Web3 Reading List
All Things Venture #071
Hola everyone. I had a really inspiring conversation yesterday. A friend of mine in venture is taking a new job that’s going to allow her to further pursue a passion of hers, which is Web3/Crypto. I am extremely excited for her as it’s A) a promotion B) will allow her to write her own checks C) it’s a high conviction, high risk, high reward bet at the start of a bear market.
I started reaaaally learning about crypto around the Spring of 2021, through the encouragement of some close friends. It’s a funky space because the branding and language used for some of these innovations, improvements is absolutely awful. Phrases like, ZK-rollups, soul-bound NFTs, and yield farming when I first saw them - made absolutely zero sense.
So, today we’re doing something different. No startup spotlight. No hot takes from yours truly, just a good old fashioned reading list. A grab bag of resources to help you get down the learning curve of Web3. My advice for anyone at the start of their journey learning about Web3 is:
Build your foundational understanding (i.e what a blockchain is and why it’s different)
Talk to friends in the space or network - they are shortcuts to information (i.e people who are full time in crypto are evangelists of the industry and they want more people to believe in the technologies and opportunities ahead)
Shit won’t make sense - that’s okay. You’ll learn through osmosis and gradually pick things up over time. You’ll learn more quickly if you take notes, try to digest what you’re reading, seeing, listening to and then explain it back to yourself like a 5 year old
Anyways friends. All Things Venture is about learning, building, and growing together. I’ve separated this list into two broad buckets:
Resources for people if you’re JUST getting into Crypto
Resources that I’ve archived as I’ve been slowly shoved down this rabbit hole
If you think any additional resources should be on this list - feel free to give me a shout. As always, let’s dive right in.
If you’re JUST getting into Crypto
We all gotta start somewhere, here’s what’s been helpful for me
For People Who Learn By Reading
Bitcoin Whitepaper (you don’t need to understand it 100% off the back, but it will give you a great foundation of the initial technological innovation as well as you give you the best reference point to come back to as you spend more time in the space)
Ethereum Whitepaper (same - but it builds off the Bitcoin foundation)
Jay Drain’s Web3 Starter Pack (super, super, super helpful and approachable)
Katie Chiou’s Web3 Primer (similarly super helpful and accessible - go katie!!)
For People Who Learn By Watching (don’t sleep/hate on youtube peeps)
Blockchain Expert Explains One Concept in 5 Levels of Difficulty | WIRED (Really good conceptual framework that pulls you in more as you advance)
But how does Bitcoin work? (good diagrams to visualize blockchains)
For People Who Learn By Listening (or love podcasts)
A Crypto Optimist Meets a Crypto Skeptic (An Ezra Klein banger, 1 hour long but good, and they do a good job of bouncing between 101 level and 201 level difficulty)
Resources That I’ve Archived
This stuff all gets deeper in the rabbit hole or is a bit more complicated/takes time to sift through
Moxie’s Critique - best article I’ve read offering a thoughtful critique of web3/crypto as a whole
Gaby Goldberg’s reading list - massive credit to Gaby bc this was super helpful early on even & she’s an OG crypto/vc twitter personality imo. No idea how much this gets updated
Own the Internet - A Packy McCormick Special, accessible language and friendly/entertaining writing
Solana Summer - Same as above, but about Solana
Blockchain Revolution - I bought this book back in 2017, read it, didn’t understand it 100% but I remember it being helpful at the time. Would say it is much more of a breadth book than a depth book. Also reinforces the fact that shit won’t make sense at first
Bankless Newsletter - Look let’s be honest at the end of the day, Bankless is trying to sell you on being a subscriber. You don’t have to become one in my opinion. There’s enough free info out there, BUT they do produce a lot of great content, and will give you the bull case for a lot of stuff. Their podcast has a ton of helpful stuff but it’s all mostly 201 and above level content
Sam Bankman Fried (FTX Founder) Twitter - Pay attention to the ppl who are building
Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum Founder) Twitter - Pay attention to the ppl who are building
Honestly just one quick side point, get on Twitter if you aren’t already
Just make a twitter right now, RIGHT meow
Because so much information gets shared there
Brian Armstrong (Coinbase Founder) Twitter - Pay attention to the ppl who are building
Web3/Crypto: Why Bother? - From another OG VC investor, very good, balanced, gives important historical context as well
Why Decentralization Matters - More VC advice, maybe I should diversify??
Where are We Headed? Web3 (Part 1) - My own take on one of the core value props I see in Web3
All great resources!