Founders' Journey - Episode 97
Talks, Awards and Blockchain comes to town
This week has been a whirlwind—a reflection of how vibrant, fast-paced, and transformative our industry continues to be.
The Blockies Awards 2024
Last night, the Digital Economy Council of Australia (DECA) brought us together for the much-anticipated Blockies Awards, celebrating exceptional talent and innovation in the blockchain space. Here’s a huge congratulations to the winners who inspire us all:
🏆 Ben Simpson – Community Leader of the Year
🏆 Danielle – DEI Leader of the Year
🏆 Yuvraj Singh – Rising Star of the Year
🏆 Joni Pirovich – Blockchain Leader of the Year
🏆 Fireblocks – Blockchain Technology Company of the Year
🏆 RMIT – Education Leader of the Year
🏆 Hashlock – Security Leader of the Year
🏆 B*dasl – Outstanding Professional Services Firm
🏆 Independent Reserve – Crypto Exchange of the Year & Organisation of the Year
🏆 Block Earner – Financial Services Innovator of the Year
🏆 Grineo – Startup of the Year
Special mention to Greg Oakford of Upside DAO, whose sharp wit and incisive commentary as MC set the perfect tone for the night. From roasting Germany’s BTC liquidation at $50K (a mere blip before hitting $95K) to poking fun at the sometimes-baffling insights shared on certain community channels, no one was spared—and we loved it.
Beyond the accolades, it was a reminder of the power of connection. The conversations, collaborations, and moments of reflection during these events are where the magic of our industry truly unfolds.
More photos at end.
On the Stage: AI and Blockchain Insights
Earlier in the week, I had the privilege of speaking at the Australian Computer Society (ACS) alongside Karen Cohen, Rachael Jones, Dolly Brtan, and Danielle Marie. Together, we delved into our journeys into blockchain and AI, sharing where we believe the future lies.
One key takeaway from the discussion? Breaking down barriers. Blockchain and AI are laden with jargon and technical complexity, but if we’re serious about building an inclusive and thriving ecosystem, accessibility must be a priority. I wrote a helpful guide earlier this week to address this very issue – you can check it out here.
A Call to Action
As we gear up for the Australian Crypto Convention this weekend, it’s exciting to see the familiar faces who’ve helped shape this industry. But what stands out more is the influx of new faces, a tangible sign that interest in blockchain is resurging.
This is our moment to be better—to learn from the mistakes of past cycles and build a space that prioritises security, transparency, and trust. That’s why I penned this post earlier this week, outlining practical steps we can take to safeguard our community as the next wave of participants joins us.
Here’s a quick summary:
Education and Awareness: Simplify blockchain concepts and create accessible resources.
AI for Protection: Use AI to analyse smart contracts, detect fraud, and enhance due diligence.
Tech-Driven Enforcement: Lean on smart contracts, self-regulation, and ZK proofs for transparency and security.
The blockchain community has immense potential, but it’s on us—founders, innovators, and advocates—to ensure this space evolves responsibly.
Looking Ahead
The Australian Crypto Convention is not just an event; it’s a chance to shape the future narrative of blockchain in Australia. Let’s seize this opportunity to connect, inspire, and create meaningful change.
Here’s to an exciting weekend of innovation, collaboration, and celebration. Together, we can and will do better.
Let’s make this a turning point.
Here’s some Blockies photos to round things out too.
Mark
That's it for now folks, see you in a week.
More About me
I’m Mark, an experienced data, finance and technology advocate with an interest in emerging technology especially web3, data and AI. I am the Chief Experience Officer for sike.ai, an AI platform built to help bring trustworthy AI to regulated industries (with co-founders Arturo Rodriguez Mark Dwyer Ivan Chan, CPA CA Timothy Murphy). I also co-founded the venture studio NotCentralised which brought blockchain technologies to life like Layer-C (an RWA tokenisation platform).
I am also a big believer in community and co-founded and work as President of the Aus DeFi Association (web3 advocacy group and community across Australia) as well as advisor to DSAI (the Data Science and AI Association of Australia). I contribute to knowledge sharing of these emerging technologies via this newsletter as well as Chain Reaction (on Substack and LinkedIn) and my own weekly newsletter Founders Journey.
Feel free to get in touch if you'd like to learn more about any of the above.