There is no community quite like the web3 community. Here’s how to make the most of it!
I have been involved in the web3 community for about a year and a half, and in this short time, one thing has become abundantly clear: there is no community I have ever been a part of that is as engaging and collaborative as the web3 community.
I mean, in what other communities can anyone looking to learn about a project just shoot a DM to the project founder, and have a good chance of getting a response? With the values of decentralization inherent in the space, there is also a belief in a lack of hierarchy, and in equitable access.
On any given day, you can find hundreds of ways to engage with the web3 community, ranging from informal chats on discord, clubhouse, or twitter spaces, to summits, live streams, and DAO events. So, for today, I wanted to highlight eight ways you can truly embrace the web3 community:
1. Join a DAO
This may seem daunting for some, but it’s really not as scary as it sounds. There are hundreds of DAOs focusing on, well, pretty much anything you could think of. This could include NFTs, social impact, blockchain gaming, venture capital, diversity, and much more. In previous blog post titled, “Ten DAOs disrupting the social impact space,” I highlighted some exiting social impact DAOs. But, this is by no means an exhaustive list, as there are hundreds, if not thousands of DAOs in the web3 ecosystem.
Some may fear that their lack of understanding of the technical aspects of DAOs, or not having enough capital to invest could act as a barrier to entry. While this could be true in some cases, there are also many DAOs that are accessible and low barrier. The ways to join a DAO vary from purchasing governance tokens, to more complex application processes. A great resource on how to join a DAO can be found here.
2. Engage on Discord
Nowadays, most projects, communities, DAOs, and collectives have a Discord channel. By simply searching for their twitter profile, you will likely be able to find the link to their Discord as well. Some Discord servers require an invite, and there may also be some that are restricted to core members only. A simple DM to a community leader will likely get you an invite. Although Discord servers can become chaotic at times, they are great way to engage directly with leaders in the space and ask questions, and are a wealth of knowledge.
3. Jump in to a Twitter space
Twitter spaces are relatively new but have gained a ton of momentum lately. At any given time, at the top of your Twitter feed, you will likely see a few twitter spaces going on, focusing on any number of topics, and ranging in size from a few people to hundreds. If you want to test the waters, you can join just as a listener, or you can request to be a speaker and engage directly in the space, ask questions, and get to know others with similar interests.
I have had the privilege of joining a few Twitter spaces lately focusing on conversations around blockchain, NFTs, and social impact, and had an absolute blast. Some may find the thought of joining a Twitter space intimidating, especially if they are new to web3. From my experience, every single Twitter Space I’ve joined in the past has been very inclusive and engaging, and has had guests with varying levels of knowledge and experience.
4. Engage in the metaverse
One of the most dynamic and exciting developments in web3 over the past couple of years has been the growth of decentralized gaming, such as Decentraland, Axie Infinity, and the Sandbox. We’ve seen a number of innovative uses of these platforms recently, such as virtual concerts and events being hosted on Decentraland. For some of these platforms, you can join as a guest and observe, whereas for others, you may have to purchase some of the games tokens or set up an account. Regardless, participating in a decentralized game is a great way to engage in the metaverse and build community. A list of events on Decentraland, can be found HERE.
5. Take an online course
One of the best things about the web3 space, is the number of high-quality courses, both free and paid, for those looking to expand their horizons. Through platforms like Udemy and Coursera, among others, there are many high quality, professional courses, to help you build your knowledge. At the same time, many of these courses have a community component, as there are opportunities to engage with and get to know fellow students, and there are often private social media groups for students in the course as well.
6. Follow one of the many collectives supporting diversity and inclusion in the space
The web3 space has a long way to go to ensure it is as inclusive as possible. The good news, is that strides are being made, and there are a growing number of groups promoting diversity in the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. These collectives have done an excellent job supporting newcomers from a diversity of backgrounds to the space, and have created a more inclusive and representative community.
Check out some of these collectives, follow-them, and engage in some of their events. Many of these collectives have regular events for members, twitter spaces, and active discord channels to help build community.
7. Attend a conference or virtual summit
Another great aspect of the web3 community is that there is no shortage of virtual and in-person conferences or summits. Just recently, for example, there was NFT NYC, Cardano Summit, and ETHLisbon, among many others. These events can be focused on specific blockchains, on a sub-community within web3 such as NFTs, social impact, and DeFi, or can be more general. No matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran, there is no shortage of conferences and summits for you.
A great resource on upcoming blockchain and cryptocurrency events can be found HERE.
8. DM a community leader or founder
As mentioned above, one of the greatest things about web3 is the horizontal nature of the community. Decentralization, a core tenant in the web3 community, and the value placed on collaboration and open source, have led to the web3 community having far less hierarchy than many other communities. There are few communities, for example, where you can simply send a DM to a project founder or community leader and actually get a response. This may seem daunting, but from my personal experience, everyone I have reached out to directly has been very supportive and willing to help.
What are some of the other ways to engage with the web3 community? Tweet us at @Crypto_Altruism, we’d love to hear from you!
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