#ChauHighlights: Consensus 2022

The business of the decentralized world...

For the first time in its seven-year history, CoinDesk hosted its largest annual event, Consensus, in Texas. Thousands of cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiasts gathered in Austin from 10-12 June 2022 to attend a variety of keynotes, workshops, and networking opportunities.

I was invited to speak to CoinDesk podcasts about my thoughts regarding the future of digital currency.

This was my third time attending Consensus, my first as co-Founder and President of Ownet.com, the first social network owned by its users. My minority-led company, headquartered in New York City, seeks to fix the economic injustice of social networks. The disruptive, user-centric model makes profit sharing possible by offering stock to all registered user-owners to benefit from their social media activity. #Web3

My management team represents over 80 years of experience on Wall Street, business, academia, social media, strategy, and technology. Leading a mass exodus from current social networks, like Facebook, can transfer the value of those networks to the users. If we all move to Ownet, it could mean a historic transfer of wealth!

I arrived in Austin a few days early to attend Association of Cryptocurrency Journalists and Researchers' (ACJR) VIP media-only event held at Empire Control Room & Garage.

As described on their official website, "The ACJR is a professional body that recognises the best journalism and research on cryptocurrencies and blockchains.

The ACJR recognises that free markets are inextricably linked to the freedom of information.

We promote excellence in journalism and research in the field; support colleagues in the field; educate the industry on best practices; and explain the field to those learning about it."

Thanks to my Pro Pass, I began my festival experience on Thursday, June 9th.

Others began their week even earlier. Megan Kay Murray, said of her company's Women in Web3 event, "The Medici Project hosted a successful networking event on Tuesday to kick off the crypto week of DCentral and Consensus conferences. We invited women and non-binary individuals to come together and connect to discuss Community Building, Entrepreneurship, and Diversity. We had a wildly successful turnout of collaborators, bringing 45 people together for bubbles, snacks, discussion, and overall good vibes.

Unexpectedly, we also had a strong amount of interest from allies and advocates in the Web3 space (aka men!). This allowed us to adapt and reformat the event to offer space nearby for our colleagues, friends, and significant others. We continued the positive energy and hosted a meetup at a nearby bar, bringing in at least 20 womxn allies and advocates into the group."

HYPE TV's Douglas Chapin brought his production company to follow H.E.R. DAO and the rise of women in Web3.

Women Chapin admires in the space right now include --

Jennifer Parak - Chorus One

"A software developer at Chorus One, Jennifer devotes her time to giving women an advocate and leader in Web3. Her presentations on the rise of women in crypto showcase her ability to take a strong leadership role... Her ability to connect to others and give them confidence is powerful and unique."

Tracy Bowen - Founder of H.E.R. DAO

"Tracy brings exuberance, brightness, happiness, lightness and a fresh personality to the crypto space. Her energy could power the space station. The crypto space is lacking charisma, connection and humanistic leadership. Not only does Tracy lead the amazing women's group H.E.R. DAO... she also is a great speaker and advocate. Her reputation preceeds her. You can probably feel her approach on a seismometer, she moves people and worlds with her message, brilliant energy and wonderful kindness."

Lauren Michelle - Operaverse

"Lauren recently invited me to visit her opera VR world. I did not know what was coming. I spent an hour learning about her life in opera, her underwater opera house and visiting her many VR worlds she has created... The opera metaverse is real. While traveling the globe as an opera star, she can now connect with and grow the crypto community through VR. Her goal is to teach women, especially single moms, about how they can excel in crypto."

AR Media Consulting President & CEO Andrew Rossow said, "This year, we hoped Consensus would bring business owners and true Web3 enthusiasts together in a time where negativity and fake news tends to overpower genuine and impactful change.

The conference certainly empowered many in the space who are just dipping their toes in to feel more secure, while veterans in the space to continue expanding upon their newest innovations...

8Commas has always been at the forefront of entertainment and new technologies.

By leveraging years worth of experience, Rembrandt Flores and the team certainly have placed their cards into the Web3 space, seeking to bridge the gap between traditional media and its newest transformation by means of innovative storytelling, art, and IRL connection."

Quantum Media CEO Ari Zoldan spoke with Mike Chobanian, President of Blockchain Association of Ukraine, who raised $70m in cryptocurrency to help with humanitarian aid.

Ari also interviewed many others for iHeartRadio and WOR710.

I spent much of my time at the Fairmont Hotel, on Level 7: Money Reimagined, presented by Galaxy Digital.

@consensus2022 Tweeted, "Could you imagine a world without physical cash? Its whole existence hinges on our willingness to use it, according to @sheila_warren at #Consensus2022 ."

@Coindesk Tweeted, "Offering battle-tested advice to the #Consensus2022 crowd, @Fidelity chairman and CEO Abigail Johnson said her belief in crypto’s long-term fundamentals remains strong."

After the official schedules ended, I visited various side events within walking distance of the Austin Convention Center.

A panel speaks at The NFT Gallery.

In 2019, LiskHQ CEO Max Kordek Tweeted, "Last year every second person I spoke with at #Consensus2018 was an ‘investor’.

This year at #Consensus2019 I have not met a single investor. Everyone is working on cool blockchain stuff.

Simply an amazing conference. Great job @coindesk!"

This year, I overwhelmingly met people who were attending to learn. There was not an empty audience seat for the Main Stage when I walked by.

In CoinDesk Podcast Network's,?Consensus Conversations 2022: Day One at ACC?presented by the Oak Network, Chiefs Insights Columnist David Z. Morris said, ""we had 2020 and 2021, everything was online ...attendance this year: 17,000 people, more than double the last, what I believe is the highest attendees that we had, and this is after 6 months of crypto markets going down, so it's really inspiring that this interest transcends just the typical dismissive phrase, "number go up", well the numbers have been going down and we're still here and it was very interesting and exciting to see."

The general atmosphere in Austin was more relaxed, as compared to the two years I attended Consensus in Manhattan. As I overheard a professor from Arkansas explain, "When it was in New York, it was all Wall Street people, so it was a different vibe."

There was also much more activity surrounding NFTs.

As always, people wanted to party late into the night after the official schedules ended. The DAO House across the street from the Austin Convention Center was popular.

Meanwhile, I met industry experts: BundlesBets CEO Brenda Gentry a.k.a. @MsCryptoMom1 (center) on Twitter, and @DeFi_Brian, Founder of @SoundMintXYZ and Advisor at @AnimocaBrands and @SecretGarden_FM (right). Together, they share over 125K followers combined.

BundlesBets' platform allows users to make predictions in decentralized sports pools. The team's Nonceblox developers have worked on more than 200 other crypto projects.

Gentry said, "As we all know Consensus is the world's largest and longest running crypto festival -- We wanted to be a part of it and interact with some of the greatest minds in the decentralized space... We're also building a complete sports book with Fantasy sports including Fiat on-ramp...

I admire Move2earn's novel approach in keeping users physically and mentally fit. I believe that's very much needed for the current generation."

What are your predictions for the blockchain community? What are you buying and selling?

@blockhead_co Tweeted, ""Bad news doesn't get better with time.. and hope is not an investment strategy" Radkl CEO Ryan Sheftel talks lessons from #Terra 's crash @RadklCrypto"

@profjasonpotts Tweeted, "“We’re moving from an internet of information to an internet of assets” Bill Tai #Consensus2022

“that’s why we’re going to get crypto companies orders of magnitude bigger than Google. I just don’t know when”"

Stay tuned for more #ChauHighlights :)