Ep. 69: The Intersection of VR & Cryptocurrency with Esteban Ordano of Decentraland
07/19/18 • 19 min
Esteban Ordano believes that decentralization is key to mitigating the risk that comes with digital communication, and his work uses VR to return our sense of immediacy, to recreate the personal connections that will lead to what he calls a ͚Renaissance of humanity.͛ So, what does the world look like at this intersection of virtual reality and cryptocurrency?
Esteban is the founder and CTO of Decentraland, a virtual reality platform powered by the Ethereum blockchain where users can purchase land and build on it, limited only by their imaginations. Using a VR headset or web browser, Decentraland users become completely immersed in a 3D, interactive world where they can watch live music, shop with friends or even visit an underwater resort. Prior to Decentraland, Esteban worked as a software engineer at Google and BitPay.
Today, Esteban joins us to explain how the economic chaos in Argentina inspired his interest in the cryptocurrency space. He discusses the role decentralization plays in mitigating the risk of sharing information online and the way cryptographic systems facilitate radical governance. Esteban offers insight around Decentralands place at the intersection of virtual reality and cryptocurrency and how the platform enables the management of digital scarcity. Listen in to understand the major challenges of adoption in the VR and crypto space and learn how Decentraland is testing concepts of governance before they are applied in real life!
Topics Covered
Esteban’s introduction to the blockchain
- Article in Hacker News (2011)
- Meetup in Argentina (2013)
What sparked Esteban’s interest in Bitcoin
- Economic disaster in Argentina
- Opportunity to be game-changer
The most important role of decentralization
- Mitigate risk of sharing information
- One-on-one connections = Renaissance of humanity
- Efficient way to transmit info and measure impacts
How cryptographic systems facilitate radical governance
- Peer-to-peer way to make decisions
- Creates consequences (money where mouth is)
The intersection of VR and cryptocurrency
- Decentraland allows for testing concepts
- Missing link to creating free society
The significance of digital scarcity
- Virtual currencies enable scarcity, ownership
- Until now items on database modified by single entity
What the world might look like in 10 years if Decentraland succeeds
- Vitual economies, shopping and bars
- Send kids to Decentraland University
The major challenges of crypto and VR adoption
- Security, efficiency on through-put (crypto)
- Hand-tracking and affordability (VR)
Esteban’s definition of success
- ‘Surprised a little every day’
Connect with Esteban
Decentraland https://decentraland.org/
Decentraland on Twitter https://twitter.com/decentraland
Decentraland on GitHub https://github.com/decentraland
Esteban on Twitter https://twitter.com/eordano
Esteban on Medium https://medium.com/@eordano
Resources
Streamium https://streamium.io/
Livepeer https://livepeer.org/
SpankChain https://spankchain.com/
Hacker News https://news.ycombinator.com/
Peter Rubin on Boost VC https://www.boost.vc/podcast-archive/2018/5/24/season-3-ep-8-unlocking-the-intimacy-between-people-through-vr-with-peter-rubin-of-wired
Beat Saber http://www.beatsaber.com/
Echo Arena https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1369078409873402/
Oculus Go https://www.oculus.com/go/
CRISPR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Esteban Ordano believes that decentralization is key to mitigating the risk that comes with digital communication, and his work uses VR to return our sense of immediacy, to recreate the personal connections that will lead to what he calls a ͚Renaissance of humanity.͛ So, what does the world look like at this intersection of virtual reality and cryptocurrency?
Esteban is the founder and CTO of Decentraland, a virtual reality platform powered by the Ethereum blockchain where users can purchase land and build on it, limited only by their imaginations. Using a VR headset or web browser, Decentraland users become completely immersed in a 3D, interactive world where they can watch live music, shop with friends or even visit an underwater resort. Prior to Decentraland, Esteban worked as a software engineer at Google and BitPay.
Today, Esteban joins us to explain how the economic chaos in Argentina inspired his interest in the cryptocurrency space. He discusses the role decentralization plays in mitigating the risk of sharing information online and the way cryptographic systems facilitate radical governance. Esteban offers insight around Decentralands place at the intersection of virtual reality and cryptocurrency and how the platform enables the management of digital scarcity. Listen in to understand the major challenges of adoption in the VR and crypto space and learn how Decentraland is testing concepts of governance before they are applied in real life!
Topics Covered
Esteban’s introduction to the blockchain
- Article in Hacker News (2011)
- Meetup in Argentina (2013)
What sparked Esteban’s interest in Bitcoin
- Economic disaster in Argentina
- Opportunity to be game-changer
The most important role of decentralization
- Mitigate risk of sharing information
- One-on-one connections = Renaissance of humanity
- Efficient way to transmit info and measure impacts
How cryptographic systems facilitate radical governance
- Peer-to-peer way to make decisions
- Creates consequences (money where mouth is)
The intersection of VR and cryptocurrency
- Decentraland allows for testing concepts
- Missing link to creating free society
The significance of digital scarcity
- Virtual currencies enable scarcity, ownership
- Until now items on database modified by single entity
What the world might look like in 10 years if Decentraland succeeds
- Vitual economies, shopping and bars
- Send kids to Decentraland University
The major challenges of crypto and VR adoption
- Security, efficiency on through-put (crypto)
- Hand-tracking and affordability (VR)
Esteban’s definition of success
- ‘Surprised a little every day’
Connect with Esteban
Decentraland https://decentraland.org/
Decentraland on Twitter https://twitter.com/decentraland
Decentraland on GitHub https://github.com/decentraland
Esteban on Twitter https://twitter.com/eordano
Esteban on Medium https://medium.com/@eordano
Resources
Streamium https://streamium.io/
Livepeer https://livepeer.org/
SpankChain https://spankchain.com/
Hacker News https://news.ycombinator.com/
Peter Rubin on Boost VC https://www.boost.vc/podcast-archive/2018/5/24/season-3-ep-8-unlocking-the-intimacy-between-people-through-vr-with-peter-rubin-of-wired
Beat Saber http://www.beatsaber.com/
Echo Arena https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1369078409873402/
Oculus Go https://www.oculus.com/go/
CRISPR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Previous Episode
Ep. 68: Using Decentralized Tech to Mobilize Unused Resources with Julian Zawistowski of Golem Network
So many ICOs, so few products on the market. One of the rare startups that has managed to launch a decentralized product is Golem Network.
Golem runs on the same principle as Airbnb, leveraging the sharing economy of decentralized tech to connect many computers in a peer-to-peer network. The same way that Airbnb hosts mobilize their unused resources (i.e.: spare bedrooms) to generate income, Golem users lend out their available computing power, giving software developers the ability to distribute tasks that are too heavy to be computed on a single node. The result is a global, open-source supercomputer powered by the blockchain.
Julian Zawistowski is the Founder and CEO of Golem Factory, the company behind the Golem distributed network. An economist by trade, Julian is fascinated by blockchain technology and the economics of decentralized systems. Prior to his work with Golem, Julian served as a consultant and public policy researcher and that experience frames his understanding of the transformative potential of decentralized technology.
Today, Julian joins us to explain why Golem was the right kind of project for a token sale. He covers the evolution of Golem, from its inception to the current use case in CGI rendering. Julian offers insight around delivering a decentralized product, and we talk scalability—the biggest problem in the token space. Listen in as Julian shares how Golem might expand to include other use cases and learn about the blockchain’s potential to solve for the crisis of trust.
Topics Covered
Julian’s introduction to the crypto space
- Background in economics, consulting
- Created own software house
- One of first projects in blockchain space
- Learned about Ethereum in 2014
The idea behind Golem’s decentralized technology
- Connect nodes in peer-to-peer network
- Distribute tasks too heavy for single node
The current use case for Golem
- CGI rendering (animation, 3D scenes)
Julian’s approach to fundraising for Golem
- Initially considered venture funding
- Shift as token economy emerged
Julian’s take the types of projects that work for tokens
- Natural market within product
- Strong network effect
What Golem looks like today
- Went live in April 2018
- 30+ team members
- Up to 1K users per day
Julian’s insight on delivering a decentralized product
- Launch NOW but consider security issues
- Tech you depend on defines product
The future of Golem
- Move into realm of machine learning, financial analysis
The biggest problems in the token space
- Scalability is #1
- UX considerations
How the world will change if decentralized systems succeed
- Eliminate dependence on institutions for trust
- Solve for problems in politics, financial sectors
Connect with Julian
Golem Network https://golem.network/
Golem on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/GolemProject/
Golem Blog https://blog.golemproject.net/
Golem on Twitter https://twitter.com/golemproject
Julian on Twitter https://twitter.com/julianzawist?lang=en
Julian on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-zawistowski-352478
Resources
SETI@home https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Next Episode
Ep. 70: Leveraging Social Networks to Make Everyone a VC with Dan Finlay of MetaMask
What if every individual had the ability to invest in their community? Dan Finlay sees a future in which the blockchain allows us all to function as venture capitalists, investing in the people we trust in our social networks, using our social collateral to back the things we truly believe in.
Dan is a software developer and product lead at MetaMask, a bridge to the distributed web. The platform allows users to run Ethereum dApps (without running a full Ethereum node) and provides a user interface to facilitate private key management. Dan and the MetaMask team are passionate about making new technologies accessible to everyone.
Today, Dan sits down with us to explain how the CryptoKitties phenomenon fit his theory around the first viral crypto application. He speaks to his entry into the blockchain space as a natural extension of his interests in technology and governance. Dan describes the genesis of MetaMask and its aim to provide a gateway to P2P technology and provide the tools necessary to make usable apps. Listen in for Dan’s insight on social collateral and learn how social networks could be leveraged to make everyone a VC.
Topics Covered
Dan’s take on CrytoKitties
- Personal theory that first viral thing would be trivial
- New mechanics, too much on line in serious contexts
Dan’s introduction to cryptocurrency
- Always into tech, politics (governance platforms)
- Shared passion with founder to make tech accessible
The genesis of MetaMask
- Attempt to make app on Ethereum blockchain
- Set out to solve for identity, key management
- Provide gateway to peer-to-peer technology
The long-term vision of MetaMask
- Individual holds own keys and decides where to store
- Stay ahead of what ecosystem needs, tools to make apps
Dan’s strength as an improviser
- Building otamatone instrument
- Listen, react and collaborate
Dan’s insight on the concept of social collateral
- Multiply spending power of social networks
- Monetize following by investing in beliefs
Dan’s greatest accomplishments at MetaMask
- Surviving crypto-mania
- Building talented team
Dan’s definition of success
- Expand opportunities for others
Connect with Dan
MetaMask https://metamask.io/
MetaMask on Twitter https://twitter.com/metamask_io
MetaMask on GitHub https://github.com/MetaMask/metamask-extension
Dan on Twitter https://twitter.com/danfinlay
Dan on Medium https://medium.com/@danfinlay
Resources
CryptoKitties https://www.cryptokitties.co/
BitTorrent https://www.bittorrent.com/
Dark Tower Book Series https://www.stephenking.com/darktower/book/
Reddit Showerthoughts https://www.reddit.com/r/Showerthoughts/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
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