WTF Stands For Who To Follow
Highlighting 6 leaders in web3 and the roles they play in building community and creating culture on the blockchain.
In a space that has no central authority, it’s difficult to identify what leadership looks like long-term, but I gather the path to becoming one can be uncovered just by following what certain individuals are doing right now. I’m a strong believer in highlighting success stories because stories have a way of affirming something exists. To show that there’s a solid foundation being laid for diverse communities to thrive on-chain I’ll introduce you to 6 stories worth following.
So WTF?
The founder of Audacity the first crypto VC fund focusing on Black crypto startups, Erikan is someone to follow if you are interested in DeFi and passionate about the culture receiving the funding it deserves. You can read up on Audacity and Erikan’s story here. The work she’s doing is just getting started and I look forward to seeing how she generates value for Black communities on-chain.
A Social brand that is focused on creating culture in web3, Visionnaire is the account to follow if you are passionate about being in spaces that promote wellness, creativity, and community. I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t have connected with half the people I met in web3 if it wasn’t for Visionnaire. The ability to bridge together so many relationships is one of the many things that makes Visionnaire’s work so impactful as an artist and community builder. A prime example of said is this Rolodex disguised as a tweet for you to bookmark and follow everybody on it!
There’s also some dope music that I think everyone should bump, so go check that out.
A multi-hyphenated individual, who everyone should follow to get in tune with to support Black culture, and in particular Black women. Sian is the editor and creator of the Blkchain a platform that is giving a voice to women and BIPOC artists in the NFT space. The work doesn’t stop there though as Sian also has a hand in building Herstory a DAO “dedicated to preserving and incubating the stories of marginalized crypto creators”. She is also an artist and collector. Sian’s intentional focus on marginalized groups has provided a serious foundation for voices to be amplified and it’s rightfully being recognized.
A man who seems to have his hvnd in anything that has to do with culture being cultivated on the blockchain. This is the account to follow if you are an artist, collector, gamer, and/or supporter of just dope content. Sirsu has founded a number of amazing projects like The Well, The Mint Fund, and BLVKHVND which is the first decentralized esports gaming cooperative. I also want to highlight #CryptoCookout which is bringing together Black collectors in a meaningful way.
Simone is a personal favorite because of her exciting takes on the creator economy and Web3. Her insights on tech, business, and culture blend together so effortlessly that after you read anything she writes your left with a “why didn’t I think of that” type of feeling. Check out this fun one about how Verzuz can break into the Metaverse.
Simone also has a newsletter covering the diverse online communities called Intel. Tap into that too!
Most notable for his book Bitcoin and Black America, Isaiah Jackson is one to follow if you are passionate about getting Black communities tapped into the crypto space! Being entirely candid, the move for me to have more of my money in crypto than cash is thanks to tapping into Bitcoinzay’s podcast, the Gentlemen of Crypto, that bridges the gap between cryptocurrency and the community by breaking down daily news surrounding regulation, price action, and hot takes in the crypto space Monday through Friday.
The common thread between these people is that there’s a charge in building something that lasts beyond them. Their own paths range from DAOs to art, to financing and entertainment, but it all comes together to digitize the culture onto the blockchain. They’re envisioning new business models and economic incentives that revolve around giving back and getting more.