Jeremy Gardner: I have Dedicated my Life to Cryptocurrencies and BlockChain Technology
We have reached out to the candidates for the upcoming Bitcoin Foundation Elections and asked each candidate a set of questions. In the interest of fairness, all candidates were asked the same questions at the same time, and all responses (that did respond) have been received before the publication of this article.
Jeremy Gardner
Director for the College Cryptocurrency Network (not related to CryptoCoinNews) and Director of Operations at Augur , he see’s the potential to represent the future of blockchain technology, both for the youth and for the 2.0 space.
Tell us a little about your involvement in the Cryptocurrency (or related) sector?
“Involvement in the Cryptocurrency sector” may be somewhat of an understatement, as I have seemingly dedicated my life to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology over the course of the past year. I am the co-founder and executive director of the College Cryptocurrency Network (CCN.com), Director of Operations/Business Development at Augur, and serve as an official advisor to Bitcoin Shop. Two more industry-related advisory and board positions will be announced in the coming weeks.
What is your primary reason for running for a Director seat?
Admittedly, I never planned to run for this position due to the often well-deserved, negative publicity the Foundation has received in recent history. However, having seen a fresh cohort take charge of the nonprofit, my faith in the organization has been augmented.
Since being nominated, in considering running, I pondered how to be most impactful, both in my candidacy and potential election. What became clear to me, almost immediately, was that I have to serve as a representative of the future of the blockchain.
Thus, if elected to the Board, I fully intend to serve the youth of this technology, whom I call “Generation Blockchain”, and to serve those in the “Bitcoin 2.0” space, who are building the technologies with the potential to radically shape the world. While, of course, ensuring the sustained development of the current technology being employed.
How do you plan to achieve this goal?
I will never vote for an initiative that sacrifices long-term objectives and growth of this technology for short-term gains and comprises. I will continue to work with the Foundation to provide developer conferences for those seeking to enter the space, particularly students, as I have so far through my leadership position with CCN.com. Every initiative I back will foster this cultivation of Bitcoin technology in a lasting manner.
Once achieved what would be your secondary aim(s) as a Director?
I will seek to bring a greater sense of democracy to the Foundation. I want to hear the grievances of those who want to see the Foundation destroyed, abolished, you name it, and attempt to understand the root of their convictions. Disclaimer: I am not for, or against, the disbandment of the Foundation, but I have yet to hear a compelling argument for doing so. I do know, however, that I want this technology to change the world, and that will be the driving motivator in all of my actions.
What are your thoughts on the free market?
I am Director of Operations and Spokesperson for Augur, a decentralized prediction market platform. We make every market free. Need I say more?
Should there be interaction from the Foundation with regulatory bodies?
Do I believe the Foundation should trot around Capitol Hill with large placards stating: “Please regulate us!”? Absolutely not.
Should the Bitcoin Foundation engage regulators after they have first spoken to Jerry Brito’s Coin Center or Perianne Boring’s Digital Chamber of Commerce and still have questions? Absolutely.
What is your reasoning for the above answer?
While the Foundation’s role as an advocacy organization has become diminished over the course of the past year, that is simply the result of a growing technological ecosystem in which the aforementioned newly-formed trade and lobbying groups have decided to focus on such efforts. This is ideal for the Bitcoin Foundation, as it allows this organization to focus its resources on making Bitcoin work. Ultimately, regulatory engagement is secondary to such an essential task. But if the regulators come calling, it is still the Foundation’s duty to pick up the phone.
What do you think about alternative coins?
I believe alt-coins, such as Dogecoin, serve an incredibly important service in bringing new individuals into this ecosystem. When I speak to young students in my network, rarely was the first cryptocurrency they received bitcoin. More often, it was Litecoin or Dogecoin that got them hooked on this technology.
And as I’ve stated previously, promoting “Bitcoin 2.0” technologies, and innovations such as sidechains will be core to my advocacy role as a board member.
What do think about the international efforts of the Foundation?
I was disappointed to learn how difficult it was for folks in other countries to begin branches of the Foundation in their homeland. While, in the past ten months, the BTCF has added no more than half a dozen foreign subsidiaries, my nonprofit has added chapters on every habitable continent, with a presence in over 40 nations.
The Foundation needs to get rid of the legalese and piles of documents required to form a foreign branch and make it a welcoming, intuitive process.
Bitcoin won’t succeed if adoption is limited to the developed world. We need to reach those who stand most to benefit from this technology.
Is there anything else relevant you would like to mention?
The younger generations that will harness this revolutionary technology and bring it to the masses do not just deserve, but require, a voice of their own at the decision-making table. We have enough oligarchy in modern politics. How about a change for once?
