#21 Is Blockchain Dead (Again)? (Click here to find out...)

Welcome to?Edition #21 of 'This Week in Web3' - an all-in-one source for the most interesting Blockchain, Web3 and Metaverse content on LinkedIn, as curated by?me! If you didn't catch these awesome posts, here's a quick recap...

? The US Government 'Bags' a Second Crypto CEO

It's been a big week for Technology in general. And while everyone else tries to figure out how 微软 just finessed OpenAI , the Web3 community tried to unpick the news that CZ, CEO of Binance , pleaded guilty to charges of failing to follow US financial services regulation (e.g. AML, sanctions screen, registering as a money transfer business). So CZ steps down, Binance pays $4.3Bn in penalties, and tomorrow, who knows?

Probably just Wednesday. Keep on devvin'...

Is this the end of Blockchain, Crypto and Web3? No. Not even close.

More on this in a separate post later this week. The US has taken so many 'L's lately, allow them this moment in the sun. Tomorrow is another day.

I'm 100% for compliance and transparent regulation from mature regulators. Watch this video. Check the tone and the messaging. Is this proactive enforcement, or pre-election flexing? Do you feel safer?...

???? A BIG Moment for Midnight

Here’s some news we’re super excited to share with you – the Midnight development network (devnet) is now LIVE. Which means a small group of Pioneers have been selected to access the early alpha release of our ground-breaking data protection Blockchain.

They’ll create data protecting apps on a private network, testing ideas and improving the functionality of Midnight as we move towards public mainnet.

If you're interested to use Midnight technology, you can still apply for devnet and upcoming testnet, register through our the website.

There’s still lots of other ways to get involved in our community. The Midnight team will be hosting events like live webinars and Q&A sessions and we’ll announce more in the future. Lots more to come!...

?? What Are You So Afraid Of?

Fear, uncertainty, and doubt... It's rife in a Bear Market, and naturally puts people a little on-edge. This week's Friday Poll covered your biggest fears about Blockchain and Web3.

People fear different things in life and work, but for some reason it seems like those living and working in Web3 are on a constantly higher level of fluctuation between elation and depression.

There are those brave founders trying to grow a project or ecosystem, that are always one step from running out of cash, or their treasury going to zero. There are investors who put their hard-earned money into certain projects with the hope of returns (or lambos...) who can see their bags depleted at the turn of a tweet. And there are those who work in enterprises, governments, and other organisations looking to make use of Web3 or transform, who may be fearful to make the first step, or that they've used the wrong technology...

Looks like the HODLers won this one. Check out the full post and comments here.

?? Advice For Building in a Bear Market

This week's viral video gives us a glimpse into how tough Web3 or Blockchain founders need to be in a Bear Market!

Bear Markets can be tough…

It’s harder to attract funding, partnerships, audiences, and the FUD comes at you from all angles. And don’t forget the nearly weekly ‘surprises’ that come from regulators or projects struggling that help further elevate the negative feels.

But stay strong…

Markets are cyclical and good times are never that far away if you’re diligent and hard-working. Some words of advice! If you missed the ‘Roast of the Bear Market’ on the Blockchain Won't Save the World Podcast this is what the amazing guests gave as their advice to survive the Bear:

?? Sandra Helou - Turn social media notifications off to dial down the noise

?? Mathew Sweezey - Surround yourself with smart friends and vent regularly

?? Keir Finlow-Bates - Ignore the Bear. It’s an artificial construct. Keep building

?? Emily Landon - ?? ?? (You’ll have to listen to the last few minutes of the show to get this one… Check out the 'Podcasts' section below)

Check out the video and original post here.

?? Which Country 'Wins' Cryptocurrency Adoption

How did your country rank in the latest Chainalysis Cryptocurrency report? Read this week's viral report to find out. There were some BIG surprises…

Crypto shouldn’t be competitive… Except now it is, as different countries battle for talent, for projects and to be seen as leaders in the Digital Asset transformation.

So who is ‘winning’? Is it the familiar faces of Switzerland, the UAE, Singapore and Hong Kong again. Or will this year turn up surprises like Italy was in 2022?

In 97 globetrotting pages (yup, we’re back to long reports again) you’ll get:- Overview of the Crypto Adoption Index - Top 20 countries by ranking - Trend analysis YoY - Regional transaction analysis by Large Institutions, Institutions, Professionals, Large Retail and Retail - Value of trading by country - Stablecoin market analysis - DeFi market analysis - Commentary on the social-political and economic drivers behind adoption by region And much much more…

Spoiler alert! If you want to know who ‘won’ this year. Just jump to page 6…

Touch ??

And our final post spawned a very generous gift from Keir Finlow-Bates (aka Blockchain Gandalf). Not that I should be surprised - he is Web3's undisputed king of unusual (but generous) gifts...

There I was, getting out into nature, unwinding and trying to recharge, when: ??

Never stop learning. On this day, I learned how aubergines grow! I did not expect it would be hanging from bushes…

The forest always inspires. So this past weekend, I didn’t just touch grass. I touched ?? and I touched ??

If you want to see the original post, and learn what others in the Web3 community touch to help reinvigorate them on a weekend, click here.

?? Blockchain Won't Save the World Podcast Season 3 Finale: The Roast of The Bear Market

Oh Mama! Who's ready to ROAST some Bears? Our favourite season-ending format is available to watch back on LinkedIn Live, with some very special guests...

If you haven't heard any of the previous Roasts on the Blockchain Won't Save the World Podcast , you're missing out. This is where we cut loose, make fun of ourselves (and others), throw a little shade (in a respectful way) and generally find humour in the weird nuances of Blockchain and Web3.

This time round, we're roasting the daft things that happen when the Bear Market comes around, token values drop, funding gets cut, scam projects get exposed, and dodgy 'influencers' start looking for work in AI or McDonalds...

And to help stoke the fires, and bring the funny, I'm joined by some legendary Web3 OGs who have seen more than their fair share of stupid Blockchain things in their illustrious careers:

Mathew Sweezey - The Enterprise Guy

Irina Heaver - The Crypto Lawyer

Sandra Helou - The Metaverse Builder

Keir Finlow-Bates - Architect & Engineer Extraordinaire (and Doomer of the Orthoverse)

Emily Landon - The Web3 Recruiter

So join us for a light-hearted look at the ridiculous things that go on in our industry, peppered with some jokes, some war stories, and some predictions of when this Bear Market will end... Watch the live show here.

?? The State of Enterprise Blockchain w. Charles Adkins on BWSTW

ICYMI: My latest podcast with Charles Adkins from Aptos Labs is live on Spotify and Apple Podcasts…

We cover all things Enteprise Blockchain and talk about what it really takes to get the worlds largest brands to adopt decentralised technology beyond just proofs of concept…

??? Web3 Gaming Masterclass with Alexandru Carbunariu from Banksters

What does it take to launch a successful Web3 Game, and how can combining gamification with education lead to wider adoption?...

Blockchain, Web3 and the Decentralised Internet have had a profound effect on game and app design over the last few years, and have created some interesting collisions... We've seen DeFi (decentralised finance), GameFi (gamified finance) and now 'GameEd' (gaming for education).

Banksters started out with a vision to help non-technical, non-Web3 industry people to understand the dynamics of cryptocurrencies and the wider market, and believe the best way to do that is to make it FUN! Shout to Alex Altgausen ???? for the original vision and passion to deliver something new ??

On this show, we talk with Alex (CMO for Banksters) about: - The origin story of Banksters - How Gaming and Education can be a successful recipe for growth - Building (and growing) in a Bear Market - Tactics for growing a game's following - Why most 'gaming tokens' fail - Making Web3 and Crypto products accessible to everyone

Check out the original post and watch back the live show here.

My LinkedIn Profile?(Go click the ?? icon and turn notifications on!)

Blockchain Won't Save the World Podcast

RightClickSaveTheWorld Podcast

5-Hour?Blockchain Growth Training?with Blockchain Training Alliance

30-Min?Short Course: Getting a Job in Web3?with LinkedIn Learning

????♂? And if you're thinking that Diego Borgo ?? leaving Portugal to go surfing and keynoting in Costa Rica had anything to do with the imbalance in the Force of Web3 this week... I'd say: