Amanda Smith

Nov 20, 2024 | decential.io | Stephen Laddin |Amanda Smith

If you work in the blockchain space, many people will assume you possess a background in technology, programming or web development, even as a growing number of people with traditional financial and media backgrounds continue to enter the industry. Lee Bratcher, president and co-founder of the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and founder of the North American Blockchain Summit, took a different path to jump-start his career in web3.

Nov 7, 2024 | decential.io | Amanda Smith

The 2024 election has underscored cryptocurrency’s growing influence in American politics. It was a race about the economy, immigration, abortion issues, and gender rights. And while crypto didn’t enter the policy discussion, the hundreds of millions of dollars raised by pro-crypto advocacy groups had a profound influence of some races. Politics aside, electing a crypto advocate to the presidency is a historic event, particularly in contrast to the past four years of the Biden administration.

Oct 25, 2024 | decential.io | Amanda Smith

Pennsylvania became the latest state to pass crypto legislation this week when it approved a bill that supports the right to self-custody digital assets, enables Bitcoin payments and establishes clear rules for taxing transactions.  Known as the Bitcoin Rights bill, it was enacted with bipartisan support, receiving 176 votes for and 26 against. Pennsylvania is a key swing state in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, with 1.4 million crypto holders.

Oct 18, 2024 | decential.io | Amanda Smith

Hurricane Helene has been compared to the North Carolina historic flood of 1916, when back-to-back hurricanes dropped more than two feet of rain on the region. Helene decimated an area that wasn’t built to withstand hurricanes because they didn’t happen so far inland. Two weeks later, Hurricane Milton tore across Florida, further devastating the region.  Even with the scale of destruction, the news cycle moves on, especially just a month out from the November election.

Oct 4, 2024 | decential.io | Amanda Smith

Social media has long been skewed in the favor of platform owners. Creators are controlled by algorithms and ad monetization, and consumers pay with their personal data. OnlyFans is owned by a single shareholder, billionaires are buying platforms, and creators are incentivized to sensationalize in order to earn. Simultaneously, creators are waking up to the misaligned incentives and finding more direct ways to make money and create connections.