What does it take to make crypto click for everyone?
In this edition of "Coffee with Calyptus," we’re chatting with Uttam Singh, a DevRel at Flare Networks, who’s bringing the complexities of Web3 down to earth. Uttam opens up about his journey from engineering to crypto evangelism, his knack for demystifying blockchain, and the groundbreaking tech shaping a more accessible Web3. If you’re curious about the future of crypto—simplified and accessible—this is the interview for you!
What inspired you to join the Web3 space, and how has your background influenced your approach to community building and product evangelism?
I’ve always been fascinated by the potential of crypto—both as a hedge against inflation and as a means to decentralize power structures. My engineering background initially drew me towards the technical side of the blockchain space, leading me down the rabbit hole of Web3, DeFi, DAOs, and decentralized applications. Since then, I’ve been captivated and never looked back. I’m passionate about learning, researching, and teaching about new Web3 protocols and developments.
My research and development background has provided me with unique insights that enhance my community building and product evangelism—it gives me more sense of what really people want, what is lacking, where the space is headed. Obviously, nobody knows what the crypto future is going to be; we don’t even know who started all this, lol—who actually is Satoshi?
But hey, that’s the fun & unpredictable part of this industry. My approach has always been to emphasize technical knowledge in product evangelism, which not only aids in deeper customer understanding but also bridges the gap between developers and general users.
How do you approach communicating Web3 and DeFi concepts to non-technical audiences, and how can the industry make crypto more accessible?
People often perceive Web3 and crypto as scams, largely due to the actions of a few bad actors—a common occurrence in any emerging industry. I’ve found that breaking down complex concepts into simple, relatable terms and using a bit of humour can go a long way in explaining these ideas to non-technical audiences.
As the technology evolves, innovations like Account Abstractions and Chain Abstractions are making the user experience more intuitive, enabling people to use crypto without even realizing it. The end goal is to build applications that seamlessly integrate crypto functionalities into everyday use cases. Apps like Polymarket/Echo are such a great example of that.
What emerging Web3 trends or technologies are you most excited about, and how do you see them shaping decentralized applications?
There’s so much innovation happening in Web3 right now. One of the hottest topics is Restaking, which is giving rise to new Active Validation Services (AVS) use cases. The intersection of AI, crypto, and data is another area I’m particularly excited about. Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs are also being explored not only as a solution for scaling but also for privacy, alongside technologies like Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE).
We’re also seeing more research around Intents, minimizing MEV, and cross-chain communications/oracles, all of which could redefine how decentralized applications interact and scale. The industry’s trajectory is promising, and I’m bullish about what the future holds.
