Building Inclusive Crypto Communities with Elena Giralt

05/28/24 • 31 min

In this episode, Elena Giralt shares about being at the forefront of increasing diversity and inclusion in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry since the early days. As the founder of Blockchain Latinx and a senior product manager, she has played a pivotal role in empowering underrepresented communities through education and advocacy.

In a recent conversation, Elena shared her journey of getting involved in digital currencies back in 2016 through a transformative college course. This sparked a passion that led her to help establish one of the first communities focused on the Latinx perspective - Blockchain Latinx. Now entering its fifth year, the organization has provided an ongoing safe space for discussions exploring both opportunities and limitations of the emerging technology.

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Elena Sofia Giralt is the Founder of Blockchain Latinx & Senior Product marketing manager at Hiro systems. She designs workshops, hosts meetups, and enjoys volunteering. She is interested in blockchain technology, journalism, and privacy. In the past, she has interned at NBC, worked for the Electric Coin Company (Zcash), and Future Today Institute.

We discuss:

Communities like Blockchain Latinx play an important role in creating safe spaces for underrepresented groups to learn and engage with blockchain/crypto.
The Latino community involved in the industry has grown significantly in terms of both size and diversity of interest groups since 2018.
Ensuring more equitable funding and media coverage for communities of color is important to foster greater diversity, inclusion, and opportunity for success in web3.
Digital privacy is an underexplored use case that Elena believes will be transformative for the industry.
Meeting with policymakers through the annual Women of Color in Blockchain delegation facilitates important discussions around regulatory frameworks.
There are many talented Latino founders and projects in the space doing impactful work that deserve more visibility.
Elena prioritizes community building and is an accessible resource for others looking to learn and get involved in web3.

Beyond her professional contributions, Elena's passion for community radio revealed another layer of her personality. For anyone looking to get involved, she remains an accessible online resource through Twitter to learn more about exciting projects and talented founders of color shaping the future of this burgeoning technology.

Thanks for tuning in! To get the full scoop on creating a more inclusive Web3, DeFi, and Bitcoin space, make sure you catch every episode – we're packed with actionable tips and insights. If you found this episode valuable, spread the word and share it with someone who needs to hear this. Don't forget to follow, rate, and review our podcast on your favorite listening app – it helps us reach even more people who are passionate about building a better future for everyone in the crypto space.

CONNECT WITH ELENA GIRALT:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenasgiralt/

Twitter: @elenita_tweets

Website: https://www.elenagiralt.com/

Company website: https://www.hiro.so/

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Be sure to sign up for our newsletter, Chews!

We discuss:

Communities like Blockchain Latinx play an important role in creating safe spaces for underrepresented groups to learn and engage with blockchain/crypto.
The Latino community involved in the industry has grown significantly in terms of both size and diversity of interest groups since 2018.
Ensuring more equitable funding and media coverage for communities of color is important to foster greater diversity, inclusion, and opportunity for success in web3.
Digital privacy is an underexplored use case that Elena believes will be transformative for the industry.
Meeting with policymakers through the annual Women of Color in Blockchain delegation facilitates important discussions around regulatory frameworks.
There are many talented Latino founders and projects in the space doing impactful work that deserve more visibility.
Elena prioritizes community building and is an accessible resource for others looking to learn and get involved in web3.

CONNECT WITH ELENA GIRALT:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenasgiralt/

Twitter: @elenita_tweets

Website: https://www.elenagiralt.com/

Company website: https://www.hiro.so/

CONNECT WITH BUTTERSCOTCH MEDIA:

Check us out on our website butterscotch.media and subscribe to our newsletter

Watch our content on YouTube

Previous Episode

Navigating the Future of Retail Investing with Lule Demmissie

Lule Demmissie, the US CEO of eToro, discusses the transformation of the 21st century retail investor. She emphasizes the importance of democratizing finance and giving people access to capital markets. Lule highlights the changing profile of retail investors, who are now more diverse and perceive investing as accessible to them.

She also discusses the role of risk in investing and the need for retail investors to have a range of investment options. Lule encourages individuals to lean into the intellectual aspect of investing, build a community, and explore different investment strategies.

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Lule Demmissie has a passion for the study of consumer behavior and addressing the financial needs of everyday investors. Lule Demmissie is a champion of regular folks having easy access to capital markets and digital assets as a means of wealth creation and driving more ways capital formation and inclusion. Lover of all things lean and product innovation. A deep appreciation of design thinking in shaping user-centric solutions. Lule Demmissie launched many successful products and services that have raised billions of dollars. Bottomline, a battle-tested business leader, executor, and thought leader. A forever aspiring servant leader.

We discuss:

The profile of retail investors has become more diverse, and investing is no longer seen as exclusive to the wealthy.
Risk is an important aspect of investing, and retail investors should have access to a range of investment options to diversify their portfolios.
Retail investors should lean into the intellectual aspect of investing, build a community, and explore different investment strategies.
Investing can empower individuals and have an antidote effect on their mindset, even with small amounts of money.

Through thought leadership, advocacy and platforms like eToro, Lule Demmissie is transforming retail investing for the 21st century. Her efforts aim to achieve true financial inclusion and equitable wealth-building opportunities for all.

CONNECT WITH LULE DEMMISSIE:

X (formerly Twitter) @luledemmissie

CONNECT WITH BUTTERSCOTCH MEDIA:

Check us out on our website butterscotch.media and subscribe to our newsletter

Watch our content on YouTube

Next Episode

Exploring Crypto Policy and Regulation with Rashan Colbert

In this special bonus episode of The Get Down, Cleve Mesidor interviews Rashan Colbert, Head of Policy at dYdX Trading, live at Consensus by CoinDesk. They discuss the current regulatory landscape of crypto and the challenges of achieving bipartisanship in the industry. He emphasizes the need for education and a shift in the narrative beyond just store of value.

Rashan also delves into the role of DeFi and the need for a workable regulatory framework that aligns with the unique nature of decentralized finance. He shares his personal journey into the crypto industry and highlights the importance of understanding the blind spots and motivations of policymakers.

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter, Chews!

Rashan Colbert is the Head of Policy at dYdX Trading, where he leads the company’s legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and beyond. dYdX Trading’s mission is to democratize access to financial opportunity through DeFi. Before joining dYdX Trading, Rashan worked on Capitol Hill in the office of New Jersey Senator Cory Booker (D). Rashan concentrated on the Senator’s work in the Senate Commerce Committee, including Technology and Telecommunications, as well as efforts on the Senate Agriculture Committee, specifically on Digital Assets. Rashan also has campaigning experience as a previous staffer for Gov. Martin O'Malley's PAC, O'Say Can You See, as well as in congressional races and two presidential campaigns–the Cory Booker (2020) and Martin O'Malley (2016) campaigns.

We discuss:

The current regulatory landscape of crypto is evolving, and achieving bipartisanship in the industry is a challenge.
Education and a shift in the narrative beyond just store of value are essential for policymakers to understand the broader implications of blockchain technology.
DeFi requires a workable regulatory framework that aligns with its unique nature, and a thoughtful approach is necessary to address the risks and tradeoffs involved.
Understanding the blind spots and motivations of policymakers is crucial for advocating for a fair and balanced regulatory and policy framework in the crypto industry.

CONNECT WITH RASHAN COLBERT:

CONNECT WITH BUTTERSCOTCH MEDIA:

Check us out on our website butterscotch.media and subscribe to our newsletter

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