Russell is the Co‑founder of AltX Research KK, which builds digital infrastructure and compliance tooling for nationwide transactions. He is also the Founder and former Executive Chairman of Paidy, Japan’s leading BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) service, working with major Japanese and global brands such as Apple and Amazon. After becoming a Unicorn in 2020, Paidy was acquired by PayPal in September 2021 for US $2.7 billion—the highest‑valued Japanese venture M&A transaction ever.
Russell has been active in the blockchain space since 2013. In November 2024, he announced Japan Smart Chain, the sovereign blockchain designed specifically for Japan. Prior to founding AltX Research and Paidy, he spent seven years in financial markets at Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs in Tokyo and Hong Kong.