We ask the buidlers within the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector for his or her ideas on the business… and we throw in a number of random zingers to maintain them on their toes!
This week, our 6 Questions go to Denelle Dixon, CEO and govt director of the Stellar Growth Basis.
Denelle Dixon is the CEO and govt director of the Stellar Growth Basis, a nonprofit group utilizing blockchain to unlock the world’s financial potential by getting cash extra fluid, markets extra open and folks extra empowered. Earlier than becoming a member of Stellar, Denelle served because the chief working officer of Mozilla, one of the profitable mission-driven open-source organizations. Throughout her tenure at Mozilla, she led the group’s enterprise, income and coverage groups, together with the continued struggle for internet neutrality and the worldwide effort to make sure that individuals can management their private knowledge. She additionally pushed Mozilla to know the way to companion with business entities whereas staying true to its core mission of openness, innovation and alternative on the net. A lawyer by commerce, Denelle beforehand served as a common counsel and authorized advisor in personal fairness and expertise. All through her profession, Denelle has been a vocal advocate for internet neutrality, encryption, the disclosure of vulnerabilities by governments, and higher person alternative and management.
1 — What’s one drawback you assume blockchain has an opportunity to resolve however hasn’t been tried but?
There isn’t a scarcity of concepts for what blockchain can resolve by way of effectivity, transparency, knowledge safety, velocity and price. The nice factor is blockchain’s versatility might be utilized to most if not all industries starting from finance to healthcare to schooling to retail. And blockchain has been round lengthy sufficient that it’s not only for crypto lovers anymore. Corporations, organizations and establishments are actually on the lookout for methods to make blockchain a part of their tech stack. Basically, if there’s a course of that may be improved upon with expertise, blockchain has the potential to be a part of that resolution.
However blockchain must additional mature earlier than we see a totally complete resolution occur. So, perhaps “try” isn’t the proper phrase right here a lot as “absolutely carried out.”
I might like to see blockchain deal with cybersecurity. Staying indoors all through the pandemic has solely amplified individuals’s reliance on expertise — by means of their modes of communication, buying habits or content material consumption/creation. But it surely’s tough for customers to decide on between defending their knowledge and the incentives offered to them for offering entry to their knowledge — to not point out that customers are always vulnerable to being scammed or hacked. So, whereas customers have to take a extra vigilant strategy to safeguarding their very own knowledge, blockchain can defend customers on the product degree by way of decentralization and built-in encryption strategies. I’m very excited to see the place blockchain tasks specializing in cybersecurity find yourself within the coming years.
2 — What do you assume would be the largest pattern in blockchain for the following 12 months?
From a common standpoint, as blockchain turns into extra consumer-friendly, we’ll see extra companies and people start to undertake it. Curiosity in blockchain is just rising because the expertise and infrastructure turns into extra sturdy and helpful, permitting individuals to resolve issues in more and more versatile methods.
Which means that industries past simply fintech will begin considering of the way blockchain can profit them. I welcome the diversification of industries as they carry extra functions, services and products to blockchain, because it signifies rising acceptance by the general public that blockchain actually might be a part of the mainstream.
Concerning monetary techniques, the dialog round stablecoins and digital currencies will proceed to accentuate. We’re lastly beginning to see buy-in from conventional monetary establishments that blockchain is a cheap, swift and highly effective resolution. If these establishments start issuing stablecoins on their very own, as Bitbond and Financial institution von der Heydt did, the mainstream client will change into way more snug with the concept of digital currencies and blockchain normally.
3 — What’s essentially the most attention-grabbing place you’ve ever visited, and why?
It is a onerous query as a result of “attention-grabbing” may cowl so many emotions. If I needed to choose one, I might go together with Kraków, Poland. Whereas my go to there was transient, I may really feel the historical past — each stunning and tragic — beaming from throughout the giant, culturally distinct and traditionally important areas of Kraków. The up to date metropolis boasts vibrant companies with historic buildings and church buildings and cathedrals dotting the panorama. It was a shifting juxtaposition for me, particularly after visiting the Jewish Quarter — Kazimierz — which is an ever-present reminder of the tragedies inflicted throughout WWII mixed with more moderen brilliance within the resurgence of the Jewish neighborhood there with artwork exhibitions that commemorate the rebuilding. For me, going to Kraków was a lesson in life, artwork and cultural safety.
4 — What’s the way forward for social media?
If anybody has watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix, they’re most likely conscious that social media has deviated removed from its authentic promise: to supply an area the place individuals can voice their ideas and join with each other.
We see now that social media has an entire host of issues. Not solely have the psychological and cultural impacts of social media been extra dramatic than many people anticipated however present insurance policies and rules aren’t sufficient to safeguard customers.
As with most expertise, social media in itself is neither good nor unhealthy. It’s a device, albeit one that’s extremely inclined to algorithmic adjustments and design decisions within the fingers of some.
So, will we see much more video-driven options as a result of that’s what performs finest in accordance with the algorithm? Will we see the voices of some rise to the highest as a result of they occurred to say the factor that may get essentially the most eyeballs? Will we see firms improve their prominence on social media as a result of their promoting budgets are the first income for these networks? Sure to the entire above.
However now we all know the place the issues of social media exist, and these networks must be reexamined, redesigned and rebuilt with not simply the enter of some, however from all voices. That’s what it’ll take to recapture what made social media so particular within the first place: to have a platform the place your voice might be heard and issues.
5 — What are the highest 5 Crypto Twitter feeds you’ll be able to’t do with out, and why?
Am I allowed to say @cointelegraph?
The opposite 5 are (in no explicit order):
@CoinDesk: Their deal with knowledge, analysis and multimedia content material assist me preserve tabs on broader traits, use circumstances and improvements happening in crypto.
@TheBlock__: How they keep up to date on all the foremost gamers within the crypto/blockchain area — brief, candy and to the purpose.
@ForbesCrypto: They’re one of many largest crypto pubs on Twitter and for good motive: They get all of the exclusives!
@BlockchainAssn: The Blockchain Affiliation has a entrance seat to DC policymaking and rules in blockchain and crypto. I respect their nuanced takes on the discussions and laws circulating within the area.
@CoinMarketCap: CoinMarketCap is a knowledge lover’s dream. Other than the rankings and charts, [what] they’re finest recognized for, CoinMarketCap additionally places out nice content material specializing in world coverage, rules and tasks taking place in crypto.
6 — Shut your eyes and consider a cheerful place. What do you see?
I see my household, my dad and mom, my companion, our youngsters and our shut pals sitting round a bonfire in our yard taking part in a recreation of charades. It’s one in all my happiest moments — notably when my crew is profitable.
