What Is Web3 and What Isn't It?
The digital world evolves every day. Our lives are becoming increasingly digital, to the point where we could say we live most of our lives online.
The Brave New World
My newsletter — essays on work, technology, and a few things I love. Published here first.
NFT: Digital Ownership or Just a Passing Trend?
In our last piece, we talked about what Web3 is. Now let's dive into what's happening inside this Web3 world.
The Future of Data Ownership
From the start, this newsletter has been about moving from being mere consumers of digital content to becoming its creators, and ultimately, its owners.
From "The Big Short" to Blockchain: What Did the 2008 Crisis Reveal, and What Has Blockchain Changed?
We kicked off our newsletter talking about the world of Web3 and how we got there. Now, let's dive into the core of that world: blockchain and Bitcoin.
The Basics of Finance, the Promises of DeFi: What's Missing in This System?
Last week, we talked about Bitcoin and the financial conditions it emerged from.
When Code Speaks: What Does DeFi Really Offer?
Last week we talked about traditional financial systems and money. Now, let's dive into "DeFi," the blockchain's decentralized alternative to these systems.
Real World Assets
Today, I want to talk a bit about "Real World Assets (RWA)."
Real World, Digital Ownership: The Future of Investment with RWA
Last week, we talked about the basics of "Real World Assets" (RWA).
A Fun Look at Real World Assets: The Project Scout
In my last two pieces, I talked about RWAs (Real World Assets), their real-life examples, and their pros and cons.
Where Does Web3 Touch?, Real Transformation Areas for Institutions
When new technologies first appear, they're usually known and used by a small, curious circle. At first, most of the world doesn't even notice.
Is Web3 for Everyone? Resistance, Limits, Habits, and the Real Face of Digital Transformation
Last week's piece wrapped up with a question: Is it harder for corporations to transition to Web3, or for Web3 to become corporate without losing its essence?
It Was a Developer's World: Bitcoin Pizza Day
These days, Web3 brings to mind NFTs, tokens, exchanges, and wallets. It spans everything from marketing to business development, event management to community moderation.
Questions About Web3 from a Corporate Perspective
When a brand-new technology emerges, there's always an eager crowd: tech enthusiasts, developers, early adopters... But when it comes to the business world...
Roles and Responsibilities in the Web3 World
When we think of Web3, technology often comes to mind: blockchain infrastructure, smart contracts, tokens, wallets... But as I mentioned last week, this new order isn't just about software or tech.
DAO: Not Just a Structure, But a Way of Thinking
Last week, we looked at how traditional organizational structures are changing in the Web3 world, touching on roles, responsibilities, and accountability.
How DAOs Are Changing Decision-Making Culture
In the Web3 world, DAOs have been one of the most debated structures in recent years.
DAOs: Not a Revolution, But a Lens
We've been talking about DAOs for a few weeks now, exploring how they work, voting with tokens, hybrid decision-making, and examples like Gitcoin and Optimism.
Thoughts on Web3 Event Culture
June was all about events, kicking off with Istanbul Fintech Week and rolling into Istanbul Blockchain Week. Both were global, broad in scope and concept...
Web3 Events: Keeping Connections, But What About the Philosophy?
Since diving a bit into the Web3 world last week, I've shared my personal observations on the events I've attended and their impact.
CryptoFriday: A Community Story
For the past two weeks, I've been writing about events, Web3 event culture, and how it's been shaped by changes in the ecosystem over the years.
Is Summer Really Over?
Hello to everyone after a short break.
Thinking Across Disciplines
The term "generalist" keeps popping up in business, social media, publications, and communities lately, so I thought I'd explore it a bit today.
Tokenization: The New Face of Investment
Last week, we talked about a somewhat conceptual topic that's been popping up in the business world and its reflections in the Web3 space. This week, we're focusing on financial products that touch our lives a bit more.
First Steps in the Participation Economy
In recent years, "fan engagement" has become a buzzword in sports and entertainment. Thanks to Web3, fans now have new ways to support their favorite teams and artists.
Real Trials of the Participation Economy
Last week, we touched on the concepts of the "new entertainment economy" and the "new fan engagement model."
The Quiet Revolution of New Finance
Lately, I've been intrigued by something in my social media and news feeds: stablecoins. But it's not just about stablecoins; it's about the infrastructure transformation they're driving.
A New Financial Infrastructure Bridging to the Real Economy
Last week, we talked about stablecoins.
The On-Chain Economy: Income, Credit, and Production
I've been talking about stablecoins and how they're reshaping the new financial infrastructure. This week, let's look at how this infrastructure is starting to be used in the real world.
Code and Trust: The New Layer of Finance
In recent weeks, we've discussed the new infrastructure of finance, where stablecoins and blockchain are becoming the backbone not just for money transfers but also for income, credit, and production flows, the cornerstones of traditional finance.
"So Who Audits the Code?"
The New Layer of Oversight
A New Era in Security, The People Behind the Code
In the first season, starting with what Web3 is and isn't, I tried to dive into the depths of the blockchain world. Then I continued by touching on the intersections of today's traditional/corporate business and finance worlds with Web3...
A New Era in Security: Community Audits
The Unsung Heroes of Web3 Security
A New Era in Security: Risk and Responsibility
What's next after incentives in Web3 security?
A New Era in Security: From Pure Freedom to Common Ground
Web3/blockchain came onto the scene with a bold claim:
Wrapping Up 2025, Looking Ahead to 2026 :)
As the year wraps up, I took a moment to look back at what I've written in this newsletter I started in 2025.
Who Did Mastercard Lighthouse x EBRD Choose?
Last week, the projects selected for the Mastercard Lighthouse Turkey x EBRD Star Venture program were announced. Unsurprisingly, AI projects dominated the list.
"Paraya" Launch - A Different Kind of #CryptoFriday
Last week, CryptoFriday participants found themselves at a #CryptoFriday that was a bit different from what they're used to. The reason? The launch of the brand-new digital platform, Paraya.
Davos '26 and Thoughts on AI
Last week, every media outlet, social or traditional, was buzzing about the Davos meeting. I might be a bit late to the party, but I still want to write a little about it, maybe even spark a discussion...
The Step Finance Case: The Human Factor in Security
Recently, Step Finance, a major DeFi platform on the Solana network, made headlines with a significant security breach.
Prediction Markets, Crypto Culture, and Financial Freedom
While planning this week's piece, I found inspiration in a post by Vitalik Buterin on X last week.
Big Ideas 2026: Agentic AI + Blockchain + Tokenization
Most of us know and follow a16z, a huge investment fund backing early-stage startups, which has been publishing a report on the big ideas for the coming year since 2019.
AI Assistants
This week, I want to step outside the usual theme of the newsletter and talk about AI assistants.
Here They Come: AI Agents
A few weeks ago, I mentioned a16z's "Big Ideas 2026" report, which paints a clear picture of a new financial architecture combining AI decision layers, blockchain execution layers, and tokenization.
Tokenization: How True Is the Promise of Financial Inclusion?
On March 17, 2026, the World Economic Forum published an article exploring how tokenization might impact credit growth, especially in emerging markets.
Financial Data, AI, and Open Source Culture
While writing this week's piece, two different posts on X and LinkedIn caught my attention and truly inspired me.
Who Decides the Direction of Technology?
For a year now, I've been trying to both inform about and understand the direction of Web3 and blockchain projects in this newsletter, without focusing too much on prices or markets.
The "Drift Protocol" Case: Trust, But How Far?
A few months ago, I wrote about the Step Finance case in the newsletter. It was a situation where the security flaw wasn't in the code but in a person, leading to millions being stolen...
Those Who Keep Creating in Quiet Times
Even though we're going through some interesting days at the macroeconomic level, the past few years have been a bit dull for the crypto markets, and they still are.
Where Are We on the Bot-Agent Spectrum?
Lately, the word "agent" seems to be everywhere, conferences, new projects, social media. Everyone's talking "agentic," though I'm not sure there's a perfect Turkish translation.
Could the Future Already Be Here?
Lately, the word I hear and read the most is agent. How did this topic become so prominent? Is everyone talking about "Claude," "AI models," or "agents," or is it just my algorithm feeding me these topics?
Technology: Could Be Real, Could Be a Bubble, or Maybe Both
When it comes to innovative technologies, debates follow, splitting people into those who see breakthroughs and those who see bubbles.
Just When We Figured Out KYC, Now There's KYA?
Agents are back, yet again 🕵️
Context-Mode: From a Small Idea to a Big Journey
This week, I want to step a bit outside my usual topics. It's not that there's a lack of buzz in the Blockchain/Web3/AI worlds, there definitely is.
Blockchain's Quantum Test
Ever since we started talking about quantum computers, or rather, since the topic became serious, there's been concern in the blockchain/Web3 world about their potential impact.
Season 3 Finale - Hello Summer
This week, I'm wrapping up Season 3 with the last article before taking a short break from the "Cesur Yeni Dünya" newsletter until Season 4.