Note to readers: This article is more analysis and explanation rather than a ‘you’re-itching-to-read-about- this-topic-and-I’m-itching-to-write-it’ article. Truth be told, I’m not all that big on decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) - we’ll get into why that is below - but they are still a slice of the web3 pie, and I would be remiss if I didn’t present them and give you my take. My hope with this blog is to present a broadly comprehensive understanding of web3 and decentralized fina...

Note to readers: This article is more analysis and explanation rather than a ‘you’re-itching-to-read-about- this-topic-and-I’m-itching-to-write-it’ article. Truth be told, I’m not all that big on decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) - we’ll get into why that is below - but they are still a slice of the web3 pie, and I would be remiss if I didn’t present them and give you my take. My hope with this blog is to present a broadly comprehensive understanding of web3 and decentralized fina...

Tokenization, in the cryptocurrency realm has been gaining steady traction. But beyond the buzzword lies an intriguing concept - Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization. This process is far more than just another blockchain application; it's about revamping our understanding and execution of ownership in the digital age. In my last article, I painted a picture of the possibilities asset tokenization can unlock for digital and real-world assets. Frankly, it is a challenge to be concise about ...

Tokenization, in the cryptocurrency realm has been gaining steady traction. But beyond the buzzword lies an intriguing concept - Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization. This process is far more than just another blockchain application; it's about revamping our understanding and execution of ownership in the digital age. In my last article, I painted a picture of the possibilities asset tokenization can unlock for digital and real-world assets. Frankly, it is a challenge to be concise about ...

Hopefully, part one gave you a clearer sense of what a blockchain is at a conceptual level. Still, it’s dry and a bit dense, so to expand on that understanding and why you would actually use a blockchain over a traditional database, let’s explore a hypothetical scenario in which a blockchain could be used, followed by a comparison between traditional databases and blockchains.Use-Case Scenario: Building an iPhoneStage 1: Sourcing of Raw MaterialsProcess: The iPhone's journey starts with ...

Hopefully, part one gave you a clearer sense of what a blockchain is at a conceptual level. Still, it’s dry and a bit dense, so to expand on that understanding and why you would actually use a blockchain over a traditional database, let’s explore a hypothetical scenario in which a blockchain could be used, followed by a comparison between traditional databases and blockchains.Use-Case Scenario: Building an iPhoneStage 1: Sourcing of Raw MaterialsProcess: The iPhone's journey starts with ...

If you are into crypto as an investor, buyer, trader, or engineer, I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you won’t blush if I refer to meme coins or a rather specific set of altcoins as what they are commonly referred to as: ‘sh!tcoins.’ While this label might seem harsh or dismissive, this class of cryptocurrency token offers what any other crypto (or traditional asset class) offers: possible risk and possible reward - but the particular levels of risk versus reward, inherent value, volat...

If you are into crypto as an investor, buyer, trader, or engineer, I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you won’t blush if I refer to meme coins or a rather specific set of altcoins as what they are commonly referred to as: ‘sh!tcoins.’ While this label might seem harsh or dismissive, this class of cryptocurrency token offers what any other crypto (or traditional asset class) offers: possible risk and possible reward - but the particular levels of risk versus reward, inherent value, volat...

This may sound far-fetched, but we are actually making progress toward this becoming a reality in numerous forms, including tokenization of real-world assets, creator monetization and ownership, and fractionalization of ownership. Let’s do a flyover of each form.Tokenization of Real-World AssetsProtocols like 4K and platforms like Arcade allow users to tokenize real world assets and use them as collateral for a loan. It does take a leap of faith to use some of these services, but one could al...

This may sound far-fetched, but we are actually making progress toward this becoming a reality in numerous forms, including tokenization of real-world assets, creator monetization and ownership, and fractionalization of ownership. Let’s do a flyover of each form.Tokenization of Real-World AssetsProtocols like 4K and platforms like Arcade allow users to tokenize real world assets and use them as collateral for a loan. It does take a leap of faith to use some of these services, but one could al...

It’s time for the crypto bro degen genius to grow up and be a responsible gatekeeper if we ever want to see adoption at scale.Please note that there are people and companies in the space that these points do not apply to, but the space is viewed as a monolith and has perception issues. Cryptocurrencies are a vast field of an already enormous value, but with an even more immense potential… which has yet to be actualized. As the sector closes in on its fifteenth birthday, it is clear that the a...

It’s time for the crypto bro degen genius to grow up and be a responsible gatekeeper if we ever want to see adoption at scale.Please note that there are people and companies in the space that these points do not apply to, but the space is viewed as a monolith and has perception issues. Cryptocurrencies are a vast field of an already enormous value, but with an even more immense potential… which has yet to be actualized. As the sector closes in on its fifteenth birthday, it is clear that the a...

NFTs were promised to be, the future of art or digital media, ownership, and creator compensation. And in a lot of ways, that is true - or least, it could turn out to be true over time. But like most things web3, confusion and off-base salesmanship have clouded what could be an extremely useful and valuable technology, driving away those who could truly benefit from its incorporation into various regions of daily life, and flooding the space with marketers and speculators hoping to cash in on...

NFTs were promised to be, the future of art or digital media, ownership, and creator compensation. And in a lot of ways, that is true - or least, it could turn out to be true over time. But like most things web3, confusion and off-base salesmanship have clouded what could be an extremely useful and valuable technology, driving away those who could truly benefit from its incorporation into various regions of daily life, and flooding the space with marketers and speculators hoping to cash in on...

What is tokenization?Of all the Web3 developments and concepts I’ve written about here, tokenization is one of the most exciting and potentially transformative. I know I said something similar in my last article about smart contracts, but tokenization goes hand in hand with smart contracts. Smart contracts can only govern things on the blockchain, and these things are tokens. Nevertheless, tokenization has profound implications in regards to ownership, which implies implications to aspects of...

What is tokenization?Of all the Web3 developments and concepts I’ve written about here, tokenization is one of the most exciting and potentially transformative. I know I said something similar in my last article about smart contracts, but tokenization goes hand in hand with smart contracts. Smart contracts can only govern things on the blockchain, and these things are tokens. Nevertheless, tokenization has profound implications in regards to ownership, which implies implications to aspects of...

Please note a lawyer did not write this, nor did a coder, and it is not meant to be legal advice but a simple overview of the legality and enforceability of a smart contract. Smart contracts are essentially computer programs that automate the execution of agreements. For a smart contract to be legally binding, the underlying agreement or contract terms must be legally enforceable. The legal validity of a smart contract depends on whether it meets the requirements of a valid contract, such as ...

Please note a lawyer did not write this, nor did a coder, and it is not meant to be legal advice but a simple overview of the legality and enforceability of a smart contract. Smart contracts are essentially computer programs that automate the execution of agreements. For a smart contract to be legally binding, the underlying agreement or contract terms must be legally enforceable. The legal validity of a smart contract depends on whether it meets the requirements of a valid contract, such as ...

For thousands of years, oracles were understood to be the mouthpieces of the Gods, communicating their intentions, instructions, and desires for us in the mortal world. Their messages were veiled in metaphor and often misinterpreted or heard too late. In the web3 context, oracles perform a distinctly different function. (I’m guessing that doesn’t surprise you much.) What both versions have in common is that they answer the questions posed to them by the living mortals who seek to use them. An...

For thousands of years, oracles were understood to be the mouthpieces of the Gods, communicating their intentions, instructions, and desires for us in the mortal world. Their messages were veiled in metaphor and often misinterpreted or heard too late. In the web3 context, oracles perform a distinctly different function. (I’m guessing that doesn’t surprise you much.) What both versions have in common is that they answer the questions posed to them by the living mortals who seek to use them. An...

(This article is part two of our breakdown of NFTs. For a quick refresher on what NFTs are, what they were originally meant to do, and how we got to this drab point with a dazzling new technology, check out part one HERE.) The technicalities of NFTs, blockchain, and all other web3 innovations might sound great to the technicians, engineers, programmers, and executives involved in developing them, but the average person, those developers hope to convert into users, rightly needs practical exam...

(This article is part two of our breakdown of NFTs. For a quick refresher on what NFTs are, what they were originally meant to do, and how we got to this drab point with a dazzling new technology, check out part one HERE.) The technicalities of NFTs, blockchain, and all other web3 innovations might sound great to the technicians, engineers, programmers, and executives involved in developing them, but the average person, those developers hope to convert into users, rightly needs practical exam...

Please note that a lawyer did not write this piece, and it is not intended to be legal advice. I also realize that discussing smart contracts requires a discussion around tokenization; that aspect of this technology will be addressed in a later post. If there’s one thing all web3 developments have in common, it’s the hype and promise surrounding them. The question this must inevitably lead to is equally familiar: will or can the real thing live up to the hype? In some cases, probably ‘yes,’ i...

Please note that a lawyer did not write this piece, and it is not intended to be legal advice. I also realize that discussing smart contracts requires a discussion around tokenization; that aspect of this technology will be addressed in a later post. If there’s one thing all web3 developments have in common, it’s the hype and promise surrounding them. The question this must inevitably lead to is equally familiar: will or can the real thing live up to the hype? In some cases, probably ‘yes,’ i...