Lyn Alden
About Lyn Alden
Lyn Alden (Madelyn Alden Schwartzer), age 38, was appointed as an independent Class II director on October 19, 2025. She holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering (Penn State) and an M.S. in Engineering Management (Rowan University), is a private investor, best‑selling author of “Broken Money,” and a recognized macro strategist focused on money and technology .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Aviation Administration | Engineering positions | 2009–2021 | Technical/engineering background relevant to risk and systems thinking |
| Lyn Alden Media LLC | Founder | 2016–present | Independent research and investment strategy |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes / Potential Interlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Solidus Inc. (dba Swan Bitcoin) | Director (board member) | Since 2021 | Private company; no BKKT related‑party transactions disclosed |
| Ego Death Capital | Founding advisor (since 2022); General Partner (since 2024) | 2022–present | Bitcoin‑focused venture; no BKKT related‑party transactions disclosed |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined Alden is independent under NYSE standards; no transactions requiring Item 404(a) disclosure were reported .
- Committee assignments: Not disclosed at appointment; BKKT’s standing committees are Audit and Risk, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance .
- Board/committee activity context: In 2024, the Board held 12 meetings; Audit Committee held 9; Compensation Committee 7; Nominating Committee 4. Each director met at least the 75% attendance threshold for their service periods in 2024 (pre‑Alden) .
- Indemnification: Company will enter into the standard indemnification agreement with Alden (form previously filed as Exhibit 10.7) .
- Executive sessions: Non‑employee directors meet in executive session at least twice a year per governance guidelines .
- Related‑party review: Audit Committee oversees related party transactions per charter and NYSE/SEC rules .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual retainer (non‑employee director) | $50,000 | Paid quarterly in arrears; reimbursement for reasonable travel |
| Board chair (non‑executive) | $100,000 | In addition to director retainer when applicable |
| Audit Committee chair | $25,000 | Chair receives chair fee, not member fee |
| Audit Committee member | $10,000 | Paid in addition to director retainer |
| Compensation Committee chair | $20,000 | — |
| Compensation Committee member | $7,500 | — |
| Nominating Committee chair | $12,000 | — |
| Nominating Committee member | $5,000 | — |
Performance Compensation
| Metric | Program Detail | Alden‑Specific (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual equity award (RSUs) | $200,000 grant value each annual meeting; vest at earlier of 1‑year anniversary or next annual meeting; full acceleration upon change in control (if service through consummation); grants under 2021 Omnibus Plan | Standard program applies; appointment disclosed as eligible for standard non‑employee director compensation |
| Cash retainer conversion | Directors may elect to receive all or part of annual cash retainer in RSUs | Not disclosed |
| RSU grant units | Determined by grant date fair value | 4,809 RSUs reported on Form 3; 100% vest on June 17, 2026, subject to continued service |
| Clawback policy | Applies to incentive‑based compensation of “officers” per NYSE/SEC rules; adopted Sept 2023 | Director equity is not specified as subject to the officer clawback |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Potential BKKT Interlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Bitcoin (Electric Solidus Inc.) | Private | Director | None disclosed; Board affirmed independence and no Item 404(a) transactions |
| Ego Death Capital | Private VC | GP/Advisor | None disclosed; Board affirmed independence and no Item 404(a) transactions |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Macro strategy and digital asset expertise bridging traditional finance and emerging technologies; widely published and cited .
- Technical background from FAA engineering; quantitative approach beneficial to risk oversight and technology strategy .
Equity Ownership
| Filing | Date | Security | Quantity | Vesting/Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form 3 (Initial) | Oct 29, 2025 | RSUs | 4,809 | 100% vest June 17, 2026 (subject to service) | Direct ownership reported; no derivative securities listed |
| Hedging/Pledging | Policy | — | — | Prohibited for directors under insider trading policy | Red flag mitigation for alignment |
No Form 4 transactions by Alden were identified in our search as of this report; only the Form 3 was located .
Governance Assessment
- Alignment and incentives: Equity‑heavy director pay ($200k RSU annual award) plus modest cash retainer supports long‑term alignment; hedging and pledging are prohibited, reducing misalignment risk .
- Independence and conflicts: Board affirmatively determined independence; 8‑K reports no related‑party transactions requiring Item 404(a) disclosure. Outside affiliations in crypto (Swan Bitcoin, Ego Death Capital) warrant ongoing monitoring for potential conflicts if BKKT enters transactions with these entities, but none are disclosed at appointment .
- Engagement signal: While committee assignments for Alden are not disclosed, BKKT’s Board and committees met frequently in 2024 (12 Board, 9 Audit, 7 Compensation, 4 Nominating), indicating active oversight culture she is entering .
- Protections and transparency: Standard indemnification agreement and clear director compensation program with change‑in‑control treatment provide governance predictability .
RED FLAGS to watch (none disclosed at appointment):
- Any future related‑party transactions with Swan Bitcoin/Ego Death Capital or entities where Alden holds a financial interest (currently none reported) .
- Deviations from the standard director pay program (repricing/modification of equity awards) or discretionary changes not aligned with performance (none indicated) .
- Hedging/pledging violations (policy prohibits these) .