Jet Difference Reporter | Uncommons

"Jet Difference Reporter" is Uncommons' Ethereum and other crypto conferences, global express An original column from the frontline report of the co-living city, gathering the voices of Chinese-speaking participants in an encrypted offline context. Different from industry media reports, this column will focus more on the subjective and real perspective of the participants, staying inside the event, anchored in the community, and traveling around diversity.

written by/ Twone

edited by / Uncommons

▲ On the streets of Argentina, people hold currency props with Millay's face on them< em>▲

Review by Fangting:

crypto is inherently a technology on the edge. The central position is often difficult to change under the heavy pressure of vested interests, but those turbulent The edge area can be pried with minimal resistance. What is considered a "problem" in the mainstream world may become a feature in the fringe. Being out of place happens to be the space to establish a separate center, and Argentina's hyperinflation, black market, and all kinds of noise give crypto the space to establish a separate economic system. This is like the metaphor at the beginning of the article: if you are at the antipodal point of the economic system, no matter which direction you go, you will be one step closer to a more effective economic system.

When we are all questioning "Where are the actual users of the blockchain?", the louder the voice of this question, the more it means that we live in a stable The location of the center of the order. But stable order has always been a partial illusion, often at the expense of chaos and value capture at the edge of order. Twone’s article clearly tells us where the real users of the blockchain are. This question is not based on “product users” as a calculation method, but on “sovereign citizens” as a measurement method. This is because the blockchain has never competed with everyone on the App Store for users of the attention economy, but has fundamentally changed another way of social existence by changing currency. This way of existence is not "software". Probably very hardware based. As TwOne said in the article, “In others, the use of cryptocurrencies may be more about the attraction of crypto; in Argentina, the purpose of doing so is more to survive.” The most common condemnation of cryptocurrencies is to say that cryptocurrencies The currency has no users at all. That's because legal currency is now the largest "social software", and the stronger the legal currency, the more "users" it has.

Twone provides first-person coverage of "A movement transforming Argentina into the world's first crypto nation" )'s Crecimiento and Aleph, bringing a wealth of fresh perspectives through on-the-ground observation. She has fully intervened in the local context. Her experience as an insider in the crypto industry has given her a pair of relatively panoramic eyes on local economic issues, and also allowed readers reading this article to quickly enter this wonderful "economic sandbox".

I like the last three paragraphs very much. In addition to "things to witness", it also gives everyone "reasons to witness". Here is an excerpt for you:

In Argentina, I witnessed that cryptocurrency is no longer just for technology enthusiasts, nor is it just for financial markets. A speculative tool, it has become one of the infrastructures of society and a part of ordinary people's lives. What encryption technology shows here is not only the possibility of technology, but also a new attempt at social structure and human collaboration.

Perhaps, this is the deeper meaning of the existence of Ethereum - it is not only a blockchain, but also a Experiments on future social forms. Cryptocurrency brings not only the redistribution of wealth, but also the reconstruction of the trust mechanism of human society. We question and criticize, but we also look forward to it leading us to a broader future. Argentina opened my eyes to this possibility. It is a microcosm of the crypto world, a place that is trying to change lives with technology.

Because of this, I am willing to witness all this.

These seemingly very macro and very big issues are perspectives that we usually avoid when discussing social issues; but in this case In fact, crypto occupies such a position: it is difficult to have other so-called "more practical" and "more specific" experiments on future social forms.Perspective, and for this reason, it is likely to require sovereignty to proactively achieve what Juan calls "encryption escape velocity." Before it reaches encryption escape velocity, encryption will look like a hulking rocket made up of a bunch of tech geeks and speculators; but once it reaches encryption speed, it will live high in the sky. To live in crypto is to live on the edge of speed.

A point in space that contains all other points in the universe…

– Jorge Luis Borges, Argentine Storyteller

Introduction: Journey into the Unknown

In August, after going through the difficult and tortuous process of applying for a visa, I boarded a plane from Hong Kong to Buenos Aires alone. After a long flight of more than 30 hours, we finally arrived in Argentina, a remote country in the southern hemisphere.

Argentina, the farthest country, appeared in front of me with a completely unfamiliar and unknown appearance. Before setting off, I read a lot of books about the Argentine economy to learn about their history, rich natural resources, and the new situation: Latin America, which was once glorious, is now troubled by increasingly severe hyperinflation; Millais’ shock therapy , blue rates, and worrisome security issues.

But even if we try to understand the place we are about to go to through a large amount of information and descriptions from others, everything is still unclear. At that time, I was sitting alone at the Hong Kong International Airport, without any prediction of what would happen in the next month: What should I do if I can't speak a word of Spanish? What is an Aleph and how does it relate to Crecimiento? What kind of interactions and connections will we have?

▲ This is the farthest point on the map corresponding to Shenzhen City ：

Jujuy Province in Argentina▲

Everything is likeThe deep and vague shadow reflects my uneasiness and confusion about the unknown. At this time, Fang Ting sent me a website, telling me that I could find the farthest point on earth from me here. She also sent me a screenshot with this sentence on it:

"...at that coordinate point, no matter I step in any direction, southeast, northwest, etc. Every step will be a step home. ”

At that moment, I suddenly gained a kind of inner peace, as if there was a feather caressing me. Me, tell me, don't be afraid.

It was this encouragement that brought me to the center of the storm that wanted to build the world's first crypto-special economic zone - Buenos Aires of Palermo. And here, a movement called Crecimiento is slowly beginning.

Severe inflation and black market exchange rates: Argentina's economic situation

In the video "Why is Argentina's economy such a mess?", The Economist used this sentence to describe Argentina: "A country that never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity."

The humor is tinged with irony, but also relevant and true.

Lost Argentina: People’s tight lives under hyperinflation

Once in the early 20th century, Argentina is one of the richest countries in the world, with a standard of living that far exceeds that of much of Europe. However, due to the failure of economic management and a series of hyperinflation in Argentina today, ordinary people in Argentina have to face an extremely cruel reality: their monthly income may not be enough to cover rent and daily expenses.

Before coming to Argentina, I had heard about Argentina’s severe local currency inflation and the government’s inaction. According to 2024 data, the average monthly salary in Argentina is approximately US$400 "1". However, the living cost of Argentine people is still at a high level, and the consumption level is not even inferior to that of first-tier cities (such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen). In Buenos Aires, a family's monthly food expenses are approximately US$200-300; a one-bedroom apartment in the city centerThe monthly rent is approximately US$400-600.

So even though we stayed in the safest and busiest area of ​​Buenos Aires, we could still see people on the streets late at night. People were sleeping on the ground in the streets late at night, while people were rummaging through large trash cans on the streets during the day. According to Marco, an Argentine sociology researcher, many ordinary people in Argentina cannot afford to rent a house, and maintaining a decent life is extremely difficult.

< em>▲ In Buenos Aires, people sleeping on the floor can be seen everywhere;

People digging through trash cans in search of food ▲

Corresponding to lower monthly income and higher cost of living is severe inflation in the Argentine peso (ARS). The peso (ARS) and the U.S. dollar (USD) had a 1:1 fixed exchange rate system from 1991 to 2002. However, after Argentina's economic crisis in 2002, this linked exchange rate was abolished and the peso began to depreciate significantly. Argentina's inflation rate has soared since 2018, especially after 2021, rising sharply, reaching an annual inflation rate of nearly 120% by 2023.

"When your salary is paid in pesos, immediately convert it to another currency"

Camila Russo, the author of "The Infinite Machine: How an Army of Crypto-Hackers Is Building the Next Internet with Ethereum", also mentioned her own experience in this period of inflationary history in Aleph's sharing. At that time, someone asked this question: How did you face the difficulties of currency depreciation and inflation?

She answered this:

"When I was working in the Bloomberg office, I personally I was shocked when Cristina (the former first lady of Argentina and the second female president of Argentina) announced the implementation of capital controls and banned the purchase of U.S. dollars.Office work, and then was assigned to report on this aspect. That was during her second term. I really can't understand it because I remember when I first started working, they told me that when your salary is paid in pesos, immediately convert it to another currency. So I've been doing that, using my salary to buy dollars on the black market.

I'm thinking, what should I do with the money? Now I'm even looking at budget allocation. With Bitcoin, this financial system is not tied to any central bank or government and operates according to established rules. To me, that's really amazing. I've always been fascinated by this when I saw item 13 (probably referring to item 13 of the Bitcoin white paper). This financial system is independent of anyone else, operates freely, and people can trade freely and give it value. So, I think those basic principles will always be valid. Blockchain does have practical application scenarios, although it sometimes experiences cyclical bubbles. These noises are interesting and we spread and participate in them, but they cannot obscure the real value of blockchain. “

▲ Shared by Camila Russo at Aleph▲

Chain reaction: the profound impact of high inflation on consumption and savings concepts

Over the past 20 years, countless Argentines have suffered similar consequences to Camila Russo Years of severe inflation have profoundly affected Argentinians’ judgment on money. The high-inflation environment has made savings unattractive. Since the interest on money in the bank cannot keep up with the rate of inflation, savings are considered to be “losing money.” Business". The continuous depreciation of the peso (ARS) has also increased Argentinians' strong demand for a stable currency and the consumption concept of "consumption as early as possible to avoid depreciation".

Coincidentally, high inflation also had a profound knock-on effect on the exchange rate of the Argentine peso (ARS), and gave birth to two different exchange rate systems. Before I came to Argentina, I had heard of the peso (ARS) There are so-called official exchange rates and "blue dollar" exchange rates (black market exchange rates) for all to read. All the suggestions here tell you that for foreigners, the best currency in Argentina is the US dollar (the real local hard currency); and if you need to use pesos, it is recommended to go to the black market for currency exchange because the official exchange rate is too low. And you can't exchange too many peso notes at one time because cash loses value too quickly.

▲ The peso (ARS) depreciates too fast,

People usually exchange money on the black market, with U.S. dollars being the hard currency. ▲

During the time Aleph was operating, the official exchange rate was about 1 U.S. dollar to 1,000 Argentine pesos, but The black market exchange rate (blue exchange rate) is as high as 1 US dollar: 1,300 pesos, and even higher bids can be made in some places. Argentina's monetary system and exchange rate management have changed several times over the past few decades, especially during periods of high inflation and economic crises that have seen a growing gap between the official and blue rates. Many Argentines and businesses exchange dollars for dollars on the black market to protect their wealth, while the depreciation of the peso has also intensified demand for foreign currency.

▲ Consumer prices (i.e. inflation rate) in Argentina

em>

Comparison with the world and the UK. Picture source: The Economist▲

Cumbersome entrepreneurial process and high taxes Difficulties in investing in public goods

If high inflation makes the daily life of the Argentine people miserable, then Argentina's extremely high tax burden and cumbersome entrepreneurial processes have caused Argentine start-ups to experience many obstacles and difficulties, which has led to the decline of Argentina's entrepreneurial culture. It was suppressed for a long time.

First of all, the business registration process in Argentina is extremely cumbersome and lengthy. Taking Shenzhen, where I am located, as an example, there is a lot of support for start-ups, especially high-tech enterprises, with special incubation bases, tax exemptions, and entrepreneurial subsidies. The entire application process can be completed online. If the materials are complete, it will not take more than a week from application for registration to approval.

In Argentina, if you want to start a start-up company, you need to prepare a lot of documents and materials, coupled with the complicated application process, you often need to reserve At least six months.

Argentina’s taxes have always been diverse and complex.chaos. In terms of types, there are city taxes, city taxes and regional taxes, and whenever regions run out of money, various tax bills will be introduced. This results in many companies and individuals having to pay all kinds of unreasonable taxes. In Buenos Aires, the capital, if a company pays taxes normally, it needs to pay nearly 70% of the corporate income tax; if an individual pays all taxes legally and compliantly, the income tax is as high as 109%, which has caused many people and companies to pay taxes. Choose not to pay tax or register a company overseas to avoid tax.

And this leads to another vicious cycle, that is, lack of funds due to insufficient taxation, and insufficient revenue to invest in public goods, such as transportation, Medical and other livelihood infrastructure and other fields. At the same time, due to insufficient funding and frequent strikes, the sustainability of public services has been seriously affected.

▲ Tens of thousands of Argentines protest against budget cuts in Milley's plan.

Image source: NEWS WIRES ▲

Argentina’s Crypto Awakening and Crecimiento’s Vision

Argentina seems to be trapped in an endless economic storm. The depreciation of deposits and skyrocketing prices have forced Argentines to rethink the nature of "value". The traditional currency and economic system are no longer the carrier of trust, and the belief in cryptocurrency and decentralization has taken root in this land.

Two sides of the same coin:

Extensive cryptocurrency user base and excellent crypto construction

According to statistics, 9.7% of Argentina’s population holds cryptocurrency, which is much higher than the global average of 3% (Note: Excluding centralized products and services provider’s user data). Argentina has the highest cryptocurrency adoption rate among the world’s population, with 2.5 million of the 130 million visitors to the world’s 55 largest exchanges coming from Argentina. SimilarWeb data shows that Argentina is the largest market for Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, accounting for 6.9% of its total visits. [4]

Ethereum founder Vitalik also mentioned that when he was traveling in Argentina,He was surprised to find that he “actually got recognized on the streets of Buenos Aires more often than he did in San Francisco.” Many people there knew about and accepted cryptocurrencies, and even he easily Found a coffee shop that accepts Bitcoin and Ethereum payments.

▲Vitalik is with people in Argentina▲

This may be two sides of the same coin - under the high pressure of inflation, not only a broad base of cryptocurrency users has emerged, There are also things like POAP (Proof of Attendance) Protocol); many internationally accepted ERC or EIP standards are also proposed by Argentine developers. For example, the OpenZeppelin team's ERC20 and ERC721 templates are widely used around the world.

Even due to high inflation, Argentina’s middle class, who should have no worries about food and clothing, also need to join the crypto industry to earn more money to protect their lives: many employees , university professors, teachers, and even doctoral students, they basically all have part-time jobs in crypto. This is one of the important reasons why so many outstanding crypto builders and core project contributors have emerged in Argentina.

▲ Similar to POAP

There are many crypto projects built by Argentine developers▲

Crypto-Pragmatism: An Urgent Survival Need

In other countries, using cryptocurrencies may be more about the appeal of crypto; in Argentina, the purpose of doing so is more about survival.

The users here are not here for the technology, but because they have urgent needs. They're not your typical "geeks" or tech fans, and they're not here to follow what's hot. They just need a stable financial instrument so that their assets will no longer depreciate.

This isThe fundamental difference between the Argentinian crypto market and others. In a stable economy, people may not have as strong an incentive to try cryptocurrencies. They may feel that fiat currencies are safe enough and there is no need to explore alternatives. But in Argentina, the pressure to devalue the currency has left people considering a variety of options. In the United States or Europe, many people are attracted by the "future vision" of encryption. They like the idea of ​​decentralization or want to stay away from the traditional financial system. But in Argentina, these ideas are secondary. Users focus on the actual effect: Can this thing preserve the value of my wealth? Can you make it easier for me to use U.S. dollars? Can it make me worry-free in my daily life? These are what they care about.

Crecimiento: Leading Argentina on a mission to become crypto

On Crecimiento’s Twitter account, Its introduction reads: "A movement transforming Argentina into the world's first crypto nation."

▲ Crecimiento official Twitter▲< /em>

In Argentina’s current turbulent economic environment, how can people better protect their wealth and get their lives back on track so that Argentina can Escape from existing economic woes and even have a worldwide impact on a crypto level?

This is why Crecimiento was born: the core purpose of the Crecimiento movement is to promote the establishment and development of the crypto ecosystem in Argentina within three years. If you want to build a more inclusive and stable economic system through encryption technology and decentralized finance (DeFi), you first need to establish a special economic zone with long-term economic stability, attract global investment and talents, and create lasting business environment; and at the same time, establish solutions to existing problems through blockchain native technology.

Crecimiento means "to grow" in Spanish. When this power is injected into the crypto space, it becomes a unique growth form—a technology-driven, organic force for social change.

Aleph: Pop-up city and innovation accelerator

The beginning of Crecimiento: pop-up city fire

Aleph, as an experiment of "one part Zuzalu, one part Devconnect", is what Crecimiento brings to the world Bring the fire. [5]

In this four-week pop-up city, I witnessed the collision of global encryption technology and economic models, and also experienced the bottom-up experience. An experiment in self-organization and community autonomy. In Aleph Hub, a co-working space that can accommodate 1,000 people, crypto builders, formulators and investors from all over the world gather together to explore how to use encryption technology to meet people's needs and truly explore through diverse activities and in-depth discussions. Solve the problems people face.

▲ Aleph Hub at night, open 24/7.

Photography: Twone ▲

A hotbed of blockchain startups

At the same time, communities and outstanding project developers from all over Argentina and even Latin America have also come here. One of Crecimiento’s goals is to make Argentina a hotbed for blockchain startups. As mentioned earlier, Argentina currently has various problems such as complex and burdensome taxation, lengthy start-up registration processes, and financing difficulties, but these problems can be solved through blockchain. For example, on-chain company registration can significantly shorten registration time. At the same time, establishing blockchain infrastructure can attract more international funds to flow into Argentina, providing employment and economic growth opportunities.

Aleph is also determined to provide practical help to more start-ups in this regard. Founder of Protocol Labs and one of the core contributors of Crecimiento JJuan Benet said at the opening of Aleph, “It only takes more than a hundred startups, providing more than 5,000 crypto jobs, to bring crypto value to Argentina… Argentina could become the first to reach the escape velocity of cryptocurrencies and become the global The first end-to-end encryption driver”

Driven by this concept, Aleph Screened 67 companies from seed round to A round to settle in the incubator, covering the topics that Argentina is most concerned about: decentralized finance (DeFi), stable currency, zero-knowledge technology, privacy protection, on-chain governance, and physical assets on the chain. wait. By being selected for Aleph, these companies not only receive resource support and professional guidance, but also can use this platform to directly contact investors and partners around the world, thereby accelerating the realization of their business goals.

▲ The 67 start-ups selected for Aleph< em>▲

A project that impressed me deeply is the application of educating children to establish the concept of saving. As mentioned above, Argentina’s years of hyperinflation have left many people, especially the younger generation, without a good concept of saving and consumption, making it impossible to live a good life.

I've seen even Argentinians describe themselves like this: "I'm 30 years old and I don't know what life is like without inflation. I really hope I can at least live a stable life for a few years... one day..."

▲ A message from an Argentinian:

“I’m 30 and I don’t know what life is like without inflation ”▲

And by setting simple and fun savings goals for children, children can earn extra savings by completing chores or responsibilities, helping children understand the importance of anti-inflation savings while building financial assets. I think this is a good way to cultivate money concepts and saving habits. If it can be popularized, it will even be very useful for Argentina’s current situation or future.

▲ The startups selected for Aleph are conducting project roadshows▲

Crypto experience during Aleph

Cryptocurrency exchange points can be found everywhere on the streets

In Buenos Aires, just use Google Maps to “money If you search for keywords similar to "exchange", dense red dots will appear on the map. You only need to walk to the nearest one.

In Currency Exchange Yes, most cryptocurrencies such as USDT can be used to exchange pesos (ARS), and the process is generally relatively convenient. It can also be seen from this that the popularity of cryptocurrency is relatively high in Argentina.

▲Currency exchange points like this can be seen everywhere on the streets▲

Huge potential South American market:

The popularity of UBI provides another economic source

In Aleph’s , I saw a World ID van parked in Aleph almost every day Downstairs of the Hub, people who want to verify their iris are ready at any time. At the same time, in the co-working space of the Aleph Hub, the World ID team and the iris scanning machine are also ready to welcome people to register.

▲ WLD’s vehicle is parked in front of the gate of Aleph Hub▲

In Aleph's sharing, WLD members shared WLD's current user situation and future development direction. As of August 2024, world coin has approximately 13.6 million users around the world. , of which verified users is 6.4million. Among them, South America accounts for a very large share of the global market, and there are approximately 2.3 million local users in Argentina, which is approximately 1/3 of verified users.

At the same time, considering the severe high inflation and devaluation of the peso (ARS) in Argentina, most WLD users in Argentina are real users. Worldcoin has attracted a large number of users to register and use it with its UBI (Universal Basic Income) model. Many see it as an effective means of combating economic uncertainty and inflation. Users only need to go through a simple verification process to receive WLD tokens regularly. This stable source of income provides a new economic security for many Argentinian residents.

Application of $morfi token: UBI of $75 per week for offline encrypted payment

$morfi token is an ERC-20 token running on the ZKsync Era network. During Aleph, participants can receive 75 $morfi tokens (1 morfi token =$1000 ARS) every day, and can spend them at designated merchants that Aleph cooperates with, mainly for purchasing food, coffee and other services.

< em>▲ Stores that support $morfi token will be displayed with an "M" icon on the map▲

For testing $morfi To understand the offline payment process of tokens, and to learn about the stores that support cryptocurrency payments, I randomly selected a coffee shop on the map and walked in. There was a $morfi token payment QR code next to the cash register. After choosing a cup of coffee and a croissant, the boss entered the amount and I scanned the code to pay. Everything went smoothly.

▲ Just scan the QR code with $morfi token to pay, and the whole process is convenient and smooth. ▲

The owner of the coffee shop is a Venezuelan who came to Buenos Aires to open a coffee shop. Although his English is not very good and I have basically no Spanish, we communicated using Google Translate throughout the process. .

Venezuela is also a country in South America that has been traumatized by corruption and inaction, which has led to it becoming one of the countries with the highest adoption of blockchain. Carry out information security, personal privacy protection and fund transfer construction.

I asked him why he wanted his store to support cryptocurrency and how many customers paid with cryptocurrency. I was very touched by his answer:

"I'm no expert on cryptocurrency, but I have some money invested in it (don't think I'm a millionaire, haha). Then someone from Morfi came and told me about such an event. I thought the idea of ​​this cafe was very good (this cafe is mine). I think cryptocurrencies, wallets, tokens, blockchain, these are the future, if not already leading the way. It helps me attract people to the cafe and also keeps me in sync with the whole world system. ”

▲ We use Google translate to communicate▲

Quark ID: The social identity aggregator of the future

Except In addition to the popularity of crypto payments, during Aleph, we also experienced Quark ID - a decentralized identity verification system (DID) solution. Every day when I enter the Aleph Hub, I need to use Quark ID to scan the code to generate ZK authentication and verify that I am a member of Aleph.

Perhaps everyone is already familiar with DID, but the difference is that Quark ID was incubated by the city of Buenos Aires, which indicates that perhaps in the future, Quark ID Being able to become a social identity aggregator, including ID cards, passports, student ID cards, etc. - one that runs its own infrastructure on the blockchain, which is very rare in the current realm of sovereignty.

The impetus and uncertainty of Crecimiento

Levels: Millais and the worry of incoherence

The ability of Crecimiento and Aleph to take root in Argentina is inseparable from the coming to power of Javier Milei. The current Argentine President Milei has implemented radical economic reforms. He is a strong supporter of market liberalization and sees crypto as a possible path away from the existing financial system. The positions coincide: He advocates a small, free economy and believes that encryption technology can promote economic development without direct control.

In Milai. With the support of the Argentinian Securities Regulatory Commission (CNV), it has promised not to impose strict restrictions on cryptocurrencies like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

But the real challenge lies in this. , how to continue to be crypto-friendly? The term of the Argentine president is 4 years. Frequent changes are a major factor in Argentina’s uncertainty, which is a great risk point for the support and continuity of long-term projects like the Crecimiento movement. Because in the previous history, the new It is not uncommon to come to power and completely cancel the existing situation.

Academic level: Experimental reference for different special economic zone reforms and sandbox experiments

Coincidentally, the 120th anniversary of the birth of Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of reform and opening up, happens to be the Regulation Day organized by Aleph. On this day, they invited leaders and scholars at home and abroad to come Venue to regulate the crypto industry Share and discuss.

On Regulation DAY, I had an in-depth one-on-one conversation with Professor Robert C. Haywood, a member of the Community Matters Institute. , has worked with 172 countries to create sustainable economies through the creative use of special economic zones, allowing countries to create "communities of opportunity". He came before joining the WTO and witnessed it. He has personally experienced many things during the development and reform process of special economic zones such as Shenzhen and Tianjin. He mentioned that Shenzhen chose strict physical isolation (Guan Nei and Guan Guan) in the early stages of reform.outside), separated by wire mesh to ensure the limitations of experimental results. This approach avoids the impact of reform on other parts of society and allows the special zone to develop rapidly and within a controllable range.

In contrast, Argentina’s sandbox experiment is “borderless”. Professor Robert warned that although this free approach to experimentation has brought innovation space to Argentina, its incoherence may become a potential hazard. Therefore, the success or failure of the crypto movement will depend on whether it can get big quickly within the current window of opportunity.

Educational level: Cultivate crypto talents, Ethereum and Solidity courses enter the high school education system

While at Aleph, I was excited to learn the news: With the support of the ETH Kipu Foundation, Ethereum and Solidity courses have been officially integrated into the high school education system in Buenos Aires.

The course covers everything from basic blockchain concepts to complex smart contract development, ensuring that students can keep pace with global technology trends. At the same time, this plan has also set up online Solidity courses with the goal of training 500 young people over the age of 18 to enable them to develop decentralized applications (dApps) and further promote the blockchainization of the local economy.

Romina, one of the important promoters of this education reform, mentioned her years of hard work. She cited the core philosophy of Ethereum: Ethereum is not just a blockchain, but a protocol that promotes human collaboration. This is exactly what Argentina’s education revolution is about – using blockchain technology to cultivate a generation of cryptographic talents capable of meeting future challenges.

▲ Ethereum and Solidity courses enter the high school education system ▲

Community level: Bottom-up organization and construction of overseas open source projects and grassroots communities

Argentina needs blockchain just as blockchain needs Argentina. In the current phase of blockchain focusing on practical applications, people are everywhere asking "how to better achieve mass adoption", and Argentina provides an excellent testing ground. There are real social problems here that can be solved through blockchain technology. if ableProviding reliable data and long-term support, Argentina has the potential to become a model for global blockchain applications and even promote this model to other countries.

Open source projects and grassroots communities such as Protocol Labs, the mu, social layer, and 4seas have seen this, and they have come from all over the world to integrate blockchain injected power into Argentina’s economic and social structure. This is a bottom-up movement. They hope to promote the development of crypto start-ups through active communication and cooperation, attract more overseas capital inflows, and create local employment opportunities. More importantly, this kind of ecological construction can not only bring economic prosperity, but also gradually rebuild trust with the people, laying the foundation for Argentina's future development.

▲ Crecimineto’s supporters and community▲

The organizers and builders of Crecimiento hope to try to establish a more permanent and regulatory framework that can even transcend changes. persist. Juan Benet mentioned at Aleph’s Regulation Day: “To achieve economic success, you need an environment that can support many successful technology companies, and you also need a top-level economy with longevity so that companies will not grow as they grow. Encountering frequent changes in rules or unstable conditions. This is actually what special economic zones like Dubai and Singapore achieve - by creating stable, long-term conditions to attract global talent and investment. ”

▲ Juan’s sharing on Regulation Day▲

Postscript: Witness all this Happening

Aleph, as a pop-up city in just one month, is just the beginning of the huge wave of the crypto movement in Crecimiento. So, after pop-up city ends and people disperse, will Argentina return to its original path, or has change actually occurred quietly?

When many years later, people talk about it againWhen you think of Aleph, do you think of that afternoon filled with the aroma of yerba mate and barbecue?

Flying from to the farthest land of South America on the map, everything is strange. Despite the language barrier, I felt warmth and kindness from everyone I met in Argentina. The museum aunt and the Uber driver who worked hard to communicate with me in Chinese, the photographer who flew the drone with me, the South American teammates who played hackathon together, and the ice cream shop owner who smiled and gave me an extra ball, they all together constituted I have a more three-dimensional memory of Argentina.

I am excited to see encryption and blockchain technology entering people's daily lives here. This kind of direct and practical application makes me excited. This is not only a testing ground for technology, but also a real social change taking place.

Recently, debates have arisen one after another in the Ethereum community, surrounding the bloat of Layer 2 and the contradiction between Ethereum’s idealism and reality, which has caused many people to start Question: Can Ethereum continue to lead the crypto world forward? Some people say that what Ethereum is talking about now is too nihilistic, focusing too much on technical vision and ignoring market demand. However, standing on the streets of Buenos Aires and seeing cryptocurrencies helping people fight inflation and entering classrooms to educate younger generations, I felt that power is still real and alive.

In Argentina, I witnessed that cryptocurrency is no longer just a patent for technology enthusiasts, no longer just a speculative tool in the financial market, it has become the foundation of society. One of the facilities has become a part of ordinary people’s lives. What encryption technology shows here is not only the possibility of technology, but also a new attempt at social structure and human collaboration.

Perhaps, this is the deeper meaning of the existence of Ethereum - it is not only a blockchain, but also an experiment about the future social form. Cryptocurrency brings not only the redistribution of wealth, but also the reconstruction of the trust mechanism of human society. We question and criticize, but we also look forward to it leading us to a broader future. Argentina opened my eyes to this possibility. It is a microcosm of the crypto world, a place that is trying to change lives with technology.

Because of this, I am willing to witness all this.