Charlie Shrem is an American entrepreneur and bitcoin advocate. He co-founded BitInstant, a bitcoin exchange, in 2011, and played a significant role in popularizing the use of bitcoin in its early days. Shrem is known for his contributions to the cryptocurrency community, although his career faced legal challenges related to money laundering, which resulted in a prison sentence. Despite this setback, he continues to be involved in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry, promoting innovation and advocating for decentralization.