Blockstar spotlight: Nicky Cheung

Behind many successful teams is someone who keeps everything grounded. They bring clarity when things move quickly, carry valuable context, and help teams build on past progress. By connecting people across the organization and encouraging collaboration, they quietly create the alignment and momentum others rely on.

At Blockchain, Nicky Cheung is one of those people.

She joined in January 2017, when the 2017 bull run and the 2018 crash arrived almost back to back, two extremes that shaped an entire industry and tested every company inside it. For Nicky, that timing set the tone early. It taught her something that people in crypto learn quickly or not at all: momentum changes without warning, and the only way through is resilience, discipline, and an ability to keep moving when certainty disappears.

When reflecting on her nine years at Blockchain, what stands out most isn’t the market cycles or headlines, it’s the people. From early days connecting with colleagues across global offices to watching the company grow into a global organization, the relationships she’s built have remained constant. The talent, dedication, and perspective of the people she’s met along the way are what have made the experience truly special.

Those relationships, and the growth they’ve inspired, have become one of the most defining parts of Nicky’s journey.

She began as an Executive Assistant supporting the founders across business functions, a role that goes far beyond calendars and logistics. Acting as a strategic partner, she helped keep priorities aligned in an environment where everything felt urgent and complex.

When priorities shifted or clarity was missing, Nicky stepped beyond her job description to close communication gaps and keep execution moving. As she puts it, “In high-pressure environments, titles matter less than outcomes.” What matters is whether someone notices what is breaking and has the nerve and care to fix it. By creating structure and shared understanding, she helped teams stay aligned and do their best work.

That instinct to build systems, not just solve problems, is what made her next pivot so powerful.

At one point, a global regulatory requirement created the need for a company wide training program. Nicky stepped into this role and built a framework that could be implemented across the company and sustained over time. The framework required rigor, operational patience, and sustained follow-through, helping transform a one-time initiative into a durable, company-wide program. Nicky built something that worked and helped the company move through a more regulated world with confidence.

She most recently brought that same strategic mindset to her role in Marketing Operations. With deep knowledge of Blockchain’s values and mission, she joined the marketing team during a pivotal moment ahead of the brand refresh. To Nicky, the refresh reflects how much the company has evolved. She describes the new look as “bold, confident, and aligned with where the company is heading.” Not marketing for marketing’s sake, but a signal of intent. A company saying we know who we are, and we are building toward something meaningful.

The refresh also reflects the culture that drives Blockchain forward. Reflecting on her time at the company,  she pointed to three defining traits: “global, fast-paced, and built on ownership”. Nicky didn’t enter the industry as a crypto expert. She first heard about Bitcoin in 2013 while working at Virgin Galactic when Sir Richard Branson began accepting BTC for spaceflight deposits. Her expertise grew through curiosity, experience, and a willingness to learn in an industry that constantly evolves.

That mindset shapes the advice she gives to others stepping into something new: “Feel the fear, do your homework, and trust that you’ll figure it out. Most roles are learned in the doing, not before you start.”

Much of her own career has followed that philosophy of stepping into roles before feeling fully ready and growing into them along the way. Through market uncertainty and constant industry change, she has remained grounded while balancing professional growth with family life as a working parent, focusing on what she can control and consistently delivering results.

After nearly nine years in crypto, Nicky’s journey has never been about simply staying, it has been about evolving alongside the company. Looking ahead, she’s excited by the continued growth of crypto adoption and the opportunity to help build products that expand financial access for everyday people. Her story reflects something larger than tenure. It is about growth, adaptability, and the lasting impact of how Blockchain has shaped her career, challenged her to grow, and helped define the career she has built and her hard work every day.