Michael Egorov
- Full Name: Michael Egorov
- Country / Nationality: Russia
- Year of Birth (if public): 1984
- Educational Background: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Theoretical and Experimental Physics), Swinburne University of Technology (PhD in Physics)
- Notable Projects / Contributions: Curve Finance, NuCypher
- Previous Experience / Career Background: Co-founder and CTO of NuCypher, software engineer at LinkedIn, research scientist at Monash University
- Major Achievements in Web3: Founder and CEO of Curve Finance, a leading decentralized exchange for stablecoins
- Funding / Investors Associated: Paradigm, Alameda Research, Three Arrows Capital (early investors in Curve)
- Social Profiles:
Michael Egorov – The Cryptographer Behind Curve Finance
Michael Egorov stands out as a foundational engineer in the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape. As the founder of Curve Finance, he introduced a highly specialized and efficient automated market maker (AMM) that revolutionized how stablecoins and similar pegged assets are traded. Egorov’s work with Curve provided a crucial piece of infrastructure for DeFi, enabling low-slippage, deep liquidity swaps that underpin much of the industry’s activity today.
Born and educated in Russia, Michael Egorov pursued a rigorous academic path, earning a Ph.D. in Physics from Monash University. His background in physics and mathematics instilled a deep analytical approach, which he later applied to complex systems and cryptography. Before Curve, Egorov was involved in other blockchain projects, including co-founding NuCypher, a decentralized key management system, which showcased his profound understanding of cryptographic principles and secure network design.
Launched in 2020, Curve Finance quickly gained prominence for its innovative approach to stablecoin swaps. Unlike generic AMMs, Curve was engineered specifically for assets that should maintain a near 1:1 value ratio, such as USDT, USDC, and DAI. Michael Egorov’s design minimized impermanent loss and slippage for these assets, making it an indispensable tool for liquidity providers and traders seeking efficient capital allocation within DeFi.
Egorov’s contribution to Curve extends to its unique algorithms and governance model. The stable-swap invariant, a core component of Curve’s AMM, allows for significantly lower slippage on stable pairs compared to traditional constant product market makers. This technical ingenuity solidified Curve’s position as a leader in liquidity provision. Furthermore, the protocol introduced veCRV, a voting escrow model for its native CRV token, which incentivizes long-term participation and allows token holders to influence governance and direct liquidity rewards.
Under Michael’s guidance, Curve has expanded beyond just stablecoin swaps, evolving to include pools for wrapped Bitcoin, Ethereum liquid staking derivatives, and other pegged assets. His persistent focus on creating robust, capital-efficient infrastructure has allowed Curve to maintain one of the highest total values locked (TVL) in DeFi, reflecting its integral role in decentralized finance.
Beyond the technical architecture, Michael Egorov embodies a builder-first mentality within Web3. He remains actively involved in the protocol’s development and strategic direction, often participating directly in technical discussions and community governance. His commitment to creating fundamental financial primitives that address specific market needs has had a profound impact on how decentralized exchanges operate.
His vision for Curve has always been rooted in providing essential infrastructure, allowing other protocols to build on top of its deep liquidity. This focus on composability and foundational layers highlights a key lesson for new projects: solving specific, critical problems with elegant technical solutions can create lasting impact.
For Web3 builders and upcoming blockchain projects, Michael Egorov’s journey is a powerful reminder that innovation thrives when vision meets purpose. Emerging founders can learn from his commitment to open-source collaboration, long-term thinking, and user-driven ecosystems.
Platforms like Web3Lead, designed to help projects grow through data-driven insights and access to millions of Web3 user profiles, further amplify this mission. By empowering builders with analytics, segmentation tools, and audience intelligence, Web3Lead supports the next generation of creators shaping the decentralized future Michael envisioned.
Michael Egorov’s meticulous approach to cryptography and DeFi continues to elevate the standards for capital efficiency and stability within the decentralized financial system.