Stephen Laddin

2 months ago | stephenladdin.substack.com | Stephen Laddin

Long before the Kendrick Lamar song he’s featured on captivated a nationally televised audience of 127.7 million viewers for Super Bowl LIX 10 days ago, Franklin Holladay—known professionally as Lefty Gunplay—was cultivating aspirations to be one of hip-hop’s greats.

2 months ago | decential.io | Stephen Laddin

When constructing social networks, a principle known as Dunbar’s number states that humans within a group reach a limit of 150 people at which they can comfortably maintain stable relationships. Exceed that number, and the potential for meaningful relationships decreases. In a web3 context, that means decentralized but collective organizations, known as DAOs, have a hard cap on the number of people who can effectively support an online network spread across the world.

2 months ago | decential.io | Stephen Laddin

Most gamers want companionship as they blast zombies or explore the outer realms of distant galaxies. When that friendship can’t come in human form, E-Pal is there to offer an artificial intelligence buddy. One of the leading so-called game-companion companies, E-Pal boasts 4.2 million users and is backed by venture capital firm a16z and Animoca Brands. The reality is that humans can only do so much, according to Lucas Zhang, a lifelong gamer and co-founder of E-Pal.

2 months ago | decential.io | Stephen Laddin

While many within the financial community still view cryptocurrency as something to be detested, more and more people are changing their tune about its benefits once they fully understand it. For Sid Powell, co-founder and chief executive officer of Maple Finance, a career as a traditional banker saw him regard cryptocurrency with skepticism until he became a client of the bank.

2 months ago | redbull.com | Stephen Laddin

Laila Edwards wants to leave a legacy in hockey. The junior forward at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the first black woman to play on the US Women’s National Team and aims to grow the sport of hockey, specifically by inspiring marginalized communities to participate in the sport and to help close the socio-economic gap that prevents many from ever reaching the ice. While Edwards herself is a trailblazer, she may not have had the representation in the sport growing up that she’s become.