Welcoming James McKay! Institutional Research at Signal21

Hello! We’re excited to announce that James McKay, an esteemed research consultant known for his institutional-grade Bitcoin analyses, is joining the Signal21 team. With extensive experience designing and implementing custom research projects, James will play a pivotal role in developing enterprise-grade solutions tailored to the needs of financial institutions, hedge funds, family offices, and venture capital firms. We caught up with James to learn more about his background, his thoughts on Bitcoin, and his vision for Signal21. Q: Welcome to Signal21, James! Can you tell us about your background, what you’ve been up to at McKayResearch, and your journey into Bitcoin? James: Thanks, Jonathan! My background is in multi-market intelligence and I previously worked with the largest privately held intel firms delivering research solutions and trend analyses across different markets. For the past eight years, I’ve been focusing exclusively on macro and digital assets through my own consulting practice, McKayResearch, producing enterprise-grade research products for asset managers, crypto firms, and legal consultancies. Through this work, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for Bitcoin’s potential as a transformative asset class, particularly as someone who understands the strengths and weaknesses of gold. My focus on Bitcoin stems from its unique role as both a financial tool and a foundational layer for emerging technologies. Q: How do you see the future of Bitcoin Layer 2s and the potential for projects like Signal21? James: There are a few key perspectives that jump out to me when looking at L2s. First, why is it happening? Well, the scalability and usability of Bitcoins’ base layer are limited, and L2s like Stacks, Lightning, and Rootstock are paving the way for the development of innovative economic activity on the network. But ultimately, it is the unrivaled security and trust of the network that makes Bitcoin finality so coveted–even while there are so many other blockchains that on the surface appear to be better-suited for the development of smart contracts and other applications. As Bitcoin’s economic activity expands, Signal21 will play an increasingly pivotal role in telling this story to the world through the data it provides. Q: What excites you most about joining Signal21 as Institutional Research Lead? James: Timing is everything, and I believe Signal21’s focus on providing actionable insights to institutions and builders is exactly what the market needs. I’m also excited about coming on board at such a bullish phase of the current cycle, one in which we’re witnessing the real-time acceptance of Bitcoin as a key asset class of the present and future among individuals, companies, and countries. Last but not least, the conviction and technical expertise of those driving this project forward is a big one for me, and I’ve already built a strong rapport with members of the team through discussions around Bitcoin and collaborations on other projects. Q: How do you plan to contribute to Signal21’s mission? James: My top priority in working with Signal21 is to develop their research products and align them with the needs of financial institutions to expand sales into that segment. This means not just producing high-quality research and helping Signal21 position itself as the go-to source for Bitcoin data and insights, it also means enhancing institutional investors' understanding of the significance of Bitcoin L2s by looking beyond ‘digital gold’ narratives. Together, we’ll build solutions that not only serve the current market but also anticipate its future needs. Q: Finally, can you share anything in particular that you will be working on with Signal21? Actually yes, I’m particularly excited about an upcoming research report we’ll be launching in 2025 that will provide an innovative approach to charting the complete 360° of economic activity on the Bitcoin network. It will also cover trends in Bitcoin L1s, the growth of L2 solutions, and the increasing productivity of the Bitcoin network as an economic platform as it stakes its claim to become the multi-dimensional asset of the future. This Bitcoin Economy research series will be an important part of Signal21’s efforts to inform strategic decisions for institutions, enterprises, hedge funds, VCs, and other financial players. You won’t want to miss this one so watch this space! Looking Ahead As Signal21 continues to grow, James McKay’s expertise will be instrumental in shaping our enterprise-grade offerings. From the Bitcoin Economy research series to enhanced institutional tools, we’re committed to delivering value to our clients and the broader crypto community. Stay tuned (and follow us on Twitter ) for exciting updates from James and the Signal21 team as we expand our platform to redefine how Bitcoin data drives the economy. Sincerely, Jonathan Sadlowe Co-founder & CEO at Signal21 Powered by beehiiv