First published: 30th Apr 2023
Hi everyone,
Join us for another edition of Coffee With Calyptus, where we bring you captivating perspectives on the ever-changing terrain of web3 development and top web3 jobs.
This week, we had a conversation with Kevin Wolkober, a versatile professional in product and engineering who previously served as the NFT Product & Engineering Lead at Squarespace. He offers valuable insights on the transition from web2 to web3, the upcoming potential of NFTs, and both the overrated and underrated aspects of web3 development.
Is there anything to unlearn while moving from web2 to web3 development?
To land a top web3 job, I wouldn’t unlearn anything, rather I’d see learning web3 as something to blend into your current experiences. When I get excited about new tech, instead of thinking about using it anywhere I can, I try to think ‘how will web3 enable X to happen in a better or new way that can’t be done with web2’. Use case first experiences are always better to onboard new people!
What role do you see NFTs playing in the future/what are the most promising use cases?
Easier cross-brand partnerships and collaborations I think are going to be huge. Starbucks and others are already exploring NFT loyalty programs, but we’re yet to see a brand create a more widely accessible ‘a-ha’ moment that brings new users who currently have no interest/exposure to web3. I think one way this will happen is via web3 social media – Lens Protocol is doing incredible stuff here. Imagine a collaboration between two musicians on a new drop. Without knowing a single NFT is behind it, I’d love to see a friend collect their music post, enjoy the music, unlock early ticket pre-sales to both artists, get discounted merchandise, and more – all while unlocking easier collaboration and revenue share between creators.
What is the most over-hyped and the most under-hyped thing about web3 development?
Overhyped – the performance of crypto markets over-dictating whether or not to invest in building in web3. Despite market conditions, interest and learning continues to grow with builders, and I think many believe the benefits of web3 technologies will continue to evolve, and be more accessible longer term.
Under-hyped – the need to prioritise developing accessible experiences for non-web3 users. Projects like Crossmint, Magic, Venly, and Nifty Gateway are working on this, but more dApps need to integrate web2.5-type technologies for seamless wallet onboarding and experiences.
