# Paragraph Picks (Vol. 41)

By [Paragraph Picks](https://paragraph.com/@paragraph-picks) · 2025-05-14

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Hi friends,

We're back with the 41st edition of Paragraph Picks, highlighting a few hand-selected pieces from the past couple of weeks.

Check them out & let us know which is your favorite!

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[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/b96fac578f7807ee6292fc3fabd1775c.png)](https://darkstarcrashes.xyz/build-for-humans-not-hashrates)

### [Build for Humans, Not Hashrates](https://darkstarcrashes.xyz/build-for-humans-not-hashrates)

[@darkstar](https://warpcast.com/darkstar) critiques crypto’s obsession with infrastructure metrics and algorithmic growth, urging builders and investors to refocus on human users, durable products, and long-term impact.

> Success in crypto has become a loop of infrastructure funding itself — with little regard for actual adoption.

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[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/54e60fef45f53cdf27a45853b9120d16.png)](https://paragraph.com/@debbie/meet-a-maverick-ted)

### [How Ted (Not Lasso) Is Giving A Whole New Meaning to 'Believe' Onchain](https://paragraph.com/@debbie/meet-a-maverick-ted)

[@debbie](https://warpcast.com/debbie) profiles [@ted](https://warpcast.com/ted), a Farcaster OG & power user turned team member, whose journey from aspiring doctor to DeFi to Farcaster shows how belief, curiosity, and connection can reshape the internet.

> You realize just how steep the climb is to make consumer crypto work. But being part of such a focused and passionate team makes it all feel worthwhile.

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[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/e0e21d86dcda9b9de6b6c7eae64b7996.png)](https://blog.variant.fund/agents-in-a-bazaar)

### [Agents in a Bazaar](https://blog.variant.fund/agents-in-a-bazaar)

[@dbarabander](https://warpcast.com/dbarabander) writes about how a decentralized ecosystem of autonomous agents (if it emerges) will require crypto to provide the trust, payments, and verifiability needed to function at scale in a low-trust environment.

> It will be very difficult for the agents in the long tail to build the sufficient reputation needed to earn the imprimatur of trust.

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[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/ee76906cbab3b3ae5275622774849e74.png)](https://paragraph.com/@thearcadia/design-from-first-principles)

### [Design From First Principles](https://paragraph.com/@thearcadia/design-from-first-principles)

[@chukwukaosakwe](https://warpcast.com/chukwukaosakwe) explores how applying first principles thinking to digital product design can lead to intuitive, user-centered solutions that truly solve real problems.

> Design is about making the best possible solution to a particular problem that a particular user has.

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[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/961e0a291ab50656b630219507344a54.png)](https://avc.xyz/farcon-fireside)

### [Farcon Fireside](https://avc.xyz/farcon-fireside)

[@fredwilson.eth](https://warpcast.com/fredwilson.eth) shares his amazing fireside chat with [@dwr.eth](https://warpcast.com/dwr.eth) from FarCon 2025, which had tons of memorable quotes and stories.

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[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0286260b50304942c186d8a59bdafd04.png)](https://paragraph.com/@jacque/blooming-in-the-darkness)

### [Blooming in the Darkness](https://paragraph.com/@jacque/blooming-in-the-darkness)

[@jacque](https://warpcast.com/jacque) weaves together poetry and introspection to create a lyrical meditation on self-compassion, creative resilience, and the quiet power of blooming even in life’s darkest moments.

> Even in the darkness, buds will bloom and become bright shining lights through and through.

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That's all we have for this week — what did we miss?

Let us know what you think!

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*Originally published on [Paragraph Picks](https://paragraph.com/@paragraph-picks/paragraph-picks-vol-41)*