Melanie Swan is a British-American philosopher, futurist, and economic theorist based in New York City. She specializes in blockchain and is the founder of Institute for Blockchain Studies and DIYgenomics.

Swan was born in London but moved to the United States in her youth. She graduated from the Lakeside School in Seattle and was active in Crew, Volleyball, and Orienteering. She went on to attend Georgetown University and earned a BA in French and Economics in 1990. Swan has earned several graduate degrees including a Master's Degree of Contemporary Philosopjy from Kingston University, a Master's Degree in Contemporary Philosophy from the Universite Paris 8, a Master's Degree from The New School, and an MBA from The Wharton School.

At the beginning of her career, Swan was a Senior Consultant for Arthur Andersen & Co., Investment Analyst for Fidelity, an Investment Banking Associate for JP Morgan, and a Business Developemnt specialist at iPass. She is the Founder of GroupPurchase and Co-founder of Sand Hill Angels. Swan has worked as a Research Director Ovum RHK.

Swan has been a Futurist for the MS Futures Group since 2000.

She is a faculty member at Singularity University and the University of the Commons, an Affiliate Scholar at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and an invited contributor to the Edge's Annual Essay Question. Swan is the founder of the Institute for Blockchain Studies which researchers the theorical implications of blockchain technology. She is the author of Blockchain: Blueprint for a New Economy.

Swan serves as an advisor in academic, government, corporate, and startup settings, and is active in the community promoting science and technology opportunities.

She is a hackathon participant and designs collaboration simulations including "Discontinuity Futures," "Being an Entrepreneur" and "The Trader's Pit."

Ms. Swan is an Advisory Board member of the Foundational Questions Institute, Lifeboat Foundation, and Accelerating Studies Foundation, the former Treasurer of San Francisco-based non-profit Equal Rights Advocates, and a workshop presenter at the Expanding Your Horizons math and science conference.

Swan speaks French, Spanish, and Portuguese, and enjoys reading, international travel, running, meditation, and kick-boxing.