Darcy Donavan

Successful actress and recording artist turned CryptoQueen, Darcy Donovan’s scope of skill and influence is boundless. She’ll captivate audiences in a scene with Will Ferrell one moment, then dominate in the Web3 world in the next. Now the CMO of Ecoin Finance, a pioneer in digital finance, the entrepreneur is completely embedded in the Crypto verse and is determined to rally women to join her. As an entertainer, Donovan has decided not to just settle for glory but to use her clout to educate and inspire. Her story is confirmation that working hard and working smart does propel you forward and can allow you to mobilize the masses behind you. Industry Rules sits with the master of many trades and discusses her boundless career. 

RA: You’ve mentioned that you were raised by strong women, your Mom worked two jobs to support you and your Grandma is a force. How has your upbringing played a part throughout your career?

I never had that “Stage” Mom, rich parents, or someone footing the bills to cover my aspirations. My Grandmother came from Germany and made her way in America with almost nothing, and like you mentioned, my Mother worked two jobs to make ends meet. From a young age, if I wanted anything special for myself or my future, I had to go get it my own way, just like they did. My Grandma’s mindset was rooted in reality, and she would often express that it would be difficult for me to beat the odds. I always had big aspirations at a very young age and my family always had that, “I’ll believe it when I see it” mentality, so I was always having to prove myself to everyone. For me, deep inside, I did believe in the power of my dreams.  I made many of my own dresses for pageants that I was in and I went out and did fundraising to cover the entrance fees for pageants and contests. I made my own way. That’s what I did and that’s what I continue to do, I’ll always be an overachiever.  I’ll always reach higher to do what I’ve set out to do, that has always been my motto.

RA: Actress and Recording artist turned CryptoQueen, you are now the CMO of E-Coin Finance. How did your journey lead you to Crypto?

I have been building businesses since I got out of high school. When I graduated, I started my first modeling agency and sold it several years later.  Since then, I have built numerous successful businesses. I truly just love the art of doing business. A long time ago, I was at a Red Carpet Event and was talking with a well-known actor who gave me the best advice.  He said that as an entertainer, it’s important to take your successes in Film, Television and Music and parlay them over into other opportunities and businesses to diversify yourself. That way you’ll always keep growing. It’s the same thing when people are investing into Stocks or Crypto, you need to diversify your portfolio to have the most opportunities for success with your investments.

So around 6 1/2 years ago, a friend of mine was telling me about his investments into the Cryptocurrency “Cardano”. He was doing pretty well, and it made me curious to learn more.  I immediately began doing my own research on the company, as well as other Crypto companies and blockchain technology, as a whole.  Seeing the value, I started investing into Cardano, along with numerous other Cryptos such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Tron and numerous others. 

Over the years, I have watched as the blockchain space has evolved. I’ve become involved with several tech companies in Web3, such as Ecoin Finance, where I was brought on as the CMO. 

In 2021, I started my NFT company “StarDawgs”, which is tied to Movies and Television Shows that I am producing.  These NFTs are packed with utilities, including opportunities to get roles in the Movies, Television Shows I’m producing, ETH Rewards, Photoshoots, Tickets to IRL Events and so much more. 

In 2022, I was asked to be on the Global Blockchain Council and became a Co-Owner of the hyper realistic Metaverse, “Income Island”. I have been traveling around the world speaking at different events and conferences about Crypto, NFTs, Metaverses and Blockchain technology. It really has been an incredible journey.

RA: How do you see E-coin Finance changing the Crypto world and the world as we know it today?

I believe that Ecoin Finance is another piece in the big puzzle of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain technology.  Ecoin Finance is focused more on the side of digital finance, making transacting in our day to day lives easier.  By being able to use Crypto for our buying needs, we can speed up payment processes, eliminate currency barriers, simplify our needs and improve on security in our financial lives.  People are going to be able to use Ecoin Finance, its Crypto Wallet and upcoming Debit Card to use for everyday transactions.

RA: Why do you think less women are in the Web3 Industry and less women are investing in Cryptocurrency?

Women are more cautious when investing in general.  When you look at people that invest in the Stock Market, there are more men than women. An article on Finder.com from April of 2023, states that US men are 3.5x more likely than women to own crypto.* Even though there are less women currently in Crypto, I am confident that women can also be very successful.  

Many men tend to explain Web3 in more of a complex way, which I think makes women hesitant to invest. I like to explain Crypto in a more relatable way, so that as many people as possible can understand it and get involved.

RA: What advice would you give young women who would like to start investing in Crypto but don’t know where to begin?

First off, learn the basics of Web3 through either Youtube Tutorials or joining Twitter Spaces. People can always join my “StarDawgs” Saturday Twitter Spaces every Saturday at 3:00pm PST to learn more about Web3 as a whole and come up and ask questions. Our StarDawgs Community is very welcoming and we love to help newcomers. Also, once you feel like you have the hang of what it is all about, do your research in whatever you are investing into, and find companies and projects that you can really stand behind. Be willing to take chances, but do so in a responsible way.

A big part of the acting and music business is marketing.  As an entertainer, first and foremost you have to understand that you are a “brand”, and you have to market yourself as such.  Your name means everything and if you say that you are going to do something, you need to do it.  When you are out and about, you treat people with respect.  When you’re working, you treat your colleagues with respect. By doing this, people respect you as well and people trust you. This is just good business. If you don’t have trust and integrity, you don’t have anything.  This is the same in Crypto.

I always tell people that I can teach someone anything, but I can’t teach them loyalty, trust or integrity.

RA: What are 3 things that have helped you succeed in the entertainment industry?

• My tenacity.
• My ability to play diverse roles and be a chameleon.
• My willingness to pivot and my understanding that while the entertainment industry is about creativity, it is still a business and needs to be treated as such.

RA: How have you used your background in the acting and music business to thrive in crypto?

A big part of the acting and music business is marketing.  As an entertainer, first and foremost you have to understand that you are a “brand”, and you have to market yourself as such.  Your name means everything and if you say that you are going to do something, you need to do it.  When you are out and about, you treat people with respect.  When you’re working, you treat your colleagues with respect. By doing this, people respect you as well and people trust you. This is just good business. If you don’t have trust and integrity, you don’t have anything.  This is the same in Crypto.

I always tell people that I can teach someone anything, but I can’t teach them loyalty, trust or integrity.

RA: It’s obvious that you have a passion for motivating your fans. You’ve published a book titled Darcy’s Daily Dose of Inspiration. What is your favorite Darcy’s Daily that you find yourself practicing most often?

My favorite “Darcy’s Daily” comes from a quote that my Grandfather said often. He always told me, “There are no luggage racks on a hearse”.  What this means is that you can’t take anything with you but your name.  Your name is your legacy and your most valuable asset that you have.

RA: What do you think is your ultimate source of inspiration/motivation?

I would have to say that God, the angels and my fur-babies are my biggest sources of inspiration. As for motivation, breaking new boundaries, making the world a better place and showing others that anything is possible with determination and hard work.

RA: From music to acting to finance, there’s not a world you can’t conquer. Out of all you’ve done, what do you feel most proud to have accomplished?

This is an amazing question and as a “Type A” personality, I still don’t think I have accomplished enough in my life.  In regards to things that I have already done, I would have to say that hearing from fans that I have helped to save their lives, would have to be my biggest accomplishment.  For me, knowing that I have been able to make a difference in the world means so much to me before my time on earth is done.