6 Questions for Blockchain Influencer and Consultant Robby Schwertner Blockchain influencer Robby Schwertner, also known as CryptoRobby, explains which crypto projects he thinks are the most promising.
This interview has been machine-translated. The original version of Cointelegram Germany is here
Cointelegraph in German asks the most important minds from Germany, Austria and Switzerland six questions about the crypto and blockchain industry and deviates from the topic in between.
This week, our questions go to Robby Schwertner. Under the pseudonym "CryptoRobby", the Austrian blockchain expert and blogger analyses current topics around blockchain, cryptocurrencies, NFTs and Metaverse. In addition, Schwertner advises companies and NGOs on the use of blockchain technology and is a frequent speaker at international conferences, for example at the British Parliament, OECD, WEF-Davos and TedX Talks.
Cointelegraph in German: Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were little?
Robby: Yes, I wanted to be a bus driver. Even in primary school I had a long way to go to school and usually sat in the front row of the bus. I was fascinated by how the driver safely navigated the steep slippery roads, especially in winter. I wanted to be able to do that too. Some things have stayed with me to this day: sitting in a driving seat, moving others, definitely taking risks and mastering them!
CT: What is the biggest hurdle on the way to broad acceptance of blockchain technology?
Robby: Blockchain technology is still slow, still relatively expensive compared to conventional software systems and not user-friendly. This hurdle must be overcome in the next few years. As long as it is still complicated to buy cryptocurrencies or even NFTs, we will still have to wait for broad acceptance. However, I see many opportunities for young start-ups that offer cool apps and services and make it easier for new users to get started.
CT: When you look at the 100 largest crypto projects by market capitalisation, which ones stand out for you - and why?
Robby: Some of the 100 largest crypto projects are absolutely remarkable: Bitcoin obviously remains the undisputed number 1 after all, this is clearly evident because this oldest cryptocurrency is increasingly seen as "digital gold" and is becoming more important as a hedge against inflation.
Ethereum at number 2 will also maintain its supremacy for some time to come. In terms of its functions, this project is completely different from Bitcoin and should in no way be seen as a competitor. Many industrial companies and start-ups are building new business models on Ethereum.
I find the placement of Ripple strange. The sword of Damocles of a 1.3 billion US dollar lawsuit by the US Securities and Exchange Commission hangs over the blockchain company. Nevertheless, the XR token remains high on the charts, and Ripple was launched by more than 60 banks as a counter-concept to the blockchain approach. This strategy did not quite work out and I see dark clouds on the horizon if the SEC wins the case against Ripple.
What I find exciting in general are smart contract chains that allow for easy programming of decentralised applications. I see Polygon as particularly suitable: it offers higher scalability and enables lower latency for smart contracts.
Newcomer is Near Protocol, which I think a lot of because this blockchain specialises in real industrial applications and because many of the team are from Ukraine. When you support NEAR tokens, you are indirectly helping people who are suffering the consequences of the terrible Russian war of aggression.
Equally exciting is Polkadot, which is developing a new system of parachains to make blockchains faster in a new way, which for me is a key advantage over other protocols.
Not in the top 100 but worth mentioning is the KILT protocol: it is a blockchain that specialises in mapping digital identities, which is becoming increasingly important. The KILT team works mainly from Berlin, the proximity to German industrial companies and corporations is advantageous. In addition, the project benefits from the very agile startup and tech scene in the German capital.
CT: If you were investing in startups today, what blockchain-based business opportunities would you consider?
Robby:
My focus is primarily on teams that are working on blockchain infrastructure and providing new ease of use (usability) for blockchain technology. In addition, I value ventures that focus on blockchain hardware - but here I see a lot of pent-up demand in particular. I also consider start-ups that deal with metaverse and Web3 solutions to have a promising future.
CT: Looking back, what wrong decision (professional or private) would you have liked to have done without?
Robby:
I was always very enthusiastic about blockchain technology, and this infatuation sometimes blinded me. I volunteered to support a project in 2017 because I thought it was so great that they wanted to raise tokens for NGOs and aid projects to help those in need. After some time it turned out to be a total scam, the founders just wanted to enrich themselves. I was very hurt and disappointed. In the long run, however, I don't want to give up this experience either, because it made me much more cautious about supporting blockchain projects.
CT: What is the stupidest conspiracy theory there is, and which one makes you pause for a moment?
Robby:
First of all, I already avoid the word "conspiracy theory" itself. Theories are already supported by strong circumstantial evidence. I use the word conspiracy narratives and there is no real stupidity ranking for me. What I found amusing was the story about Bill Gates, who allegedly wanted to chip us via the Corona vaccination in order to control us all.
Probably the funniest story I have ever come across is the "Birds are not real" campaign. Two US satirists convinced around 100,000 people that birds are not real, but robots controlled by the CIA that are constantly watching us. They started it in 2017, organised demos, lectures and, although the two admitted it was a hoax after 2 years, another demo was held in New York in October 2022.
But it's important to learn from such experiments. People are easily influenced by the fast-moving social media world. What can help is a technology that re-establishes trust, that makes communication between people more secure and confidential, and yes, that is exactly what the blockchain does.
This interview has been machine-translated. The original version of Cointelegram Germany is here