293: Building Bridges: Simon Brown on Ethereum’s Cultural Gravity and Consensys Network State
05/09/25 • 37 min
Simon Brown joins me to share how his role at Consensys has evolved since his last appearance in January 2024 and why he’s now leading the charge on the Consensys Network State. It’s all about reconnecting the sprawl of the Ethereum ecosystem, reinforcing the cultural gravity that made Ethereum magical in the first place, and creating a more cohesive network of builders, founders, and ecosystem experts.
In this episode, we dive into how the Consensys Network State initiative is setting the stage for Ethereum’s next decade, how it’s bridging gaps between projects and people, and what it means for the future of decentralized coordination. We also get into some big-picture thinking around the evolution of Ethereum, the rise of network states, stablecoin growth, and what it takes to keep that cultural gravity intact as Ethereum continues to grow.
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Simon Brown and Consensys:
Simon Brown: X(Twitter) | LinkedIn | Medium
Consensys: Website | X(Twitter)
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Email us: [email protected]
Connect with Pete Townsend and MoneyNeverSleeps:
Pete Townsend: X/Twitter | LinkedIn
MoneyNeverSleeps: X/Twitter | LinkedIn | Newsletter
Simon Brown joins me to share how his role at Consensys has evolved since his last appearance in January 2024 and why he’s now leading the charge on the Consensys Network State. It’s all about reconnecting the sprawl of the Ethereum ecosystem, reinforcing the cultural gravity that made Ethereum magical in the first place, and creating a more cohesive network of builders, founders, and ecosystem experts.
In this episode, we dive into how the Consensys Network State initiative is setting the stage for Ethereum’s next decade, how it’s bridging gaps between projects and people, and what it means for the future of decentralized coordination. We also get into some big-picture thinking around the evolution of Ethereum, the rise of network states, stablecoin growth, and what it takes to keep that cultural gravity intact as Ethereum continues to grow.
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Simon Brown and Consensys:
Simon Brown: X(Twitter) | LinkedIn | Medium
Consensys: Website | X(Twitter)
Leave a review and subscribe on
Email us: [email protected]
Connect with Pete Townsend and MoneyNeverSleeps:
Pete Townsend: X/Twitter | LinkedIn
MoneyNeverSleeps: X/Twitter | LinkedIn | Newsletter
Previous Episode
292: Done Deal: Ollie Walsh on Pipit’s 12-Year Journey to Qenta
This week, I’m welcoming back Ollie Walsh, formerly the co-founder and CEO of Pipit Global, and now, the President of Qenta, following Qenta’s recent acquisition of Pipit. This is Ollie’s fourth appearance on MoneyNeverSleeps, making him the all-time guest record holder on the show.
This conversation is a special one. Not only has Ollie been building something purpose-driven and globally relevant for over a decade, but I’ve also had the privilege of sitting on Pipit’s board since 2019 and seeing the full journey from the inside.
In this episode, we dive into the first public conversation about Pipit’s acquisition by Qenta. US-based Qenta is rethinking how money moves around the world, blending fintech, blockchain, and impact into one powerful payments platform.
In this episode, Ollie and I get into the weeds on what it really takes to build a startup with social impact at its core, what it feels like to finally get a deal across the line after years of trying, and how it all unfolds when you're leading with purpose rather than flash.
We also get into:
- The “rollercoaster on fire” of startup life
- What makes a startup acquirable, especially in emerging markets
- Why leading with social impact turned out to be Pipit’s greatest strength
- Lessons learned the hard way: cap tables, crowdfunding, and mental resilience
- Ollie’s unexpected deep dive into Daoism and Tai Chi, and how it shaped his founder mindset
This one’s packed with honest reflections, tactical insights, and a rare look inside the real M&A journey from a founder who lived every second of it.
If you're building with purpose, fundraising under pressure, or just trying to stay centered through it all, this one’s for you.
Connect with Ollie Walsh and Qenta:
Ollie Walsh: LinkedIn
Leave a review and subscribe on
Email us: [email protected]
Connect with Pete Townsend and MoneyNeverSleeps:
Pete Townsend: X/Twitter | LinkedIn
MoneyNeverSleeps: X/Twitter | LinkedIn | Newsletter
Next Episode
294: Superteams, Startups and Stablecoins - Solana’s Bet on Ireland
This week, I’m joined once again by Alejandro Gutierrez, now officially leading Solana Superteam Ireland, a new initiative powered by the Solana Foundation to accelerate Web3 innovation across the entire island of Ireland.
In this conversation, Alejandro and I go deep on how Solana Superteam Ireland came to life, why the momentum is building so quickly, and what this means for Ireland as a Web3 hub.
Alejandro shares how he went from convincing Dogpatch Labs to give him a table and a few chairs to creating a thriving Talent Hub that’s now attracting builders every Friday. That energy evolved into the Dublin BuildStation, a collaborative space supporting 19 project submissions to the recent Solana Colosseum Hackathon.
From stablecoin payments and agentic AI to health tech and startup funding, we talk about the intersection of talent, ecosystem development, and the future of digital finance on Solana in Ireland.
In this episode:
- How Alejandro kicked off Solana Superteam Ireland from the ground up
- The role of Dogpatch Labs and Solana Foundation in backing Irish builders
- Why Ireland is uniquely positioned for Web3 leadership
- The Dublin BuildStation and how it supports founders
- Emerging verticals in Solana: payments, AI, and healthcare
- The potential for a silent stablecoin revolution in the Irish payments landscape
- The importance of community, continuity, and open collaboration
- What’s next: Dublin Startup Village, university engagement, and more
EVENTS:
Dublin Tech Week - May 23rd- 30th, 2025 - full event listing
CryptoMondays Ireland with ETHDublin, Solana Superteam Ireland & Techstars - 26th May 2025
Techstars Web3 2025 Demo Day at NYTechWeek (NYC) - 4th June 2025
LINKS:
Solana Superteam Ireland: Website | X/(Twitter) | LinkedIn
Alejandro Gutierrez: X/(Twitter) | LinkedIn
Leave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoneyNeverSleeps (website)
Email us: [email protected]
Pete Townsend: X/Twitter | LinkedIn
MoneyNeverSleeps: X/Twitter | LinkedIn | Newsletter
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