It’s a messy and confusing place.

So much jargon and technicality that I’m not surprised why people avoid it or think it’s a scam. I did too.

Here’s my story cutting down some vines, turning back a couple of times, and finally set on exploring this jungle of Web3.

I first heard about blockchain, crypto, and Bitcoin in 2017. It was this revolutionary technology that would change the world or so it seemed.

Blockchain companies were popping up left and right; but it was just whitepapers, initial coin offerings (ICO), and expensive mining rigs — no actual implementations.

But I still invited one to present in a forum I organized. I wanted the company I worked for, to not stay stagnant. Well hopefully, the applications of blockchain would spark some ideas, right?

Nope, sadly I later realized that most corporate companies are heavily risk-averse. They preach a lot about innovation and change but continue to act with a legacy and conservative mindset.

I wanted to pursue it further but I didn’t have much, know where to buy, or even how to mine. And so I left it behind then.

I focused on learning about more accessible technologies and personal finance as I’m still a novice compared to my peers.

Crypto was something I still felt was too speculative.

Where do you even spend it? I could count the number of merchants who accepted it in my country with my fingers.

The pandemic hit and well, cash is king.

2021 arrived and pandemic restrictions became more relaxed.

Bitcoin and Ethereum are huge household names. More crypto companies exist and with much better UI UX, although still not friendly.

But I still could not understand why prices go up or down, I sort of still don’t.

A part of me regrets that I could have those juicy profits like other people.

Blindly, I decided to invest some. Welp, it was near its ALL-TIME HIGH.

Such a terrible decision hahaha. I decided to leave the coins in the exchange and forget about them until I can cover up my losses, or so I thought.

I switched jobs in 2022 to pursue a career goal: transforming old traditional companies. Some had been lost due to the pandemic and their inability to keep up with the times.

So I look for new ways of getting revenue. While doing research, NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and their insane prices headlined the news. Since they are just JPEGs, surely I can make money, right?

Well, that was my rabbit hole to Web3.

I got to know briefly what the culture and community are like, what are corporates doing, how does it work, what new applications are there, what really are NFTs, etc.

DeFi (decentralized finance) was something I was drawn to. I can finally earn something with the dumb coins I invested in. Not much but hey, better than nothing.

I am a believer in this tech/movement’s larger picture — new ways of earning income, financial instruments without a bank account or credit history, communities of things people like or want to accomplish, and many others.

It’s a whole jungle out there and someone needs help clearing a path.

That may be just you and me. Welcome to Web3.

Apfel is a product/project /marketer based in SEA and a Web3 newbie. He spends his time—playing with his pets, at the gym, lazing in bed, or at his Web2 job he wishes to leave. Check Apfel out on Twitter or Lens.

PS: Apfel is looking for a job in Web3, teehee!

Disclaimer: All images were created using Dall-E.

It’s a messy and confusing place.

So much jargon and technicality that I’m not surprised why people avoid it or think it’s a scam. I did too.

Here’s my story cutting down some vines, turning back a couple of times, and finally set on exploring this jungle of Web3.

I first heard about blockchain, crypto, and Bitcoin in 2017. It was this revolutionary technology that would change the world or so it seemed.

Blockchain companies were popping up left and right; but it was just whitepapers, initial coin offerings (ICO), and expensive mining rigs — no actual implementations.

But I still invited one to present in a forum I organized. I wanted the company I worked for, to not stay stagnant. Well hopefully, the applications of blockchain would spark some ideas, right?

Nope, sadly I later realized that most corporate companies are heavily risk-averse. They preach a lot about innovation and change but continue to act with a legacy and conservative mindset.

I wanted to pursue it further but I didn’t have much, know where to buy, or even how to mine. And so I left it behind then.

I focused on learning about more accessible technologies and personal finance as I’m still a novice compared to my peers.

Crypto was something I still felt was too speculative.

Where do you even spend it? I could count the number of merchants who accepted it in my country with my fingers.

The pandemic hit and well, cash is king.

2021 arrived and pandemic restrictions became more relaxed.

Bitcoin and Ethereum are huge household names. More crypto companies exist and with much better UI UX, although still not friendly.

But I still could not understand why prices go up or down, I sort of still don’t.

A part of me regrets that I could have those juicy profits like other people.

Blindly, I decided to invest some. Welp, it was near its ALL-TIME HIGH.

Such a terrible decision hahaha. I decided to leave the coins in the exchange and forget about them until I can cover up my losses, or so I thought.

I switched jobs in 2022 to pursue a career goal: transforming old traditional companies. Some had been lost due to the pandemic and their inability to keep up with the times.

So I look for new ways of getting revenue. While doing research, NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and their insane prices headlined the news. Since they are just JPEGs, surely I can make money, right?

Well, that was my rabbit hole to Web3.

I got to know briefly what the culture and community are like, what are corporates doing, how does it work, what new applications are there, what really are NFTs, etc.

DeFi (decentralized finance) was something I was drawn to. I can finally earn something with the dumb coins I invested in. Not much but hey, better than nothing.

I am a believer in this tech/movement’s larger picture — new ways of earning income, financial instruments without a bank account or credit history, communities of things people like or want to accomplish, and many others.

It’s a whole jungle out there and someone needs help clearing a path.

That may be just you and me. Welcome to Web3.

Apfel is a product/project /marketer based in SEA and a Web3 newbie. He spends his time—playing with his pets, at the gym, lazing in bed, or at his Web2 job he wishes to leave. Check Apfel out on Twitter or Lens.

PS: Apfel is looking for a job in Web3, teehee!

Disclaimer: All images were created using Dall-E.