Introduction

I got my big break into Ethereum with my research and work around meta transactions; a method of abstracting away the need for ETH and gas while remaining cryptographically sound on-chain.

One of my heroes in the space, Kevin Owocki, insisted that I go full time and start Gitcoin Labs to focus on exploring and improving the decentralized developer landscape. We tackled a new project each week, attempting to illuminate and make accessible topics that previously were too convoluted.

If it weren’t for Gitcoin I might still be working as a devops engineer. Bringing in established old guys like me full-time is something the Ethereum space still needs to work on. Kevin put in the time to get me on the Consensys payroll and I will be forever grateful for that.

Eventually, I landed on the cross-section of usability, mass adoption, and emerging markets. What started as a simple proof of concept I hacked together during layovers on the way to Devcon4, eventually became the Burner Wallet. A web wallet for quick transfers of small amounts of cryptocurrencies with irresistibly simple UX.

After a series of usability studies we deemed Cypherpunk Speakeasies we were prepared for ETHDenver. Participants used the buttery smooth UX of the Burner to purchase 4405 meals from food trucks with a total of $0.20 in fees.

Since ETHDenver the Burner has become more of an onboarding platform for games and apps. An example of an instant-onboarding game I built is Emojicoin Exchange. We also put a Helena prediction market in the RadWallet for Ethereal. I think we will be able to help drive mainnet adoption of the Gnosis Safe too:

Impact and Value

My work has impact in an interesting way that is sometimes hard to measure. The numbers are still small in terms of new users onboarded to mainnet. I think the best way to quantify the Burner Wallet is looking out on a room full of crypto-initiated people using it for the first time:

Their eyes light up, they smile, they can’t believe using crypto is this easy. For the first time many of them participate in a prediction market or play a blockchain game. Not because they weren’t available before, but because the barrier to entry was just too-damn-high.jpg

Since ETHDenver I have not been able to secure enough funding internally or externally to work full-time. That fact alone should help me audit my own work and value.

I am a self proclaimed everyman of Ethereum. If I can’t figure something out on the first pass, it’s too complicated. My particular talent is building products and experiences that give the average Joe the ability to participate in this powerful decentralized technology.

The value of this is hard to quantify. When the Ethereum Foundation has to choose who to fund they have to make hard decisions about who will have the most impact. At this time, my work does not have enough impact to justify a grant and I need to work harder and smarter.

Let’s have some real talk. How can I do better? @ me bro!