Matt James is an American television personality, entrepreneur, and cryptocurrency advocate, most recently known for being the first Black male lead on ABC’s hit show, The Bachelor - just days after the murder of George Floyd. His season became a flashpoint for racial dialogue and propelled him to the forefront of many important conversations.

Born and raised in Raleigh, NC, Matt was a gifted athlete early on. His football career would eventually span Wake Forest University, the Carolina Panthers, and the New Orleans Saints. After graduating college with a degree in Economics, Matt worked in finance & commercial real estate. Matt founded ABC Food Tours in 2018 (NYC based non-profit) to create educational experiences for low-income students.

James has recently cultivated another passion; blockchain and cryptocurrency. Matt is a co-founder of 'Encrypted Energy,' a cryptocurrency mining company that sources clean energy to mine bitcoin. He is a member of Crypto for Black Economic Empowerment (CBEE), a collective of the most influential Black crypto and Blockchain thought leaders. James is also an owner and supporter of the NFT movement, with a particular interest in artists of color (AKU) and female creators (Women of the World, Boss Beauties). He advises several digital media companies on the future of the Metaverse & Web3.

Education is a central focus for all of James’ work. In 2021, he partnered with crypto marketplace BlockFi to create crypto educational content geared toward women & communities of color and is working with Gemini to develop a financial literacy curriculum.

James’ has long standing partnerships with Walmart, Amazon, and is a minority owner of hydroponic farming company Lettuce Grow.

James currently lives in New York. He spends his free time exercising, farming, and eating his way through the city.