A pseudonym is a fictitious name used to conceal someone's true identity. Traditionally, writers, artists, and performers have used them for privacy, safety, or creative expression.

In crypto, however, pseudonyms are also used by scammers and crypto has a serious scammer problem.

A couple of months ago, when frames were gaining traction and the Warpcast digital wallet was launched, I saw a post from @V asking for feedback on the mini apps. I had simple feedback: I'd feel more comfortable if the mini app developers were doxxed. I know that's a controversial take from a Gen X but here's my reasoning. As someone helping onboard Latin Americans into Farcaster, I'd hate for any of them to get scammed while using this protocol. 

I remember 2021, when I first encountered NFTs and had to figure out Discord. I wasn't a gamer and had never used Discord before. The first time I opened the app, I got overwhelmed and closed it immediately. This happened five or six times before I forced myself to learn it. Once I did, I joined many projects, some were great, others terrible. In some I made money; others were run by inexperienced teams who mismanaged funds after a successful mint ultimately failed. And then there were the scams, some impressively deceptive.

Scammers would clone project websites and launch just before the real mint. They'd DM people on Discord claiming they were whitelisted early. Many fell for it, connected wallets, sent funds and got nothing in return. This happened to me with a $1,200 NFT, a horrible feeling I won't forget. Many people who were scammed left the space and never came back.

Fast forward to 2024: I discovered Warpcast. I joined on January 31st, but in my slow way of processing, I didn't actually become active until May 2024. The value proposition was compelling: a decentralized protocol (well, semi-decentralized, joking but not, u know). It felt exciting to be early. When they launched Warpcast Wallet, I thought it was revolutionary. Combining social media with a digital wallet could really simplify onboarding.

But then I wondered: is there any control over who can create mini apps? Since it's semi-decentralized and permissionless, could a scammer launch a mini app, hype it up, and then disappear with users' funds? That felt like a red flag. I don't keep much money in my Warpcast wallet, so it's not a big deal for me, but if the goal is growth, especially with new users, how are they protected from scammers? I want to onboard more people, but security remains a concern. Then again, maybe I'm overthinking it.

Then came FarCon! full of energy and showcasing great work from all the builders. The magic of meeting in real life reminded us why in-person connections beat online interactions. Unexpectedly, a scammer was exposed during the event. I wanted to write about this at the time but held back, not wanting to dampen the positive vibes.

For the record, I believe in second chances. We're all human and make mistakes, so everyone should have a chance to redeem themselves. In this case, the person had returned funds he stole a few years back and late last year helped build one of the best projects in the Farcaster. I won't name the project, as I'm not here to spread FUD. However, this individual was working under a different pseudonym than the one he used years earlier. Had he not shown up at FarCon, he might still be building under that new identity, with no one knowing he had previously attempted to scam his own team out of $350,000. A few weeks later, it seems that's all in the rearview mirror. But could that person now be using yet another pseudonym??

This past weekend brought disturbing news: someone was kidnapped in NYC for weeks, targeted for their crypto wallet. The victim, an Italian national visiting the NYC, was fortunate enough to escape. But serious questions remain: Did he know the real name of the person he was meeting for business? Did he tell anyone back home who he was meeting? Was he meeting someone's real identity or a pseudonym?

It's chilling to think what could have happened if he hadn't escaped. If he had known the person's real identity and his family had that information, or just a calendar entry with the name, they might have reported him missing sooner. Apparently, there's still a third suspect unaccounted for; do authorities even know that 3rd person's real name?

I understand that cryptography is fundamentally about privacy, but if someone is building mini-apps on a protocol intended for mainstream users, how do we ensure they're held accountable and don't simply disappear behind a pseudonym?

I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAGENTA DAO ANNOUNCES NEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND SHARES VISION FOR A DECENTRALIZED FUTURE IN STREAMING AND MEDIA
April 11, 2025

After an inspiring week of listening to powerful Twitter Spaces across Latin America, ranging from Ethereum Mexico’s chatting about ETH Cinco de Mayo Hackatown: May 1st-4th, 2025 to H.E.R. DAO Mexico on Monday, and the Arbitrum LatAm Ambassadors on Thursday, our team at MAGENTA DAO is more energized than ever. The momentum within the Latin American Web3 community is undeniable. 

From my previous article this week talking about Time Pieces' Good News Show hosted by Rachel W (still my favorite Space after four years of listening to social audio broadcasts), to conversations led by some of the most forward-thinking minds in the Latin American region from Mexico to Argentina, this week reminded me exactly why I joined Web3 in the first place. It’s not just a technological shift, it’s continuing education, inclusion, and above all, hope. For many of us, it’s about building systems where creativity is valued and rewarded fairly. 

With all this energy fueling us, we’re excited to step forward with a major announcement. Over the past few months, MAGENTA DAO has been quietly building in stealth mode, laying the foundation for a new phase of growth and community impact. Today, we’re proud to unveil the next step in our journey:

MAGENTA DAO MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

We are thrilled to introduce our Mentorship Program, aimed at students passionate about film and content creation, with a particular focus on animation in its early stages. We are actively onboarding students in Mexico, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Florida, and we’re inviting educators and institutions to review our proposal and provide feedback.

This is a living, evolving program and your insights are essential. We welcome private conversations and collaborations with schools to improve and refine the experience for students. Together, we can shape a program that genuinely supports and empowers the next generation of creators in Latin America.

MAGENTA DAO’s Mission and Vision

Mission Statement
"To democratize the streaming industry through blockchain technology by empowering both content creators and viewers. Our mission is to foster innovation, inclusion, and transparency in media production and distribution enabling creators to directly benefit from their work, while giving the community a voice in platform governance."

Vision Statement
"To become the leading decentralized platform for content streaming breaking down barriers between creators and audiences. We envision a world where creative work is rewarded fairly and accessibly, driven by community-led governance that promotes diverse and independent media landscapes across the globe."

As we open this new chapter, we want to make one thing clear: MAGENTA DAO is not just a platform, it’s a movement. A community dedicated to reimagining how media is made, shared, and valued. We are learning together, building together, and uplifting the next generation of talent across Latin America and beyond.

We’d love to hear from you. If you’re interested in contributing feedback or learning more about our mentorship program or long-term vision, feel free to book a call with us. We also encourage you to follow MAGENTA DAO on Warpcast, the decentralized platform where we’ll be engaging and compensating our community.

We’re just getting started—MAGENTA DAO is here, and we’re building with purpose.

I’ve always said that people only get old when they stop learning; so I’m not getting old, just getting wiser.  

Today, I joined the Time Pieces weekly Twitter Space: The Good News show hosted by Rachel W, and my mind was blown by all the valuable insights. I’ve listened to her shows before, and after four years of listening to various Twitter Spaces, hers remains my favorite. Why? Because I always walk away feeling like I’ve just listened to a group of seasoned professionals at an executive level. No disrespect to the many Millennials and Gen Z creators, some of whom I do listen to from time to time and who offer great content but I personally can’t handle high-pitched or overly animated voices for too long, especially when I’m listening through my AirPods. That’s just me.

Today’s session was so good that I had to share it in two different group chats I'm in: 1 with my fashion colleagues, 2 with my childhood friends both full of Gen Xers (with a few late Gen Xers in the fashion group). I also sent the recording to my Millennial daughter, who’s in a creative field but doesn’t usually make time to learn about AI. That’s how impactful the conversation was; it reminded me why I joined Web3 in the first place.

What originally drew me to Web3 was the steep learning curve. Let’s call it what it really is: continuing education. People often refer to YouTube as a kind of university and while the content is definitely there, staying motivated to consistently search for and absorb it can be a challenge. So, as silly as it might sound, if you can find a Twitter Space for just one hour a week that gives you solid takeaways, then by all means, make time for it; I'd recommend The Good News Show. During COVID, I listened to the Bankless guys a lot, they do a great job onboarding people into the world of crypto.

I’ve found tremendous value in listening to strangers talk about emerging tech, and the knowledge I’ve gained feels priceless. With that said, I’m sharing the link to the Time Pieces Twitter Space here where you can listen to the recording. If you're interested in AI, web3 or have children, I think you'll find it just as interesting as I did.

Sincerely,

@lawrenceroman

CC one of today's guess: @ohnahji

TIMEPieces

@TIMEPieces

The Good News Show is back!

Tune in for fresh takes, optimism-fueled updates & a few surprises.

This week, we’re diving into AI with special guest @ohnahji, exploring how we can build more equitable tech systems.

x.com/i/spaces/1eaKb…

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2:18 AM • Apr 7, 2025