Ray Youssef: Biography, Career, and Business Insights

Ray Youssef’s Profile Summary

Company	Paxful
Position	Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Paxful
Source of wealth	Co-founding Paxful, revenue from Bitcoin trading on Paxful, entrepreneurial ventures prior to Paxful, philanthropic activities through Built With Bitcoin
Also known as	Philanthropist, Crypto Advocate, Entrepreneur
Age	Unknown
Education	No confirmed educational background publicly available.
Citizenship	United States
Residence	New York City, United States
Family	No detailed public information available.
Website, Social Media	https://paxful.com/en

Ray Youssef’s biography

Ray Youssef, born to Egyptian immigrants, has a remarkable story of resilience and innovation. Raised in New York City, he developed a strong entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, helping his parents run their newsstand. His career as an entrepreneur began in 2001 with a successful ringtone business, followed by several startups, though many failed. In 2015, after being introduced to Bitcoin, Ray co-founded Paxful, a peer-to-peer Bitcoin marketplace. Under his leadership, Paxful became one of the most prominent platforms for Bitcoin trading, particularly popular in emerging markets such as Nigeria. Ray is also the founder of the "Built With Bitcoin" Foundation, a philanthropic initiative that funds schools and sustainable infrastructure in developing countries. His vision has been deeply influenced by his desire to give financial access to the unbanked populations of the world

How did Ray Youssef make money?

Ray Youssef makes money in the following areas:

Co-founding Paxful, revenue from Bitcoin trading on Paxful, entrepreneurial ventures prior to Paxful, philanthropic activities through Built With Bitcoin
What is Ray Youssef net worth?

As of 2025, there is no publicly available and reliable information regarding Ray Youssef’s net worth.

What is Ray Youssef also known as?

Ray Youssef is known for his philanthropy through the "Built With Bitcoin" Foundation, which aims to build 100 schools and sustainable infrastructure in developing countries using Bitcoin as a funding mechanism. He is also a vocal advocate for Bitcoin's potential to empower the unbanked and underbanked populations, especially in the Global South. Ray frequently discusses the transformative power of peer-to-peer finance and has become a significant figure in the Bitcoin community, pushing for social and financial inclusion

Prominent achievements of Ray Youssef

Co-founder of Paxful, which grew to over 9 million users globally, recognized for his philanthropic efforts through the "Built With Bitcoin" initiative, which aims to build schools and infrastructure in developing countries, Paxful was listed as one of the most influential companies by Time in 2022

What are Ray Youssef’s key insights?

Ray Youssef emphasizes the importance of financial inclusion and empowering the unbanked, particularly in the Global South. He believes in the potential of Bitcoin to provide access to financial systems for the underserved. His approach centers on using technology, particularly peer-to-peer networks, to create a decentralized financial ecosystem that enables freedom and fairness.

Ray Youssef’s personal life

Ray Youssef has kept his family life private, and no verified information is publicly available regarding family members.

Useful insights

Analyze the use case and real-world application

When evaluating crypto projects, another critical factor is the project’s real-world use case. Top investors and developers always look for meaningful applications that solve real problems.

Identify the problem it solves

One key lesson from experienced Crypto developers like Vitalik Buterin is that a project must solve a real-world problem or significantly improve an existing process. Assess if the project addresses a clear need in industries like finance, supply chain, healthcare, or decentralized applications.
Assess market demand

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Check for partnerships and adoption

A project that has established partnerships with reputable companies or institutions is generally seen as more credible. Look for announcements of collaborations or endorsements by industry leaders, as these can indicate trust in the project’s potential.