In Xtalks Episode 32 on 25 March 2024, Kody, Chief Experience Officer at Layer One X, hosted a spirited AMA dissecting the flaws holding Web3 back. Joined by co-hosts Sam and Inna, and a powerhouse panel—Michael (Curvance), Jen (recording artist), Tropic (Nineverse), Rob (Yuan Token), Kanano (ghostwriter), Jonathan (OBS World), Robert (B-True), Mel (ex-Shiba Inu), and PTY (Arena Games)—the group tackled scams, complexity, and community flaws. Here’s the rundown.
The Panel: Web3’s Movers and Shakers
Kody introduced a stacked lineup: Michael’s building a multi-chain lending protocol at Curvance, Jen’s dropping music NFTs, Tropic’s managing Nineverse’s gaming tokens, Rob’s aggregating cross-chain with Yuan Token, Kanano’s ghostwriting for founders, Jonathan’s crafting a car enthusiast metaverse at OBS World, Robert’s strategizing at top exchange B-True, Mel’s pivoting from Shiba Inu to utility, and PTY’s bridging Web2 games to Web3 with Arena Games. A latecomer, Fluis, joined with a hybrid exchange for Arab markets.
Q1: Are We the Problem?
Kody kicked off: Are Web3’s flaws—greed, bias—mirrored in its systems? Mel blamed inflated success metrics ($100M meme coins vs. real-world $1M businesses), fueling shady tactics like bot-driven exchange listings. Michael pointed to misaligned VC incentives stifling innovation, though meme coins ironically fund creativity. Tropic defended meme coins’ loyal communities, like Shiba Inu, as misunderstood assets bringing newbies in.
The Elephant: Scams and Hype
Fluis nailed it: tech’s fine, people misbehave. Blockchain’s transparency exposes bad actors fast, but users chase gains over vision—turning Web3 into a casino. Rob (Yuan Token) agreed, citing corrupt launches (40% team allocations, buyback scams) and media payola. Kody stressed purging rinse-and-repeat cycles by raising standards, a Layer One X goal.
Q2: Purge What? Replace With What?
Kody asked: What’s one thing to axe from Web3, and how to improve it? Robert (B-True) targeted complexity—Web3 needs a seamless Google-esque front end. He also called out exchanges for lax listing standards, urging due diligence over cash grabs. Tropic flagged the “crabs in a barrel” mentality—tearing down instead of building up—proposing collaboration over insecurity. Jonathan pushed “skill-to-earn” models, rewarding effort over speculation, like OBS World’s racing metaverse.
Layer One X’s Angle
Kody highlighted Layer One X’s mission: a custom VM for bridgeless cross-chain swaps (EVM and non-EVM), moving assets, data, and logic. It’s innovation meets usability, aiming to curb greed-driven exploits while keeping decentralization intact.
Community Q&A: Scams and Bridges
Sam fielded questions. Jen tackled Web3 music playback—Sonus Stream and Audius lead, but kinks remain. Kanano and Fluis addressed purging scams: self-custody demands education most lack, and tech like account abstraction (ERC-4337) can ease user burden without spoon-feeding. On bridges, Kody and Michael saw them fading—Layer One X’s bridgeless tech and multi-chain apps (e.g., Wormhole, DeBridge) reduce transfer anxiety.
Final Q: One Actionable Step
Kody closed: What can listeners do this week for positive change? Kanano urged patience—20% gains beat chasing 100x. Jen pushed education via communities like ShibaFi. Tropic suggested a buddy system for shared learning. Jonathan emphasized good vibes—kindness reaps rewards. All plugged their Twitter handles and NFT NYC meetups.
Wrap-Up: Clean House, Build Together
From scam purges to UX fixes, Xtalk Episode 32 didn’t shy away from Web3’s mess. Kody’s crew stayed post-show for community Q&A, proving engagement matters. Next up: April 25, 2025, 8:00 PM AWST, on cross-chain memes. Follow the panelists—they’re worth it.
