Joshua Stone
Interim CC candidate - Joshua Stone
Country of Residence United States Are you an individual or representing an organisation or a consortium of individuals or organisations? Individual Are you an Intersect member? No
Please summarise your contributions to the Cardano blockchain, ecosystem, and community to date. We (Book.io) created and launched the world's first Decentralized Encrypted Asset (DEA) on Cardano in July 2022, which showcased our pioneering spirit and ability to innovate within the Cardano blockchain space. This groundbreaking achievement showcases our ability to innovate and create new technologies that expand the possibilities on Cardano and in the blockchain space overall. We have scaled up to over 250+ projects on Cardano, introducing numerous first-time users to the platform and onboarding dozens of authors and publishers, which highlights our expertise in scaling operations and user adoption. This experience is crucial for developing governance policies that support growth and ensuring a seamless onboarding process for new users and projects. We have created and maintained very active Discord and Twitter communities, reflecting our strong community-building and engagement skills. My ability to foster vibrant communities around our projects shows my commitment to transparency, open communication, and inclusivity. This perspective is essential for ensuring the community's voice is heard and valued in governance decisions. Our first release (The 1457 Gutenberg Bible in Latin) has become one of the highest-valued projects on jpg.store at 12.5MM ADA (Floor Price x Number of Units). It is a testament to our ability to launch successful projects with significant market impact. This experience provides insights into the economic aspects of project launches and the importance of creating value for the ecosystem, which is vital for strategic decision-making in governance. Launching a fungible $BEARD book with 9B units on Cardano and expanding into music and video demonstrates my innovative use of blockchain technology across different media formats. This multidisciplinary approach highlights our versatility and ability to drive technological integration in various domains, enriching the Cardano ecosystem with diverse content and applications. We hosted an in-person event and live stream conference (Book.io Con) with speakers like Charles Hoskinson, underscoring our organizational skills and ability to collaborate with industry leaders. This experience is crucial for facilitating events and discussions that bring together business leaders outside Cardano and fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing within the community. I would bring a multifaceted perspective to the committee, characterized by: • Innovative thinking and pioneering efforts in decentralized technology. • Proven ability to scale projects and onboard new users. • Expertise in community building and active engagement. • Success in launching high-impact projects and understanding market dynamics. • Versatility in applying blockchain technology across various media formats.
With regards to the 5 measures of competency, and with regards to your contributions summarised in the previous question, please describe why people should vote for you.
Implementation of a Robust Operating Model With over 25 years of experience leading high-profile web properties and co-founding successful companies in the new media space, I have a proven track record of developing and scaling robust operating models. My current role involves implementing a repeatable model that allows our business to scale to billions of users, leveraging Cardano as part of our infrastructure. This experience demonstrates my capability to design, implement, and manage efficient, scalable, and resilient systems.
Expertise in Credential Management & Security In my extensive career managing digital platforms like Fandango.com, AT&T, and Hotels.com/Expedia, I have gained substantial credential management and security expertise. These roles required stringent adherence to security protocols to protect user data and maintain trust. This experience is crucial for ensuring that our governance systems are secure and reliable, protecting the interests of all stakeholders.
Expertise in Constitutional Review and Deliberation Although my primary expertise is not constitutional review, my experience on my town council's Planning & Zoning Committee has equipped me with valuable skills in governance and deliberation. I have reviewed and approved expansion projects, fostered open communication, and engaged in robust debates. This background provides a solid foundation for contributing effectively to constitutional review and deliberation within our governance framework.
Knowledge of Voting with Respect to Existing Tooling and CIP-1694 I am familiar with and have thoroughly read the documentation on CIP-1694 and the existing tooling required for voting. Understanding these frameworks ensures I can effectively navigate and contribute to the voting processes, making informed decisions that align with our strategic goals and the community's best interests.
Expertise in Communicating with the Community Communication and transparency are at the core of my professional ethos. Throughout my career, I have prioritized engaging with the community openly and constructively, avoiding unnecessary drama, and focusing on meaningful dialogue. This approach has been fundamental in building trust and fostering collaboration. My commitment to maintaining transparent and open communication ensures that the community remains informed, engaged, and confident in our governance processes.
Why is decentralized governance important to you? I believe that Decentralized Governance is pivotal for creating systems that are more democratic, accountable, resilient, efficient, and inclusive. Distributing power and decision-making authority will address the limitations and challenges associated with centralized governance structures that other blockchains struggle with, leading to more sustainable and equitable outcomes and further adoption of Cardano. More specifically: Decentralized governance allows for broader participation from all Lovelace holders. This will give people a voice in decision-making processes, leading to a more democratic and inclusive governance structure and making holders feel more connected and "bought in." By distributing power across the three bodies rather than concentrating it in a central authority, decentralized governance will reduce/eliminate opportunities for corruption and abuse of power. This will add more layers of oversight, enhancing transparency and accountability. Also, from a risk mitigation standpoint, decentralizing governance can spread risks and prevent systemic failures that might occur if it stays centralized – this can also lead to a more efficient allocation of resources. Decentralized governance should be a fundamental cornerstone of any blockchain system to ensure that no single entity controls the entire network. This promotes security, transparency, and user autonomy – and is/was the primary draw for everyone into the Web3 cryptoverse.
What perspective would you bring to the committee if successful? If elected to the committee, I would bring a holistic perspective, combining a strategic vision for scalability, a strong emphasis on security, practical governance experience, in-depth knowledge of voting processes, a commitment to transparency, and an innovative approach to technology integration. My unique blend of skills and experiences positions me to contribute significantly to the committee, driving forward a robust, secure, and inclusive governance framework that can support the growth and success of the ecosystem. • Strategic Vision for Scalability and Growth My experience implementing a repeatable model that can scale to billions of users demonstrates a strategic vision for growth and scalability. I understand the challenges and solutions necessary to build robust systems that can handle massive user bases while maintaining efficiency and quality. This perspective is crucial for ensuring that the governance framework can support and scale with the ecosystem's growth. • Emphasis on Security and Credential Management With a background in managing high-profile web properties and ensuring the security of user data, I would place a strong emphasis on security and credential management. My expertise in this area is essential for developing governance policies and practices that protect the integrity and security of the system and foster trust and reliability among users and ADA holders. • Practical Governance Experience My service on my town council's Planning & Zoning Committee provides practical governance experience, particularly in reviewing and approving projects and fostering open communication. This hands-on experience with local governance issues and decision-making processes equipped me with a pragmatic approach to constitutional review and deliberation, ensuring that policies are effective and considerate of diverse viewpoints. • Commitment to Transparency and Community Engagement Transparency and open communication with the community is a cornerstone of my (and Book.io's) professional ethos. My commitment to avoiding unnecessary drama and focusing on meaningful dialogue ensures that the community remains informed and engaged. This perspective is vital for building trust and fostering a collaborative environment where all voices are heard and valued. • Innovative Approach to Digital Media and Blockchain Integration My role in leveraging Cardano for digital media infrastructure highlights my innovative approach to integrating blockchain technology. This perspective is crucial for guiding the committee in adopting and implementing systems that will directly enhance the blockchain's functionality, security, and user experience – all with a focus on real-world mass adoption at a scale that no other blockchain has seen.
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