What I Learned About Crypto’s Future From Basecamp and FWBFest

These
events
validated
a
thesis
I
have
grown
to
believe:
mass
adoption
of
blockchains
will
emerge
when
people
outside
the
current
crypto
community
use
our
tools
to
create
or
supplement
their
own
niches.
This
concept
hinges
on
new
adopters
using
blockchains
to
spread
value
and
secure
trust
within
their
own
communities,
just
as
the
initial
crypto
cohort
has
done.
New
adopters
won’t
join
a
single
monolithic
onchain
community;
instead,
they’ll
perhaps
create
their
own.
Despite
these
diverse
creations,
we’ll
all
remain
connected
by
the
underlying
blockchain,
making
“onchain”
a
verb
for
human
connection.

Interestingly,
the
social
layer
of
crypto
inherits
more
from
the
protocol
layer
than
we
often
realize.
Just
as
our
codebases
begin
to
exhibit
modularity,
our
cultural
bases
will
too,
this
is
because
building
modular
expands
the
scope
of
what
can
be
built
in
the
first
place,
thus
inviting
more
contributors.

This
core
principle
of
blockchains
allows
individuals
to
join
whichever
subculture
they
prefer
without
being
detached
from
the
whole.
In
a
world
increasingly
divided,
the
shared
global
ledgers
of
blockchains
keep
us
connected.
I
look
forward
to
seeing
more
modularity
in
both
cultural
and
technical
terms
emerges
as
sprouts
within
broad
ecosystems
like
Ethereum.

For
a
deeper
dive
into
this
idea
of
subcultures,
I
recommend
Paul
Dylan
Ennis’

article
for
CoinDesk.

When
gathering
people
from
all
walks
of
crypto,
one
topic
stands
out:
user
experience,
which
is
closely
tied
to
the
concept
of
interoperability.

Interoperability
is
defined
in
the
dictionary
as:

Both
definitions
resonate
with
blockchains.
From
a
technical
standpoint,
interoperability
allows
different
systems,
protocols,
and
applications
to
exchange
and
utilize
information
seamlessly.
Imagine
navigating
blockchains
as
effortlessly
as
switching
websites
without
changing
your
WiFi
router.

Social
layer
interoperability,
on
the
other
hand,
facilitates
coordination
and
collaboration
among
diverse
groups
within
the
space.
It
ensures
that
different
user
groups
—
developers,
artists,
investors,
community
builders
—
can
work
together
harmoniously,
compounding
their
efforts
to
build
something
truly
special
and
lasting.

Thus,
interoperability
in
blockchains
enables
seamless
transfer
and
deployment
of
various
types
of
capital:
financial,
technical,
cultural,
and
human.
It
allows
chains,
apps,
and
people
to
collaborate,
making
the
interoperable
whole
greater
than
the
sum
of
its
parts.

During
a
Superchain
panel
at
FWB
fest
with
BASE,
Optimism
and
Worldcoin,
Tiago
Sada,
Head
of
Product
at
Worldcoin,
noted
that
“there
will
be
neutral
block
space,
and
there
will
also
be
opinionated
block
space.”

Opinionated
blockspace
means
fewer
copy-paste
apps
and
more
novel
innovations
and
Interoperability
allows
for
maximum
composability
across
diverse,
opinionated
blockchains.
Previously
siloed
opinions
can
now
coexist
and
compound
in
open
gardens
or,
as
the
Optimism
collective
envisions,
in
one
big

superchain.

Magic
happens
when
different
skill
sets
come
together.
Basecamp
and
FWBFest
were
demonstrations
of
such
convergences.
At
these
events,
we
saw
companies
work
together
to
compound
their
experiences
and
provide
greater
value
to
the
end
user
–
different
companies
/
protocols
helping
each
other
and
not
feeling
territorial,
it
was
a
joy
to
witness.

Leaders
like
Jesse
Pollak,
Base’s
first
contributor,
embody
the
synergy
that
can
exist
across
different
walks
of
crypto.
His
dual
expertise
as
a
community
builder
and
protocol
leader
has
translated
into
success
for
Base.
While
not
everyone
needs
to
be
Jesse
(he
is
a
1of1),
many
in
crypto
can
find
similar
success
by
merging
or
empowering
both
worlds.

While
specialized
conferences
(NFT
conferences,
hackathons,
institutional
conferences)
are
essential,
generalized
open
spaces
where
builders,
artists,
users,
and
hobbyists
alike
can
mingle
are
equally
important.
We
need
more
neutral
spaces
like
Basecamp
and
FEST
to
happen
more
consistently,
both
online
and
IRL.

Words
can
mimic
but
never
truly
replicate
experiences.
Meeting
people
at
these
events
was
a
joy,
and
I
found
myself
pondering,
“What
does
culture
mean
anyway?”
Reflecting
on
this,
I
realized
culture
is
a
lived
experience
among
groups
of
humans,
and
I
am
grateful
to
have
felt
it.

The
challenge
now
is
scaling
this
culture.
My
excitement
for
decentralized
social
networks
lies
in
their
potential
to
replicate
this
sense
of
community
onchain,
forging
trusted,
global
and
spontaneous
lifelong
connections.

To
truly
scale
this
culture,
we
need
more
of
the
on-chain
world
to
resonate
with
the
experiences
we’ve
cherished
in
the
Web2
space
—
those
concerts,
coffee
meetups,
and
late-night
conversations
that
have
shaped
our
lives.
These
moments
of
connection
are
the
bedrock
of
culture,
and
Web3
should
strive
to
capture
that
same
essence,
seamlessly
intertwining
the
physical
and
digital
worlds.

The
beauty
of
being
on-chain
lies
in
its
ability
to
unite
us
with
an
underlying
technology
that
enhances
rather
than
overshadows
these
experiences,
making
every
interaction
feel
meaningful
and
authentic.
By
bringing
the
spontaneity
and
intimacy
of
our
Web2
experiences
into
the
on-chain
realm,
we
can
create
a
vibrant,
lived
culture
that
feels
as
natural
as
the
ones
we’ve
always
known.

One
underappreciated
aspect
of
events
with
multiple
curators
is
the
tougher
questions
that
often
arise.
This
is
not
only
healthy
for
the
industry’s
progress
but
also
for
our
own.
We
should
use
difficult
questions
as
launch
pads
for
reflection.

Events
that
do
not
just
converge
around
panels
and
pre-set
interviews,
but
rather
open
up
the
floor
to
audiences
to
discuss
and
question
things
openly
are
an
important
vehicle
to
drive
future
success;
these
spaces
allow
everyone
to
become
a
stakeholder
in
the
future
of
crypto.

As
we
move
forward,
the
lessons
from
Basecamp
and
FWBFest
underline
a
crucial
truth:
the
future
of
crypto
hinges
on
inclusivity,
collaboration,
and
continuous
dialogue.
By
fostering
environments
where
diverse
ideas
and
perspectives
can
flourish,
we
can
build
a
blockchain
ecosystem
that
is
not
only
technically
robust
but
also
rich
in
culture
and
human
connection.
Let’s
embrace
this
journey
together,
ensuring
that
every
voice
is
heard
and
every
innovation
is
celebrated.
Decentralized
systems
can
benefit
greatly
by
listening
to
the
people
they
are
decentralizing
unto,
and
it
is
lovely
to
see
progress
being
made
on
that
front
through
such
events.

If
you
would
like
to
connect
with
Binji,
you
can
find
him
on

X
or

Farcaster.

Note:
The
views
expressed
in
this
column
are
those
of
the
author
and
do
not
necessarily
reflect
those
of
CoinDesk,
Inc.
or
its
owners
and
affiliates.