It started with a virtual pandemic dinner. A friend asked me to help support some open source development on blockchains – what he called a “fun side project.” Little did I know at the time that this conversation would change my life forever.
What started out as a curiosity turned into an all-consuming passion that has led me to my current role as VP of Product at Kraken, one of the most reputable cryptocurrency exchanges in the world.
As I dug into the work I quickly learned that there are fundamental security flaws with TCP/IP, the technology that underpins the internet as we know it today – and that a community of people devoted to blockchain have been working on a computer system that enables open and more secure access to products and services.
I read white-papers, I built validator nodes, and I contributed to the community. I was hooked.
The thing about blockchain that struck the deepest chord with me as a software builder was the concept of tokenomics, the ability to fund progress in software development through the utility of the software itself. As a Silicon Valley native this felt true to the spirit that drove the two major waves of innovation that have now come to define the web as we know it: the building of the internet and the rise of the application economy.
At this point I was working on bots that helped to create liquidity for new blockchain networks so they could scale faster. This “fun side project” became a full time pursuit – and I wanted more.
Building a new internet was a tantalizing idea. I began to look for companies at the cutting edge so I could help usher in what I now see as the third wave of innovation, Web 3.0. Built on blockchain, accessible to all, controlled by no one person or entity and capable of simulating any service that exists today in a more secure way. Turing-complete, if you will.
I’ve found my home at Kraken, a company born at the dawn of the blockchain era. One that has an impressive history not only in technological innovation, but also that of protecting clients, supporting public education, providing economic opportunity, and distributing grants to the developer community.
As VP of Product I never cease to be inspired by the organization I am privileged to oversee under the leadership of our executive team. Every day we strive to build the best possible products for our clients. Products that not only deliver delightful experiences, but also take into account regulatory requirements, security, and open source access.
In addition to scaling the Product org both with respect to personnel and tokens offered (approaching 100 on platform) we have launched a new consumer grade mobile app with millions of users, facilitate crowd loans for new projects through Parachain auctions, and helped our clients collectively earn more than $100 million through staking rewards while securing information through Proof of Stake.
As I look to the year ahead, I am incredibly excited for all the new initiatives we have. I look forward to sharing updates with you all on this work, as well as my views on Kraken’s unique Product culture.
Thank you for reading about my journey, see you all in the Metaverse!
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All opinions are my own, not my employer’s