When Shift Happens Podcast

E123: Sophon CoFounder: We Built Crypto for the Wrong People (Crypto Natives)

May 29, 2025
Sebastien, co-founder of Sophon, shares insights on creating a user-friendly crypto platform after a record $60 million community sale. He critiques the focus on speculative trading, advocating for broader consumer inclusivity. The discussion highlights innovative tools like the Kast card for easy stablecoin transactions. They also tackle self-custody importance, ADHD's impact on creativity, and strategies for engaging non-crypto users. Lastly, the conversation touches on successful fundraising techniques and navigating the stresses of entrepreneurship in the fast-evolving crypto world.
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ANECDOTE

Sebastien's First Bitcoin Encounter

  • Sebastien first encountered Bitcoin in 2012 through friends wanting to order weed online and pay with Bitcoin.
  • He considered mining Bitcoin but opted to buy a small amount and buy the weed instead, then lost interest at that time.
INSIGHT

Crypto's Presentation Problem

  • Crypto has primarily been built for very crypto native users, limiting broader adoption.
  • The problem lies in how crypto is presented rather than people's acceptance of technology.
ADVICE

Reward Familiar Behaviors to Onboard

  • Give people rewards for continuing their existing behaviors to encourage crypto adoption.
  • Use familiar social interactions to distribute rewards instead of traditional influencer payments.
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