A few years ago, blockchain technology was considered transformative – the best thing since sliced bread – but today, we have not been hearing much about it at all. With Cleve Mesidor of the Blockchain Foundation, we discuss the current state of blockchain technology, how it can be leveraged in the Caribbean region, especially to improve the lives and livelihoods of ordinary citizens, and what countries ought to be doing to capitalise on the opportunities and efficiencies blockchain technology facilitates.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

These days, there do not appear to be many conversations about blockchain technology. Three years ago, it was almost all that we could talk about.

Historically, blockchain technology has been inextricably linked to crypto, as it is the technology upon which crypto sits: an immutable, distributed ledger that is touted for being secure and transparent, with traceable transactions. However, with the crypto winter of 2022 and the implosions of several high-profile businesses, was people’s confidence in blockchain also affected?

Also, these days, much of our attention has been on artificial intelligence (AI), which arguably has overshadowed blockchain technology. However, as we marvel at the power and convenience of AI, we also need to grapple with the inherent responsibilities when it is used, and broader and longer-term implications to jobs, the workplace and the wider society.  

However, what has happened to blockchain? Is it the go-to approach when trust-less and permanent records of transactions that can be audited is required? This is the focus of this week’s podcast episode.

 

Introducing our guest

Cleve Mesidor

Cleve Mesidor is the Executive Director of the Blockchain Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit leading an industry-wide education campaign. Cleve is also a Forbes Contributor and a Mayoral appointee to the DC Innovation and Technology Inclusion Council. Previously, she was a Public Policy Advisor to the Blockchain Association.

A web3 expert working in crypto for over six years, she has been profiled on CNBC, ABC, NPR, PBS, NY Times, Washington Post, Politico, and TIME. She was featured in the PBS Documentary, “CRYPTO DECODED”, as well as, the Coinbase documentary, “COIN: A Founder’s Story.” Cleve is a respected industry leader and regularly headlines national tech conferences, including Money20/20, SXSW, CES, and others. On the global stage, she has spoken at Web3 and DeFi forums in Abu Dhabi, Toronto, Amsterdam, Bahamas, and Barbados.

A Washington insider, she served in the Obama Administration and as a senior staffer in Congress. As an Obama Presidential Appointee, she was Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, where she advanced White House economic programs and national public-private partnerships to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Her acumen in policy stems from her tenure on Capitol Hill as Communications Director for U.S. Representatives Betty McCollum and Barbara Lee, coordinating with Congressional leadership to launch major legislative initiatives.

Cleve is the author of “THE CLEVOLUTION: My Quest for Justice in Politics & Crypto”. Additionally, she has published articles in the Boston Globe, CoinDesk, Forbes, and other media outlets. She earned a Master of Arts degree from Howard University and started her career in broadcasting at CNN’s Washington Bureau.

 

Insights into our conversation

Cleve Mesidor is passionate about blockchain technology. She is excited about its potential to transform everyday lives, and so she assures us that blockchain is not dead.

Although we ought to have been aware of the leading role “the three Bs”, The Bahamas, Barbados and Bermuda, are playing in the fintech/blockchain space, a surprising tidbit Cleve shared during our conversation was that the Caribbean region is driving innovation in blockchain.

Below are key questions that drove our conversation.

  1. To start, share with us a bit of your story, and how you got into blockchain and web3.
  2. How can we better facilitate blockchain technology to improve the lives of the average citizen?
  3. How can we make blockchain technology more accessible and contribute to the local economy so that a wider cross-section of citizens can leverage it?
  4. What might be some ways that small businesses can leverage blockchain, as it is often seen as an expensive solution?
  5. How do you see the blockchain landscape evolving?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit: Blockchain Foundation; Pete Linforth (Pixabay); Morthy Jameson (Unsplash); Gerd Altmann (Pixabay)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez