Technology
Nichanan Kesonpat
Crypto and The Open Metaverse

In this article I explore…what the Metaverse is, the differences between a closed vs. open metaverse, key principles for an open metaverse, and where crypto (DAOs, NFT, DeFi) fits in

Crypto and The Open Metaverse
Technology, Life
Nichanan Kesonpat
Things I wish I knew before I got into crypto ...

In this article to start off the year, I cover how this crypto bull run is different from the ICO boom in 2017, what I would tell myself if I was entering the market for the first time, and predictions for 2021 (with emphasis on Ethereum, NFTs, and DeFi).

Things I wish I knew before I got into crypto & Predictions for 2021
Life
Nichanan Kesonpat
2020 Year in Review

I wrote the bulk of this retrospective and then fell into the limbo that are the days between Christmas and New Years Eve before I could hit publish. It usually doesn’t take long for these reviews to reach the 10000+ word range because involves turning the microscope on all the major aspects of my life: noting the highlights, lowlights, and lessons learned. This year was no different. On the other hand, the year was pivotal in such a holistic way that I can anticipate looking back on my life years from now and referring to things as being pre- and post- 2020.

2020 Year in Review
Life, Technology
Nichanan Kesonpat
Creators, Communities, and the Gray Space in ...

In 1999, David Bowie saw the internet as an “alien life form”. He saw that humanity was on the cusp of something both exhilarating and terrifying: it was a breakdown of the barriers between creators and their communities. Instead of a piece of art or information being broadcasted one-way to an audience, it was becoming more of a dialogue, where the thing that originates from a creator isn't finished until the audience comes in and add their own interpretation. From there the piece evolves, gets sampled and remixed in ways that the creator couldn't have possibly imagined. Bowie called this area where creators and their communities meet "the gray space in the middle": a powerful new area of engagement where the most interesting things happen, and he predicted that this space is what the 21st century was going to be all about…

Creators, Communities, and the Gray Space in the Middle
Technology, Life
Nichanan Kesonpat
A Quick Guide to Online Privacy

The recent Twitter hack is the latest reminder that even top companies with the best security teams are not immune against bad actors and data breaches, so why let them handle our sensitive data when we don’t need to? In this article I introduce concept of operational security and how you might begin to identify the information that is out there about you, analyze the risk of this exposure, and deny adversaries from exploiting this data.

A Quick Guide to Online Privacy

Smart Contracts & Ethereum 101

Smart Contracts & Ethereum 101

If you've scoured around for some information on blockchain technology, you are likely to have come across the name Ethereum. Like the experience of reading about Bitcoin for the first time, the abundance of technical terms and novel concepts may have left you more confused than when you first started reading. With this post, I aim to give a gentle introduction to the fundamental ideas behind Ethereum, explain what "smart contracts" are, and what we could potentially achieve with the technology...

Bitcoin explained using emojis

Bitcoin explained using emojis

I first came across the term Bitcoin a few years ago as it gained wider traction across online forums and social media. Initially, I dismissed it as a form of digital money that ran on the same technology on which our traditional online banking systems rely.

I eventually gave in to an ever-increasing sense of FOMO as Bitcoin became enthusiastically discussed amongst friends and colleagues, as well as on my favourite podcasts. I decided to do my own research on the topic, making an effort to understand its fundamentals and why it has a potential to affect billions of lives. As a result...

A(n involuntary) new chapter.

A(n involuntary) new chapter.

Last Spring, I crossed the threshold into adulthood and graduated with an exciting job offer in hand. Like many Bay Area graduates, I was about to enter the weird and wonderful world of tech startups. I joined the talent acquisition team at Instacart and was immediately immersed in the fast-paced and innovative environment that is unique to this scene.

In the months that followed, I...