Brian Oakes has always been curious about how systems work. His passion for IT began with his first computer and evolved into a career at a major IT company as a customer support escalation engineer, where he built a reputation as the go-to “fixer,” resolving complex issues and challenges. His problem-solving nature, combined with his adventurous mindset, naturally drew him to the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. As an early adopter, he mined crypto as a hobby, more fascinated by the process than the profit—yet he successfully built a substantial digital fortune. Then, in an instant, he became the target of a crushing hack, erasing years of work and everything he had built right before his eyes.
But Brian’s story doesn’t end there. Refusing to be defined by loss, he drew strength from his family as a devoted husband and father and transformed his setback into a powerful story of resilience and growth. He now uses his journey to shed light on the everyday convenience traps that put us all at risk and shares insights on safeguarding digital assets. As a respected voice in the IT, cryptocurrency, and blockchain communities, he inspires others to learn, adapt, and strengthen their defenses, empowering them to rise stronger after being Undermined.