The Blockchain Socialist How to Build Community in Crypto with Beth McCarthy
Feb 25, 2025
Beth McCarthy, program director of Funding the Commons and co-author of the Katabasis crypto sci-fi series, shares her insights on building community in the crypto space. She discusses the significance of in-person events like DevCon 2024 and how they foster deeper connections. McCarthy emphasizes the role of experience design in creating engaging community experiences and the importance of shared narratives. They explore the power of memes in enhancing interpersonal dynamics, highlighting the contrasts between online and offline interactions.
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How Beth Got Into Crypto
- Beth McCarthy entered crypto around late 2017 after working at a PR firm and co-founding a hacker space.
- She quickly fell into interdisciplinary work across open source, game theory, DAOs, and governance.
Cycles Repeat Despite Technical Progress
- Beth notes crypto cycles often return to familiar problems like funding and staffing despite technical progress.
- She values the cultural diversity and interdisciplinary passion that keep people engaged.
Design Events For Meaningful Connection
- Treat events as intentional design spaces for connection and research, not just stages for speakers.
- Curate narratives across sessions to embed tacit knowledge and measure long-term impact.