Blockchain Archives - Assert Digital Ventures

January 25, 2022January 25, 2022
by Andy

This is the best article yet to have an objective view of why web3 (including cryptocurrencies, NFTs and blockchain) are just more of the same centralized control. Its mostly people trying to unlock value from the big “web2” platforms and make their own. Don’t be fooled by the hype as its the wild west filled with snake oil salespeople:

I have only dipped my toe in the waters of web3. Looking at it through the lens of these small projects, though, I can easily see why so many people find the web3 ecosystem so neat. I don’t think it’s on a trajectory to deliver us from centralized platforms, I don’t think it will fundamentally change our relationship to technology, and I think the privacy story is already below par for the internet (which is a pretty low bar!), but I also understand why nerds like me are excited to build for it. It is, at the very least, something new on the nerd level – and that creates a space for creativity/exploration that is somewhat reminiscent of early internet days. Ironically, part of that creativity probably springs from the constraints that make web3 so clunky. I’m hopeful that the creativity and exploration we’re seeing will have positive outcomes, but I’m not sure if it’s enough to prevent all the same dynamics of the internet from unfolding again.

https://moxie.org/2022/01/07/web3-first-impressions.html

Blockchain, the amazing solution for almost nothing

August 24, 2020August 24, 2020
by Andy

I started getting asked about blockchain 5+ years ago. My observation then is the same as it is now: it is fundamentally interesting technology looking for a problem. For most of the proposed solutions, its overkill…by 10x. When simple API integrations and even old fashioned contracts can enforce something just fine, why add all this complexity?

For the cases where blockchain might be justified, it has a major hurdle: all participants must agree, adopt, deploy and maintain a significantly complex piece of software that few understand. How is that attractive? And this is not even touching on those with entrenched interests (read: revenue) dependent on the existing, inefficient system that distributed trust attempts to break down.

I don’t think blockchain is a fancy tech fad but is in the “trough of disillusionment” phase of the hype curve. It will be useful…but in 10 years.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought: but what is it then, for God’s sake, this whole blockchain thing? And what’s so terribly revolutionary about it? What problem does it solve? That’s why I wrote this article. I can tell you upfront, it’s a bizarre journey to nowhere. I’ve never seen so much incomprehensible jargon to describe so little. I’ve never seen so much bloated bombast fall so flat on closer inspection. And I’ve never seen so many people searching so hard for a problem to go with their solution.
https://thecorrespondent.com/655/blockchain-the-amazing-solution-for-almost-nothing/86649455475-f933fe63

Be wary of the web3 shamen

Blockchain, the amazing solution for almost nothing