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 creating wealth extra fluid, markets extra open and other people extra empowered. Earlier than becoming a member of Stellar, Denelle served because the chief working officer of Mozilla, one of the vital profitable mission-driven open-source organizations. Throughout her tenure at Mozilla, she led the group’s enterprise, income and coverage groups, together with the continuing combat for internet neutrality and the worldwide effort to make sure that folks can management their private information. She additionally pushed Mozilla to grasp find out how to companion with industrial entities whereas staying true to its core mission of openness, innovation and alternative on the internet. A lawyer by commerce, Denelle beforehand served as a normal counsel and authorized advisor in non-public fairness and know-how. 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 downside you suppose blockchain has an opportunity to unravel however hasn’t been tried but?
There is no such thing as a scarcity of concepts for what blockchain can remedy by way of effectivity, transparency, information safety, pace and value. The good factor is blockchain’s versatility will be utilized to most if not all industries starting from finance to healthcare to training to retail. And blockchain has been round lengthy sufficient that it’s not only for crypto fanatics anymore. Corporations, organizations and establishments at the moment are in search of methods to make blockchain a part of their tech stack. Primarily, if there’s a course of that may be improved upon with know-how, blockchain has the potential to be a part of that answer.
However blockchain must additional mature earlier than we see a completely complete answer occur. So, perhaps “try” isn’t the appropriate phrase right here a lot as “absolutely carried out.”
I might like to see blockchain sort out cybersecurity. Staying indoors all through the pandemic has solely amplified folks’s reliance on know-how — by means of their modes of communication, procuring habits or content material consumption/creation. However it’s troublesome for customers to decide on between defending their information and the incentives offered to them for offering entry to their information — to not point out that customers are continuously prone to being scammed or hacked. So, whereas customers must take a extra vigilant method to safeguarding their very own information, 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 initiatives specializing in cybersecurity find yourself within the coming years.
2 — What do you suppose would be the largest development in blockchain for the subsequent 12 months?
From a normal standpoint, as blockchain turns into extra consumer-friendly, we’ll see extra companies and people start to undertake it. Curiosity in blockchain is barely rising because the know-how and infrastructure turns into extra sturdy and helpful, permitting folks to unravel issues in more and more versatile methods.
Which means industries past simply fintech will begin pondering of how blockchain can profit them. I welcome the diversification of industries as they convey extra purposes, services to blockchain, because it signifies rising acceptance by the general public that blockchain actually will be a part of the mainstream.
Relating to monetary methods, 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 an economical, swift and highly effective answer. If these establishments start issuing stablecoins on their very own, as Bitbond and Financial institution von der Heydt did, the mainstream shopper will grow to be far more snug with the concept of digital currencies and blockchain on the whole.
3 — What’s probably the most fascinating place you’ve ever visited, and why?
It is a arduous query as a result of “fascinating” might cowl so many emotions. If I needed to decide one, I might go along with Kraków, Poland. Whereas my go to there was temporary, I might really feel the historical past — each lovely and tragic — beaming from inside the massive, culturally distinct and traditionally important areas of Kraków. The modern 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 group 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 unique promise: to supply an area the place folks 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 are usually not sufficient to safeguard customers.
As with most know-how, social media in itself is neither good nor unhealthy. It’s a software, albeit one that’s extremely vulnerable 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 greatest in keeping 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 will get probably the most eyeballs? Will we see corporations 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 failings of social media exist, and these networks should 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 will be heard and issues.
5 — What are the highest 5 Crypto Twitter feeds you may’t do with out, and why?
Am I allowed to say @cointelegraph?
The opposite 5 are (in no explicit order):
@CoinDesk: Their deal with information, analysis and multimedia content material assist me maintain tabs on broader traits, use instances and improvements going down in crypto.
@TheBlock__: How they keep up to date on all the most important gamers within the crypto/blockchain area — quick, candy and to the purpose.
@ForbesCrypto: They’re one of many largest crypto pubs on Twitter and for good purpose: 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 greatest identified for, CoinMarketCap additionally places out nice content material specializing in international coverage, rules and initiatives occurring 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 buddies sitting round a bonfire in our yard taking part in a sport of charades. It’s considered one of my happiest moments — significantly when my group is successful.
