblazer: Solely responsible for cable server maintenance after the beta rollout; instrumental in deploying the first cable modem systems in North America (outside of @Home), bringing broadband to East Texas.
• Legacy & Impact: The systems, culture, and customer-first ethos established during your tenure laid the foundation for a regional ISP that would survive multiple acquisitions and power a generation of internet adoption in East Texas.

Ran projects and contracts as a software developer, project manager, system integrator, and technical consultant for dozens of businesses and organizations across the US.

• studio.rizzn (Tyler, TX, 2006–2007): Built Catarl (wireless thin-client handheld), AutoDMS (automotive inventory automation), PoddedMeat (vodcasting), Oblong Box (20+ blog network, Oblong CMS for UT Tyler).
• BlipMedia Ltd Co (Pompano Beach, FL, 2004–2006): Founded the largest/most unique podcasting service of its era, serving 5,000+ broadcasters; developed via Batch, ASP, and custom CLI tools; sold to competitors in 2006.
• RantRadio (Peoria, IL, 2004–2006): Assistant Program Director; managed automation for legacy Shoutcast station, one of the earliest internet radio pioneers.
• AACS / American Association for Consumer Services (Pompano Beach, FL, 2003–2007): CTO, automated business operations (reducing 15-person workload to 2 staff); managed technical projects as partner/advisor.
• FlyDLUX, Inc. (Hollywood, FL, 2002–2003): CFO, managed finances and technology for air travel brokerage (sold $6MM+ air travel/year).
• Global Point Data, Inc. (Tyler, TX, 2002): IS Director, led PDA/PC/server system integration; built IRIS (Installation Record Image Solution) for field techs/small business.
• Parallad Studios (TX, 2001–2002): Led web team (6+ developers), front-end and internal apps, managed Open Source Intelligence efforts post-9/11.
• WABC Radio (NYC, 2001–2002): On-air technical analyst for John Batchelor & Paul Alexander War Update radio show, focused on cyberterrorism, surveillance, and counter-terrorism.