Jax Tech: Web3 edition, featuring Crypto, NFTs, DAOs – Let’s go deep into DeFi

We are kicking off the 2022 events with a deep dive into the world of web3 including cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and DAOs, and hearing from experts in this space doing real-world business on top of these technologies here in Jax.

I’m sure you have heard about these things, and you may even be jumping into one of these new arenas yourself. Come learn about what all these things are, and also take a deep dive into how they are being used right now in the real world.

As always, we are starting things off with a networking happy hour, live music, and wrapping it up with a rooftop DJ party overlooking downtown Jacksonville.

Agenda:

• 5 – 6:30: Networking & Happy Hour
• 6:30 – 8pm: Speakers in Planetarium
• 6:30-7:10: Part 1 – Bitcoin, DAOs, and Crypto Trading Insights
• 7:10-7:20: Break
• 7:20 – 8:00: Part 2 – All about NFTs
• 8-10pm: Rooftop DJ, Drinks, and Dinner

Part 1: Bitcoin, DAOs, and Cryptocurrency Trading

Jeff Harris
Blockchain Entrepreneur, Xero Labs

As a bartender turned crypto expert turned entrepreneur, Jeff will be sharing learnings and insights from multiple ventures in the web3 arena. What is a DAO, how do you form one, how do you craft a smart contract, and what are some of the gotchas to look out for? Jeff can share the ins and outs of starting this strange new type of entity. Then, have you ever wanted a peek under the hood at Bitcoin mining, how it works, what technology is involved, and what it takes to build a large scale *underwater* bitcoin mining facility? You will hear about the tech behind the miner machines, power consumption, tracking and analytics, and what it looks like to launch a full scale mining operation.

Ben Wasson
Innovation Evangelist, SS&C Advent

As an innovation evangelist at large financial technology firm here in Jacksonville, Ben will share insights about cryptocurrency trading and what the future might hold. Learn the differences between a traditional trade and the life of a crypto trade. What technology barriers must be crossed to allow institutional investors to fully enter the crypto market? What are the implications and potential to the crypto markets when institutional whales truly enter the game?

Part 2: NFTs

Alla Koretsky
Founder/CEO, Layer Technologies

You may have heard of OpenSea, but there is more to NFTs than the one major marketplace. Hear from Alla, who founded Layer Technologies as a middleware technology for minting NFTs at scale. What does it mean to have your NFTs settle on Bitcoin instead of Ethereum, and to have lower (or zero) gas fees, or to be one of the Stacks.co first accelerator cohorts? What would it take to mint your own NFTs or build your own marketplace? Wanna know how to launch a community in the Metaverse? Come find out and learn what all this means.

Matthew Smith
SVP, Fanatics Inc.

Fanatics is a well known Jacksonville success story, and recently acquired Topps, the preeminent trading cards company. What does one of the largest licensing and collectibles providers in the world do with NFTs and this emerging web3 basket of technologies? Matt will share some of the NFT and blockchain technology platforms they have tested, along with how the NFT and blockchain strategy is being applied to trading cards, sports licenses, and collectibles. What is the business model for smart contracts, chain-of-custody blockchain implementation for collectibles, and NFTs for this licensing-focused business and how can that possibly apply to yours? Well, Matt will share all of this with us so we’ll find out soon.

After the sessions join us for a DJ party and hanging out with great people on the MOSH rooftop. Bartenders from the Volstead (www.thevolsteadjax.com) will be joining us as usual to keep the afterparty lively.

As always, a HUGE thank you to our sponsors that make these events possible:

• SourceFuse (www.sourcefuse.com) - Building digital ideas, processes, and products
• Jax Homes (http://www.jax-homes.com/) - Finding and selling homes in Jacksonville, and spinning DJ tunes on the MOSH rooftop

Looking forward to seeing you there, and feel free to share with anyone that might be interested in this event and topic.