Today’s edition

• 1) What we’re writing: Web3 for beginners

• 2) What we’re watching: Digital finance in Web3

• 3) What we’re trying: Farcaster (blockchain-based social media)

• 4) Today’s sponsor: Perplexity

Let’s get started! 🤓

①

Your must-read

What we’re writing

Talking about blockchains means that you have to talk about cryptocurrencies at some point.

That's a bit complicated because the crypto scene doesn't exactly have a stellar reputation.

However, crypto isn't just about trying to get rich quick. There are also important differences between cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and tokens which can be transferred on a blockchain such as Ethereum.

We'll explain why tokens are important below – but have a look at our beginner's guide to digital assets first.

②

Have a look

What we’re watching

Tokenization is a big topic in the financial industry.

In a nutshell, it means that a token is created to create a real asset, e.g. a stock, a bond or even a house.

The token can then be transferred to a new owner – which is a lot easier than any existing system.

In reality, it's a bit more complicated. There are technical and regulatory issues to sort out first. Nevertheless, it could change the financial system that we know. Here's one example that looks at the US real estate market (it's a bit old but a good overview nonetheless).

③

Your turn

What we’re trying

Farcaster is a protocol that wants to change the social media landscape. Unlike traditional social networks, it is not controlled by a single entity or confined to centralized servers. In a nutshell, it’s Web3 social media.

Farcaster operates on blockchain infrastructure. The tech in the background helps to promote transparency, security, and decentralization. It also minimizes the risks of data breaches and censorship.

Compared to traditional social media giants, the number of users is tiny so it's more of an experiment for now. It's too early to say whether that will change in the coming months and years – but you can see for yourself.

One more thing: Feel free to subscribe to get our content straight to your inbox. We’ll even try not to be boring. 😉