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Ideas, Work, and Adventures — Matt Henderson.

Ideas, Work, and Adventures — Matt Henderson

Hi, I’m Matt.

For over three decades, I’ve built successful products at the frontier of technology, drawing on deep expertise in engineering, product design, and UX. Currently at NEAR, I lead the team creating near.com, a category-defining product that brings traditional and onchain finance together in one seamless, private, and remarkable experience.

I’m originally from the United States and studied electrical engineering at Georgia Tech. Time at the school’s campus in France taught me the value of exposure to different cultures and perspectives, which later led to living in Germany and Spain and traveling extensively across Europe, the US, and beyond.

My career began in 1992 tracking satellites in Germany at the European Space Agency. In 1997, I started an aerospace engineering company that delivered engineering and software services to ESA, EUMETSAT, and EUTELSAT. I sold that business in 2012.

I then founded Makalu, a product design and development agency I ran for 20 years from southern Spain. We created award-winning work for brands including Google, Virgin America, and Live Nation.

Highlights from that chapter include:

  • A Google campaign Ogilvy executives described as “a glimpse into the future of digital marketing.”
  • A web app that onboarded more than one million users.
  • A mobile app used to time more than three million sports participants.
  • An Apple-featured app that went unexpectedly viral in Brazil because its name there means butt crack.

My path eventually led to blockchain. I joined Aurora as founding Head of Product and later Chief Strategy Officer. My team built products including the Rainbow Bridge (more than $2B in transferred assets), Aurora+, and Aurora Cloud. I was also accused of impersonating Tim Cook in this keynote video.

In 2023, I transitioned to part-time advisory roles at Aurora, a Dubai-based startup exchange, and Asimov Protocol, an AI startup. In 2025, I rejoined former Aurora colleagues full-time at NEAR Intents.

If you’re new here, you might enjoy my personal projects, especially my investing book. Since I often get asked about crypto, I added a dedicated chapter here.

Outside of work, I’m a three-time European gold medalist in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and received my black belt in 2011. I also enjoy hiking, cycling, rock climbing, and skiing.

Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to reach out, or connect on X and LinkedIn.