Social Block

The podcast is back 😎, kicking off 2024 with a fresh perspective.

In today’s episode, we invite you to step into the shoes of the non-technical crypto enthusiast and entrepreneur. Magy’s guest is Azeem Khan, COO of Morph with a background in blockchain that also includes Gitcoin, consulting at UNICEF's Crypto Venture Fund, and working with the World Economic Forum

In Episode #13, Magy and Azeem chat about the intersection of AI and user experience as well as blockchain education, making these complex topics accessible and engaging for everyone.

📱UX on the Rise: Exploring the shift from command-based to intent-based user interfaces, simplifying tech interactions and how they might affect blockchain.

🎓Education for Blockchain: The reason understanding the 'why' behind blockchain technology is as crucial as knowing 'how' to use it.

🗣 Non-Tech Talk: Addressing the need for soft skills and human connections in the blockchain space to drive wider adoption.

Useful Links from the episode:

For more on UX and UI, follow Nexo’s Head of Product Design, Vladimir Yordanov: https://twitter.com/vladyyordanov

Find Morph and Azeem on Twitter and LinkedIn:
https://twitter.com/MorphL2
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theazeemkhan/

And finally, follow Magy and the Social Block:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagy

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]

This special episode is a great reminder of the immense power we hold when we come together to support and uplift communities in need. Niall gave many examples of how the blockchain space can contribute to this endeavor, with highlights in the conversation such as: 

🆔 DID Revolution: transforming disaster relief disbursements with decentralized digital identity

🫶 Payments: Merging digital identity with payments

🏅 Reputation through NFTs: rewarding real-world actions and building on-chain reputation

📖 Niall shares how blockchain brings tangible change worldwide

Follow Magy and the Social Block:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagy

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]

Dyma and Magy covered quite a lot in this episode, starting from a rather more ideological conversation on the modern concept of trust – a.k.a trustlessness, and circling back to Dyma’s practical tips and tricks on researching your way through Web3 waters. Key topics included:

🔍 Not just why, but how to DYOR.

📊 Stats! Find out what percentage of projects have verified smart contracts and follow their initial whitepaper plans. The numbers are surprising and important to know.

⚖️ The blockchain dilemma on whether or not we want entities and institutions for protection against hackers and scammers over our desire for decentralized autonomy.

🏗️ The knowledge gap between Web3 developers and those who cannot read code as a key speedbump to DYOR.

Follow Magy and the Social Block:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagy 

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]

Fill out the Social Block survey for better episodes tailored to you: https://nexo-finance.typeform.com/to/L7M5L3Qe

This week, Magy sat down with Eric Winer from NEAR. Eric is the CTO of Pagoda – the NEAR ecosystem’s development arm, which is making startup-building in the blockchain space user-friendly, more interconnected, and, just, well, better.

🫢Why the existence of blockchain alone isn't sufficient for creating great apps and what tools the space still needs to be more builder-friendly.

🤖 How automation, which is part of Web3’s very DNA will catapult startups building in the space. 

🧑‍💼The notable gap between mainstream founders and the decentralized community, and how we ought to bridge it.

🏛️The dominance of and potential issues with relying too much on a few Web2 tech giants.

Follow Magy and the Social Block:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagy

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]

Fill out the Social Block survey for better episodes tailored to you: https://nexo-finance.typeform.com/to/L7M5L3Qe

Beyond the rather saucy title, this episode is actually about the potential behind Bitcoin Layer 2s, making the chain more like Ethereum, of course, with Bitcoin’s signature qualities intact. Andrea and Magy also discuss DeFi’s potential, a little about the importance of narratives in the blockchain space, and trends in the Asian market. Some highlights:

🌟Intentional inclusion: Why giving opportunities to women that would have otherwise been given to men is crucial for industry progression.

🔍Risk assessment: Why women's unique approach to evaluating risks is increasingly being valued in the blockchain space.

💼Trends among female investors: Namely, extensive research, risk assessment, a notable confidence gap, and a tendency for long-term investments (HODLing).

💡The systemic issue of limited VC capital for female-founded projects.

Follow Magy and the Social Block:

TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagy 

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]

Fill out the Social Block survey for better episodes tailored to you: https://nexo-finance.typeform.com/to/...

In this inspiring, and (hopefully) industry-changing discussion, Magy and Amanda dissect crucial topics surrounding women's growing influence in the cryptosphere, such as:

🌟Intentional inclusion: Why giving opportunities to women that would have otherwise been given to men is crucial for industry progression.

🔍Risk assessment: Why women's unique approach to evaluating risks is increasingly being valued in the blockchain space.

💼Trends among female investors: Namely, extensive research, risk assessment, a notable confidence gap, and a tendency for long-term investments (HODLing).

💡The systemic issue of limited VC capital for female-founded projects.

This episode is a must-listen, not just for those invested in crypto, but for anyone interested in the dynamics of gender, equity, and technological innovation in modern industries.

Follow Magy and the Social Block:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagy

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]

Magy and Max Howell, developer of Homebrew and CEO of tea.xyz, break down the connection between open-source software and blockchain, digging into the nuts and bolts of how community-led software development has been the linchpin in the innovation and ethos of many chains and decentralized ecosystems. In this episode:

🤑How blockchain can change the way open-source devs are compensated for their work.

🐝Why the “hive mind” community thinking inherent in OSS skyrockets progress in blockchain.

🌱How open source and blockchain developers’ non-financial impetus for creating software has shaped the decentralized ethos of our space

Follow Magy and the Social Block:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagy

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]

Toufi joined Magy on the Social Block, lending his extensive experience in AI to explain where this industry is headed, and why the blockchain space appears both extensively interested in, and capable of boosting AI’s ascent. The episode explores: 

🛠️ Why AI is actually creating more jobs than it is taking away.

🌐 Why a decentralized, peer-to-peer model like blockchain’s can skyrocket us from just AI to…

🧠 AGI! (artificial general intelligence).

Follow Magy and the Social Block:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagy

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]

Conor and Magy talked extensively about CBDCs with a focus on the digital real in Brazil. The project for this CBDC is already being piloted and its potential for adoption and use once it goes live is quite high. Learn more about the digital real and how CBDCs can affect a country, its citizens and the world beyond in this episode. Highlights include:

🤝 How the digital real can improve access to banking for small businesses & individuals in Brazil.

🔗 The link between the Brazilian digital real and its PIX payment system.

💸 The potential and motivation for de-dollarization via the digital real. 

🇧🇷 Why Brazil is a great place for banking according to Conor.

Follow Magy and the Social Block:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagy 

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]

This time, Magy met with Jett Tang, president of The Hourglass Collective and executive producer of “The Next Crypto Gem” – a brand new reality TV show.

Magy and  guest Jett unraveled the motivation and importance of creating a TV show about crypto, as well as its goal of bringing the industry into the mainstream, breaking harmful stereotypes, and boosting adoption. Jett also reveals some behind-the-scenes stories and hilarious production blips.

Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: [email protected]