Data-Driven Crypto and AI Investing Strategist; Founder & CEO of Token Metrics

Austin, TX, USA

Ian Balina Biography

Ian Balina turned $20,000 into more than $5 million using a data-driven approach to crypto investing and documented the entire journey to an audience of millions.

Balina spent four years at IBM as a Watson Analytics evangelist, where he hit 194% of his $4 million sales quota, ranked in the top 500 of 400,000 employees, and earned a place in the Hundred Percent Club, before leaving to build at the frontier of AI and crypto.

As founder and CEO of Token Metrics, Balina built an AI-powered investment platform that generated $18 million in revenue and attracted 100,000 users. He has made more than 100 angel investments, raised more than $25 million, and built an audience of 350,000 across YouTube, Twitter and his newsletter. His book, "Crypto Investing Guide," holds a 4.6-star rating on Amazon.

Balina has keynoted at MIT, UT Austin and the Asia Blockchain Summit, and has spoken in more than 35 countries. His insights have been featured in CNBC, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. He holds a master's degree in computer engineering from George Washington University.

BOOK Ian Balina

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 02/11/2026.

Ian Balina Speaking Topics

  • $20K to $5M in Under 12 Months: How I Did It and What I Learned

    In early 2017, Ian Balina put $20,000 into crypto. Under 12 months later, it was worth over $5 million—a 250x return. Ian documented every trade publicly to an audience that eventually grew into the millions.

    Ian built a scoring system that ranked investments on factors most people ignored. He created rules that told him when to buy and when to sell. And he followed the system even when emotion told him to do the opposite.

    This talk is the full breakdown: the model, the patterns, and the discipline. Ian'll also cover what most people get wrong—why they buy late, sell early, and let emotions destroy returns that data would have protected.

    What you'll walk away with:

    • The exact scoring system Ian used to evaluate investments
    • How to build rules that remove emotion from decisions
    • Why most people fail—and how to avoid their mistakes

  • I Lost $2 Million Live on Camera

    In 2018, Ian Balina was hacked for $2 million while livestreaming. He watched his portfolio drain in real time. The clip went viral. Overnight, Ian became a cautionary tale.

    What happened next defined Ian more than the money he'd made. He had to decide: disappear or rebuild in public. He chose to rebuild. Ian changed how he operated, regained trust slowly, and came out stronger than before.

    This talk is about what happens when you fail and everyone sees it. It's about making decisions when the stakes feel unbearable and your reputation is on the line. Ian doesn't tell this story because it's comfortable. He tells it because it's the most useful thing he's learned.

    What you'll walk away with:

    • How to make decisions in crisis
    • Rebuilding credibility after public failure
    • Turning your worst moment into an asset

Read More +

Ian Balina Videos

Ian Balina - CBNC

Ian Balina - CBNC

Ian Balina joins "Worldwide Exchange" to discuss the latest in the cryptocurrency markets. » Subscribe to CNBC:...

Ian Balina— GOT 25

Ian Balina— GOT 25

This conversation explores the evolution of cryptocurrency, its impact on the financial landscape, and the intersection of AI and crypto.

  • How do I book Ian Balina to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ian Balina for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Ian Balina, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Ian Balina or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Ian Balina

    Speaking fees for Ian Balina, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ian Balina are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ian Balina, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Ian Balina speak about?

  • Where does Ian Balina travel from?

    Ian Balina generally travels from Austin, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Ian Balina’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Ian Balina for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Ian Balina for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Ian Balina or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Ian Balina is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as $20K to $5M in Under 12 Months: How I Did It and What I Learned, I Lost $2 Million Live on Camera, AI Agents Will Need Wallets: Where the Next Decade of Value Will Be Created, What Operators See That Traditional Investors Miss and 100 Angel Investments: Process, Mistakes, and What Actually Predicts Returns. The estimated speaking fee range to book Ian Balina for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Ian Balina generally travels from Austin, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Dan Morehead, Jake Ryan, Hester Peirce, Samantha Radocchia and Richie Etwaru. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ian Balina for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP