ALG Consulting’s Post

This is something I tell every crypto founder I work with. There is no “right time” to start. The only “right time” to launch is now. I‘ve helped founders build and launch their own projects. I’ve seen countless projects succeed. Not because of perfect timing. But because of relentless action. So if you’re waiting, Stop. Act now! Let’s get your project off the ground. Because in web3, waiting is just another word for losing. —— Building something new in web3? Let's chat! Apply to join my Web3 Founder Inner Circle Here: https://lnkd.in/etFxq3wH 

I agree that trust is the foundation for any successful project, even in the highly technical crypto space Merit Nkwocha Founders should prioritize building transparency, credibility, and a strong community as much as perfecting their code. Investors and users are more likely to commit long-term to a project they can trust, regardless of the technical prowess.

In two days, Coinbase will suspend DeSo trading until further notice. Naturally, the market overreacted, causing DeSo’s price to plummet 51% (from $6.30 to $3.20). Some might wonder: Is this the end? Four years of hard work, gone just like that? As someone familiar with suspensions (three times in high school!), I see this differently. It’s not the end; it’s just the beginning. Here are 3 reasons why I believe this setback will actually propel DeSo to new heights—and why Coinbase may eventually come back. (like that ex who left only to come back after she realized the long-term potential she overlooked.) Pro- crypto shift in the U.S Government This morning, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. Not only is he pro-crypto (he’s even promoted Bitcoin and hinted at launching his own coin). But several pro-crypto senators also won their races. This could mean a more supportive environment for crypto overall. Leading to possibly a lighter approach toward DeSo specifically. Focus to launch on Nov 11th We’re just 5 days away from the public launch of Focus. When DeSo founder Nader announced this project 11 months ago. DeSo’s price jumped from $11 to $45. Now, as Focus prepares to go live, the market will finally have a chance to evaluate the product. Whether the long-term potential is there or not, things should get interesting, and it’s definitely worth sticking around. OpenFund's role as a DEX destination OpenFund is positioning itself as a decentralized exchange (DEX) for all crypto. They are starting by increasing Automated Market Maker (AMM) liquidity for DeSo trading. They’ve boosted liquidity to $50k within a +/-2% spread, meaning more accurate price points. On Coinbase, I saw DeSo listed at $3.12 but actually bought it at $3.29 due to limited liquidity. Now, OpenFund offers a more precise price, reducing price slippage—crucial for anyone looking to invest significant amounts. So, while there are no guarantees, I’m excited to see how things unfold and plan to stick around. P.S. If you’re a long-term believer in DeSo, now might be the perfect time to position yourself before the crowd catches on. And if you need help with DeSo content, I’m opening up 2 discovery call slots for founders and executives as we approach the Focus launch. Let’s connect if you’re interested!

Some good insights for all interested in launching a token. Something we definitely will consider when we enter Phase II of our project https://lnkd.in/dMWcx7v9. https://lnkd.in/d2MPUtcv

Well I've started a lil blog to share my thoughts on technology, startups, life, music recommendations - really anything that is on my mind. I haven't written an essay since college - so bear with me as I find my voice. First up are some thoughts on the ever present "power law" - where 1% takes 99% of the value, and how web3 poses a potential solution. I know crypto / web3 is extremely out of fashion right now, so the algorithm will likely hate this post - but whatever. I am still a believer in the web3 ethos of giving creators and artists more fair ways to capture value from their work on the internet. You can read more here: https://lnkd.in/ehZtrPB4

After 4 years in crypto, I’ve decided to step away from the space and move on. It’s admittedly a tough choice but I wanted to reflect/share. For some context, I got into crypto in 2020, inspired by a new financial system. I helped build/launch Celo’s cross-chain bridge, which brought $100M+ of liquidity to the ecosystem. In 2021, I left Stanford and my team and I spun out as a new company, Nomad. We raised $22M, scaled the product to $220M+ in deposits and ~$1B in volume, and grew from 5 to 25 people. Being the lead for backend engineering (off-chain), it was an exhilarating ride. I wrote a lot of Rust, worked with/hired new teammates, and learned how to build systems that deal with varying reliability guarantees. Tragically however, just before our next funding round closed, a vulnerability in the on-chain code was exploited, causing major losses. The company was acquired and I stepped away shortly after. Subsequently, I started building Nocturne, a protocol for private Ethereum accounts. The aim was to bring the financial privacy known to tradfi into crypto. My cofounder and I raised $6M+ from Polychain, Bain Capital, and Vitalik, the cofounder of Ethereum. We built/audited the protocol/cryptography/backend services from scratch, launching in mid/late 2023. Despite a strong product/community, however, the regulatory situation for our category had turned south since the time we started. Between personal risk and threatening legislation, we shut down the company. Some Lessons • Product problems are fundamentally different from structural ones (you can fix bugs and beat competitors but you can’t easily change things like regulatory outcomes—know what levers you can actually pull) • Strong owners make a huge difference (the folks who build the original product often own their verticals, hire new folks, and drive new work well into the future) • Avoid reactivity (reactivity causes people to rush into situations without communicating or prematurely react to things that aren’t final like deals or product reception—minimize the emotional swings and be cautiously optimistic) Though exciting, it's been a rough past few years. You realize that life isn’t linear and the range of challenges you can face are wide and unpredictable. No advice, class, or even most jobs can prepare you for these challenges. That said, I’m grateful for the journey. I met a lot of people, built/launched several new systems, and learned how to better lead. I’ll have more shots in the future and look forward to it. Recently, I’ve had time to hack on various projects for fun, like reimplementing GPT-2 from scratch and building a desktop client for ChatGPT. I’m moving back to the Bay and would love to chat with more folks doing interesting work. I’m also looking to join a more mid-stage company with strong leadership sometime this coming/next year. For folks in the Bay, happy to chat!

I get it. Patience is tough. Especially in crypto. I’ve been there. Watching the market. Refreshing. Waiting. But crypto success doesn’t come from rage-quitting. I’ve helped founders launch projects that seemed like long shots. They didn’t crack under pressure. They waited. They learned. They adapted. And guess what? The ball dropped for them too. Want to quit? Think again. Let’s turn that impatience into progress. —— Building something new in web3? Let's chat! Apply to join my Web3 Founder Inner Circle Here: https://lnkd.in/etFxq3wH 

❗️❗️❗️ Everyone waits for bull runs to get rich.. But Coinbase's founder made $13B doing the opposite. He built an $86B empire during Bitcoin's worst crashes. Here's his blueprint for building generational wealth during bear markets... 2010: Brian's working at Airbnb as a software engineer. One night, he stumbles upon the Bitcoin whitepaper.Most dismissed crypto as a scam. But Brian saw something different.A way to democratise finance globally. So he started coding. Every night. For years.While others partied on weekends, Brian was obsessed: • Building prototypes • Learning about crypto • Coding payment systems He'd spend 40hrs/week at Airbnb, then come home and code for another 40. But here's what people miss about those early days. Brian wasn't just "passionate" about crypto.He was methodically preparing for a bear market: "The best companies are built when nobody's watching. When there's no hype. That's when you can focus on building something real." His system was simple but powerful Step 1: Build When Others Quit During the 2011 crash, Bitcoin fell 93%. Most crypto companies shut down. But Brian? He applied to Y Combinator with a simple pitch. "I want to make Bitcoin easy to use." They gave him $150K. Coinbase was born. Step 2: Focus on Infrastructure While others chased quick profits, Brian built: • A secure wallet system • Bank integration • Compliance frameworks "Infrastructure isn't sexy. But it's what survives bear markets." His obsession with security would soon pay off. 2014, Mt. Gox (the biggest exchange) gets hacked. $460M in Bitcoin vanishes overnight. The market crashes again.But Coinbase? They'd spent years building bank-grade security.Customers flocked to them. Trust is earned in bear markets. Step 3: Hire Counter-Cyclically When prices crashed, other companies laid off talent.Brian did the opposite. He hired top engineers who'd been let go. Bear markets are the best time to attract talent. Everyone else is too scared to hire Step 4: Build Multiple Revenue Streams Brian didn't just rely on trading fees. He built: • Staking products • Custody services • Institutional tools When trading volume dried up, these kept cash flowing. 2020: The strategy pays off. While other exchanges struggled with the COVID crash, Coinbase was ready: • Strong security • Multiple revenue streams • Top talent • Battle-tested infrastructure The result? 2021: Coinbase goes public. Valued at $86B. Brian's stake? Worth $13B. But he's still coding. Still building. Still preparing for the next bear market. Because at the end of the day Bull markets are when you get paid. Bear markets are when you get rich." Brian's story teaches us: "Success isn't about timing the market". It's about building something real when nobody's watching.

Exploring Coinbase alternatives is important as it will help you align with a platform of your choice that meets your individual trading needs and strategies. It's not just about finding a platform that offers a wide range of services, but about finding one that complements your trading style, supports your financial goals, and provides a user experience that you find intuitive and efficient.

Swell L2 is migrating to Optimism! 🔴 The move will see Swell L2 join the Superchain as an Optimistic Rollup built on the OP stack. An Ethereum-aligned scaling solution, the OP Stack powers all blockchains in the Superchain with the same modular open source and MIT-licensed codebase, focused on parallel development, openness, and transparency. The biggest names in DeFi — including Coinbase, Uniswap Labs, Kraken are all sharing infrastructure in the Optimism Foundation Superchain. This collective of rollups adhere to shared standards and principles, and benefit from interoperability, shared updates and security, and access to grants and programs across the ecosystem. As the restaking yield layer, Swell will bring restaking yield and security to the Superchain. This will be achieved through Swell L2's unique Proof of Restake mechanism, which will maximize the capital efficiency of staked assets and set a unique flywheel in motion to drive growth, liquidity, and security. https://lnkd.in/dqW8ydmc