A podcast where the builders, creators and users of the new internet discuss what keeps them here. Hosted by Zerion's Alexander Guy and produced by Apollo.

Subscribe

Still Here: Apple ⚬ Spotify ⚬ ZORA

UFO: Interface ⚬ Lens ⚬ Paragraph ⚬ ZORA

Simona Pop is an angel investor, advisor to the Optimism and Element foundations, PG steward at ENS, and a Kernel mentor. She has been ‘here’ for a while.

Growing up as a child of the revolution in Romania, she was drawn to the idea of freedom. And that eventually brought her to crypto.

The biggest defining characteristic of crypto is the speed of change.

Any change also leads to a loss. And this loss is what people resist as Simona explained in her talk at Devconnect.

The loss is especially painful if the change is associated with the persona.

Yet, besides the fear of loss, excitement is another possible reaction to change.

“Because the ‘reality’ is so calcified, being able to step into a space where it’s not, ignites the adventure element. And you’re potentially redesigning how the world works.”

However, there is a risk of coming into this new world with the same scarcity mentality that was taught for generations. There is no point in this technology if we reenact the same shit, Simona says.

Moving individuals from Web 2 to Web3 without any “initiation” ensures that people do not align with the values of a new space. Processes of initiation are important, Simona argued.

And in Web3, it’s extremely important to nurture and preserve authenticity.

“Every one of us has intrinsic value. Reciprocity is something that we need to relearn.

Mentioned in the episode: