Podcast Summary
Exploring StarkNet Governance with the Community: The StarkNet community is learning self-governance and taking ownership of the protocol, with Kraken as a strategic sponsor. Developers are discovering the power of building on StarkNet, and the StarkNet Foundation is facilitating governance discussions.
Key takeaway from the Starkware sessions in Tel Aviv is that the StarkNet community is in its early stages of learning how to govern itself and take ownership of the protocol. Developers on StarkNet are discovering the power of building on the platform and the StarkNet Foundation is learning how to give them a voice and control. The community is excited, slightly intimidated, but very optimistic about the future of StarkNet. This was evident during a governance workshop where the plan for StarkNet governance was discussed, and it was clear that the community needs to come together to create a plan. Kraken, a long-standing crypto exchange, was highlighted as a strategic sponsor for Bankless in 2023 due to its commitment to proof not promises and its pioneering proof of reserves system. After listening to the episode with Silva from the Brick team and the StarkNet ecosystem governance facilitators, it's clear that the StarkNet community is just beginning to stand up and walk in the world of decentralized governance.
Exploring the evolving blockchain landscape with Arbitrum, Uniswap, Phantom, and Brick: Arbitrum's Stylus lets developers use preferred languages and reduce fees, Uniswap offers a one-stop-shop for DeFi and NFTs, Phantom is a versatile wallet for NFTs, and Brick enables intuitive NFT composability
The blockchain world is evolving rapidly, with new initiatives like Arbitrum's Stylus and Uniswap's expansion into NFTs and aggregation, making it possible for developers and users to leverage various programming languages, build and trade NFTs, and access fiat on-ramps all within a cohesive interface. Arbitrum's Stylus initiative allows developers to use their preferred programming languages, such as Rust and C++, while deploying apps on the layer 2 network and reducing fees significantly. Uniswap, on the other hand, has become a one-stop-shop for DeFi and NFT enthusiasts, offering powerful tools, an NFT aggregator, and a universal router for the best trade prices. Moreover, wallets like Phantom are becoming increasingly essential, as they offer native NFT support, spanning multiple ecosystems, and providing a seamless experience as both a browser extension and a mobile wallet. Brick, an NFT building protocol, aims to revolutionize composability by allowing users to build with NFTs, similar to how LEGOs work in the real world, where each brick is an NFT and can be assembled and disassembled to create new structures. By thinking of NFTs as LEGOs, Brick enables a more intuitive and composable way of creating and interacting with NFTs on the blockchain.
Creating composable assets with StarkNet's cubes: StarkNet enables users to create composable NFTs through simple actions, allowing for easy reuse and interpretation by various users within the StarkNet ecosystem
Composability in the context of blockchain and NFTs is about creating underspecified assets that can be easily interpreted and used in various ways, much like a deck of cards in the physical world. StarkNet, a protocol for building assets, aims to make this process accessible to non-technical users by allowing them to create NFTs through simple actions like stacking cubes. The individual units of these constructions are actual assets on the StarkNet network, and the rules and structures are built on top of this basic matrix. The construction process is also verifiable on the blockchain, making it composable with the rest of the StarkNet ecosystem. The goal is to create a system where assets can be easily reused and interpreted by various users, leading to a more dynamic and interactive ecosystem.
Create and compose digital objects on StarkNet with Brick: Brick is a tool for creating and composing digital objects on StarkNet, enabling endless possibilities for metaverse projects, on-chain gaming, and asset building. Users can experiment with digital bricks to build unique assets and contribute to a seamless ecosystem.
Brick is a tool for creating and composing digital objects on the blockchain, specifically on StarkNet. It started as a simple concept, allowing users to create and use bricks as building blocks for various projects within metaverses. However, the possibilities are endless, and the community has surprised the creators with innovative uses, such as building entire PFP collections. Brick was one of the early projects to launch on StarkNet, and its simplicity and composability make it uniquely suited for on-chain gaming projects and asset building. By defining standards for assets, these games can accept and use Brick-built assets directly, creating a seamless and interconnected ecosystem. To get started with Brick, users can simply begin creating and experimenting with digital bricks.
Decentralizing StarkNet through community governance: StarkNet is moving towards full decentralization by allowing users to build, fund, and govern through a decentralized system, with community members having the power to make decisions on protocol upgrades.
StarkNet, a decentralized platform, is working towards full decentralization by allowing users to build collections, fund DAOs, and prioritize development through a decentralized governance system. This system consists of two main components: protocol decentralization, which allows anyone to run a node and participate in consensus, and governance decentralization, which determines what gets implemented in the decentralized protocol. The community, including token holders and delegates, will have the power to make decisions on protocol upgrades, such as the ongoing debate about writing StockNet with a lowercase 'n'. This is a step towards introducing democratic friction in the process while still maintaining the existing centralized elements. Sylvia, a governance facilitator for the StarkeNET Foundation, joined the team through her "shitposting abilities" and now helps prepare the first votes on StockNet governance.
StarkNet Foundation's Gradual and Open Governance Approach: The StarkNet Foundation is taking a deliberate and inclusive approach to governance, starting small and gradually increasing scope, while encouraging community input and distributing voting powers among token holders, core contributors, and the foundation.
The Slack Link Foundation, which governs the StarkNet ecosystem, is being deliberately gradual and open in its approach to governance to ensure legitimacy. They are starting small with decisions like whether to use a capital N or not, and plan to increase the scope of governance over time. The foundation recognizes the importance of community input and aims to attract and train people to be involved in governance. The token is a governance asset, and voting powers are distributed among token holders, core contributors, and the foundation. Decisions, including the possibility of a token airdrop, will be made in a more decentralized and open fashion. The foundation is drawing inspiration from various governance models and is exploring the use of a token vote system, which is unique to StarkWare. The goal is to create a governance structure that is efficient, yet legitimate, and that allows for continuous improvement based on community feedback.
StarkNet's Vibrant Development Community Drives Decentralization: StarkNet's diverse community, including non-technical governance-focused individuals, is essential for its decentralization efforts.
StarkNet's vibrant development community is a key factor in its potential for decentralization, as it provides a group of people to help decentralize the system and participate in governance decisions. This community is diverse, with both technical and non-technical individuals playing important roles. While protocol devs and Cairo devs have been prominent in the StarkNet ecosystem, a new archetype is emerging: governance-focused individuals who may not be technical but still have valuable perspectives to contribute. The StarkNet Foundation is actively seeking to incorporate these individuals into the governance process. The ecosystem's emphasis on governance for governance's sake is creating a new surface area for non-technical individuals to arise as leaders and decision-makers, making it essential for governance-minded individuals to get involved.
Exploring StarkNet's Governance Process: Engage in StarkNet's governance process by exploring resources, participating in discussions, and applying to become a delegate. StarkNet values inclusivity and fun, with unconventional methods like a talking cube during workshops.
Becoming self-actualized and contributing to the StarkNet community can be achieved by engaging in its governance process. This involves exploring the resources on Stocknet.io, participating in discussions on the governance forums, and even applying to become a delegate. The unique appeal of StarkNet lies in its community of builders who are drawn to doing things differently, as seen in its vibrant on-chain gaming community. The governance process in StarkNet values inclusivity and fun, as demonstrated by the use of unconventional methods like a talking cube during workshops. Ultimately, StarkNet is a cultural meeting place for the network state, still learning to govern itself, but with a soul that sets it apart.
Exploring opportunities beyond L1 in the blockchain ecosystem: Focus on lower layers like StockNet for new opportunities, learn from open source projects, and contribute to the decentralized ecosystem for valuable experiences and potential job opportunities in the Web3 space
The future of blockchain innovation lies at the edges of the network. Instead of focusing solely on L1, individuals should explore opportunities on lower layers like StockNet. This approach offers a chance to build something new, make a name for oneself, and contribute to the decentralized ecosystem. Looking ahead, the speaker is excited about the evolution of governance and the exploration of new technologies beyond traditional blockchain features. To get started in the StarcNET world, the speaker recommends starting with the "Hello, Cairo" doc, followed by the tutorial "Startlings" and contributing to open source projects on Only Dust. This path can lead to valuable learning experiences and potential job opportunities in the Web3 space. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of being an active participant in the blockchain community and the endless possibilities for innovation that lie ahead.
Join Sylvain Quirion's community for learning and connections in stocks and NFTs: Follow Sylvain Quirion on Twitter for opportunities to learn, contribute, and potentially make connections in the stock and NFT world
Sylvain Quirion, the creator of StockNet and Brick NFT, encourages newcomers to join the community by following him on Twitter (@sylv_chv_sylvechv with the handle Brick NFT and a Q) or reaching out to him directly. Sylvain's brother-in-law is also part of the StockNet team, making it an inviting and inclusive environment. This community offers opportunities for learning, contributing, and potentially making connections in the world of stocks and NFTs. Sylvain expressed gratitude for the support and interest in his projects and encouraged continued engagement.