Can Decentralized Exchanges and Knowledge Management Transform the Crypto Space? - A Conversation with Jae Yang

Introduction

Jae Yang, the founder of Tacen, a decentralized exchange, discusses his first hire as an archivist for the company and how this unique approach to knowledge management has helped them navigate the complex world of crypto startups. Tacen's commitment to thorough documentation and keeping a permanent record of every decision made is a testament to their belief in transparency and accessibility.

Topics Covered

Knowledge Management and the Role of an Archivist

• Jae shares how his experience at various startups led him to the role of an archivist, a guardian of a company's history and knowledge, differentiating it from a librarian who curates and organizes knowledge.
• The importance of meeting notes and how AI is utilized in their decision support process.
• The evolution of their team, starting as the 3rd person on board, to now 26 members.
• The process of making knowledge visible across the company and its challenges.
• Explains their unique classification system for information security that ranges from '00' for public data to '04' for secret data.

Tools Used for Knowledge Management

• The use of internal wikis and Urbit, a suite of software tools that provides good infrastructure level support.
• Transition from Notion to WikiJS for self-hosting, and the reason behind the move.
• The capabilities of Urbit in knowledge management, including indexing textual content and its limitations like the absence of a textual management system like Obsidian.

Urbit vs Obsidian

• The comparison between Urbit and Obsidian, which has features like bi-directional tagging and infinite discoverability.

Events

• Discussion of "Reassembly 2023," a conference hosted by Tacen in Cheyenne, Wyoming from August 16-18th.

Company Location and Cryptocurrency Law

• Explanation of why Tacen was established in Wyoming, citing factors such as crypto-friendly laws like the Wyoming DAO Law, zero corporate tax, and good internet infrastructure.
• Comparisons to South Dakota's innovative banking regulations and credit card processing.

Brazil and Cryptocurrency

• The situation of cryptocurrency in Brazil, including its integration in daily life with apps and its role in circumventing high inflation and tax burdens.
• Brief mention of cryptocurrency's role in Argentina (note: segment about stablecoins was cut out).

World View and Social Change

• Jae's thoughts on the rapidly changing world, the social changes since the 1970s, and the impact of technology.
• Discussion on the falling birth rates, changing attitudes to personal rights, and the further atomization of society.
• His view of the internet as a powerful tool that can lead to both individual empowerment and the spread of harmful agendas.

Banks and Access to Finance

• Concern over banks preventing people from accessing their accounts for ideological reasons.

Cheyenne and Tech Startups

• The vibrant tech startup scene in Cheyenne and its nearby University town, Laramie.

About Tacen

• Tacen's early struggles with information overload and automatic deletion of data on Notion, leading to a change in their documentation strategy.