On Jan. 31, blockchain expert and trailblazer Charles Hoskinson paid a visit to UW, giving a speech about the industry and fielding questions about the future. In attendance were students and faculty, filling up the Scarlett auditorium in the business building.
Hoskinson is the co-founder of the cryptocurrency Ethereum, as well as the company Input Output Global, the team behind another cryptocurrency, Cardano. Most importantly, he has provided backing to the University’s Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation (CBDI).
“The blockchain center wouldn’t exist today if it wasn’t for the generous support of Charles,” said Steven Lupien, the Director of CBDI at the University.
President Seidel made a few brief remarks before handing the floor to Hoskinson, and he emphasized Wyoming’s commitment to the emerging field of blockchain and the University’s leading program.
“In 2024, it was named 2nd in the nation for blockchain and cryptocurrency programs,” Seidel said.
Hoskinson began by reinforcing all of the areas in which blockchain can be used and encouraging students to keep thinking of how it can impact the world. He noted how many people are disgruntled with the way the economy works, and its problems, but empowered students to shape the future.
“A lot of people are saying, ‘We still want to keep this system, or we want to change it.’ So how do we change it in a way that’s more careful?” he said. “This is the generation.”
Hoskinson mentioned the large tech companies that are able to wield power and suggested that blockchain can be a solution for people to change that.
“It is a little problematic that five people you didn’t elect and you have no ability to replace have so much influence,” he said. “So maybe, such a thing should be decentralized, therefore our industry is working on it.”
“We have all these new technologies and over the next few years we’re figuring out how to build something that is competitive,” he said. “The difference is that nobody owns it or controls it.”
Despite all his experience, Hoskinson admitted that he was once a student too, and it took years to get to where he is now but encouraged students to keep striving.
“I truly love this industry, and that’s why I’ve been in it for about a decade and a half,” he said. “I was just like you 15 years ago. I was filled with hope and didn’t have particularly a lot of reputation or skills out of college, but I learned it along the way.”
“Learning is not about reading a book or taking a test. Learning is about applying the knowledge we are given,” he said.
Hoskinson ended with a final call to students to recognize the great opportunity that this time brings and the assets that they have.
“This is not an invitation-only industry,” he said. “You have a network at the University that’s in the top five [in the world]… which is something I wish I had when I took this space.”
This talk was the first in the Wyoming Blockchain Stampede Speaker Series, a part of the University’s annual Blockchain Stampede which usually takes place in the fall, with more events to follow.
