Can blockchain offer an alternate infrastructure to solve real-world problems?

In September, a diverse team of technology enthusiasts from four different countries came together. Our goal: to showcase blockchain's impact in Southeast Asia and create a space for brainstorming more innovative solutions.

When we started this project, we quickly realized something: the real-world application of blockchain in Southeast Asia weren’t as developed as we had hoped. There were gaps - we had the technology and the ideas, but not enough examples of these coming together to tackle real-world issues.

What we ended up with at the event was genuinely inspiring. We had a diverse group – tech experts, humanitarian workers, academics, and idealists – all sharing the same space. It wasn't just about sharing ideas; it was about connecting these ideas to real action and beginning to think about solutions in a practical, meaningful way.

This spirit of collaboration and innovation was echoed in our speakers, each bringing their own unique insights and experiences.

Lorilee Lippincott: Exploring Digital Identities and Self-Sovereignty

Lorilee Lippincott brought an academic perspective to the complex world of digital identities, focusing on minimal viable products and the principle of 'do no harm'. She outlined four key areas of identity: access, law, reputation, and personhood, each requiring different forms of identification. Lorilee emphasized the distinction between digital identity and self-sovereign identity, highlighting the importance of ownership and control over personal data. She explored various methods for proving personhood, such as government-issued IDs, biometric data, social networks, and presence-based systems, stressing the need for privacy and user control in identity solutions. She also provided a list of questions people working on identity based projects could ask when designing specific systems in specific situations.

Michel Bauwens: Urban Commons and Cosmo-Localism

Michel Bauwens, a pioneer in the field of peer-to-peer systems, presented on the "neutralization of urban provisioning systems." Highlighting the evolution of commons from physical resources to digital knowledge sharing. He introduced the concept of "Cosmo-Localism," where local communities manage material resources while benefiting from global knowledge networks. Bauwens emphasized the potential of integrating crypto and Web 3.0 to enhance these systems, offering a transformative vision for urban communities. dive deeper: Mutualizing Urban Provisioning Systems, By Michel Bauwens and Rok Kranjc https://wiki.p2pfoundation.net/Mutualizing_Urban_Provisioning_Systems

Vienna Rae-Looi: Bridging Technology, Spirituality, and Social Change

Vienna Rae-Looi shared her journey from running a distributed ledger startup in the Bay Area to exploring the intersection of technology, spirituality, and social change. She spoke about her work with indigenous communities in Malaysia, focusing on developing community currencies that extend beyond conventional cryptocurrency applications. Vienna also highlighted her involvement with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, aiming to infuse Buddhist economic principles into digital systems. Her talk underlined the significance of harmonizing technology with grassroots community efforts.

Dev Lewis: Reexamining Values in Technology and Web 3.0

Dev Lewis brought a critical perspective on the governance of technology, particularly in the crypto and web 3.0 spaces. Reflecting on his experience in policy and web 2.0, Dev warned of repeating past mistakes in new technological realms unless there's a fundamental shift in human values embedded in technology. He discussed the "information cycle" concept, where new technologies tend to move from decentralization to centralization, emphasizing the need for an evolution of thought inspired by Eastern philosophy. Dev advocated for an approach rooted in introspection and a reevaluation of the stories and beliefs driving technological development to create truly transformative and decentralized systems.

Dexter Cohen Bohn: Digital Bodhisattva and the Fusion of Technology with Engaged Buddhism

Dexter Cohen Bohn, representing the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, introduced the 'Digital Bodhisattva' initiative, blending technology with the principles of socially engaged Buddhism. He discussed how this movement, inspired by prominent figures like His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, aims to address societal and systemic issues. Dexter highlighted the importance of transforming the relationship with technology to promote values like compassion and mindfulness. Emphasizing the potential of web three solutions in supporting civil society organizations, he expressed his eagerness to bridge the gap between impactful grassroots work and emerging digital technologies.

Nine: The Evolving Web3 Ecosystem in Thailand

Nine, from Cryptomind Labs, offered a comprehensive overview of Thailand's Web3 ecosystem. He distinguished between regulated and unregulated sectors within the Thai blockchain landscape, outlining the various licenses and regulatory frameworks that govern digital asset exchanges, brokers, and other entities. Nine emphasized the dominance of local exchanges like Bitkub, while acknowledging the increasing popularity of global platforms like Binance among Thai users. Highlighting the vibrant development of consumer apps and DeFi in Thailand, he also noted significant venture capital activity in the Web3 space from major Thai banks. Nine concluded by discussing Cryptomind Labs' role as a Web3-native venture studio and incubator, and their involvement in fostering global partnerships and organizing hackathons to bolster the Thai blockchain community.

Link: Building a Crypto Start-Up Society in Chiang Mai