Mike Brock is a technology executive, software engineer, and writer with a focus on the cryptocurrency sector. He became known for his work at Block, Inc. (previously Square), where he contributed to the growth of Bitcoin services and the development of open-source Bitcoin. Later in his career, he shifted his focus from software and business leadership to political commentary and independent writing.
Who Is Mike Brock?
Mike Brock is best known as a former senior leader at financial technology company Block, Inc., which is the maker of Cash App. He was involved in the mainstreaming of Bitcoin trading on a payment platform and helped found Square Crypto, now known as Spiral, an open-source Bitcoin development initiative.
Before entering the cryptocurrency industry, Brock worked at Red Hat, a company known for its open-source software. His background in software engineering provided him with a solid technical foundation for financial products and blockchain initiatives.
After leaving Block, Brock joined the cryptocurrency advisory and independent writing scene. He writes about technology, political culture, and the problems of democratic institutions in his newsletter, Notes from the Circus.
This technology executive should not be confused with trial attorney Robert “Mike” Brock. This article is limited to the former Block executive.
Early Career and Work at Red Hat
Mike Brock started his career in the early 2000s. He is listed as working in the technology consulting field at Outsource IT Computing, Inc. from around 2003 to 2007.
He joined Red Hat, a company that creates open-source software for businesses and developers around the world, in 2007. Open-source software allows people to study, use, and improve software under its licensing terms. This method became a significant part of Brock’s professional experience.
Brock was a principal software engineer and project lead at Red Hat. He worked on software development projects such as MVEL, an expression language for Java-based applications.
He gained experience in software architecture, engineering leadership, and collaborative development at Red Hat.
Brock continued to work with Red Hat until approximately 2013. The shift from enterprise software was the start of a new phase in his career, as he joined the emerging financial technology industry.
Mike Brock at Block and Cash App
In about 2013, Brock joined Square, which is now known as Block, Inc. He assumed leadership roles related to Cash App, a financial service app that enables users to send and receive money and access other financial services.
Bitcoin was one of the most significant aspects of Brock’s work. Cryptocurrency was becoming popular at the time, but for many regular users, it might still be challenging to purchase and sell digital currencies.
By enabling eligible users to purchase and sell Bitcoin via an app they already used for financial transactions, Cash App made Bitcoin more accessible. Brock was on the team that helped make this feature a reality.
Founding Square Crypto and Supporting Bitcoin Development
In 2018, Square launched Square Crypto, a program focused on open-source Bitcoin development. Brock assisted in the development of the project, now called Spiral.
The project was dedicated to assisting developers who are trying to enhance Bitcoin and the technology that surrounds it. It was not like a standard product team, as open-source development can be useful to an entire technology community, not just one company.
Bitcoin relies on software that is maintained and improved by developers worldwide. This work can be supported to help build the network, enhance its tools, and motivate others to join.
Brock’s experience with open-source software at Red Hat informed his involvement in the creation of Square Crypto. Both roles were linked to the concept of technology being developed through cooperation, shared knowledge and contributions from various teams.
His efforts at Block put him in the ranks of the technology leaders who helped make cryptocurrency more accessible to everyday financial transactions and helped advance the technology.
Leadership at TBD
In 2023, Brock took on a leadership role at TBD, Block’s business unit focused on decentralized technology and cryptocurrency infrastructure. He was the unit’s lead, which is frequently referred to in public event materials as the unit’s chief executive-level leadership role.
TBD discussed how to enable more open financial services and build infrastructure that integrates with Bitcoin and decentralized systems. It also had a wider impact, such as its work on digital wallets and the Lightning Network, a technology that aims to make Bitcoin transactions faster and more efficient.
Running a business unit in this field was not just a matter of technical expertise. It also included prioritizing, team coordination, and linking long-term technology objectives with business requirements.
This work was inspired by Brock’s previous experience at Red Hat and Cash App. He had already worked with software developers, consumer financial products, and open-source projects.
Brock has also been linked to a co-chief executive role at Block in 2023 and 2024. This is a more accurate description of his career at TBD.
Career After Block: Advising and Writing
Brock’s career after his executive days focused on advising and independent commentary. He was also named an advisor to Blockchain Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency companies, by 2025.
This work provides a link to the industry he is familiar with. His expertise in software engineering, Bitcoin development, and financial technology provides him with valuable experience that can be applied to evaluating projects in the blockchain industry.
Brock also built a public voice with his Substack newsletter, Notes from the Circus. His work covers technology, political culture, democratic institutions, and the duties of those who wield power.
He speaks about larger issues of society and public life from his experience in Silicon Valley. His work demonstrates his interest in the impact of technology companies on the world and the impact of their decisions on people outside of the industry.
Brock has said that the price of voicing unpopular opinions is professional, such as losing interest from recruiters. The change reflects a change in his public persona, from being a key player in technology projects within a large company to looking at the technology industry and politics from an independent point of view.
Mike Brock’s Influence and Professional Legacy
Mike Brock’s career is a bridge between three worlds that are frequently separated: software engineering, consumer finance, and political writing.
He has worked with open-source software at Red Hat. He joined Block to help launch Bitcoin services for Cash App and to participate in a project to enhance Bitcoin through open-source contributions. His leadership at TBD extended his involvement in decentralized financial technology.
Conclusion
The evolution of technology in today’s society is evident in Mike Brock’s career. He worked on software engineering at Red Hat, Bitcoin projects at Block, and led projects at TBD in the areas of open-source technology and digital finance.
He then transitioned to cryptocurrency advice and independent commentary via Notes from the Circus. He now has a career that includes technical experience and an interest in the broader social and political implications of technology.
