Milo, an expert in Crypto, Blockchain, and Web3, is dedicated to simplifying blockchain technology to demonstrate its world-changing potential. As the founder of Brighton Blockchain, hosting over 60 gatherings since 2021, he brings together like-minded individuals to explore the possibilities of Web3. Read on to learn more…

Can you share a bit about your background?

I’ve always loved both technology and people, and that’s probably why I started Brighton Blockchain, a meetup for people interested in all things blockchain! Before that, I did a degree in Music Technology at the University of Sussex, then started my own business immediately after, which gave me the freedom to spend the next 6 years following my curiosity, learning, and spending time with a lot of great people!

Now, I’m a full-on crypto nerd and web3 expert, and I spend every second of my day trying to keep up with the bleeding edge of the new internet, and its effects on society.

Did you come up through a “traditional” techie route or has your career taken twists and turns along the way?

Twists are inevitable, aren’t they? I think we all start off cluelessly wandering into whatever seems the best route in the moment, and only once we’ve got going can we start course-correcting and navigating the road ahead. That was the case for me!

Reflecting on your career, is there a specific moment that stands out as pivotal or defining?

Deciding to start my own business was a big one. It’s a path of higher reward and also risk, but I managed to make it work, and I’m glad I did.

What piece of advice would you give your younger self as you embarked on your professional journey?

Trust your gut more. Also, think bigger and longer term – time will pass by in the blink of an eye!

Looking ahead, what’s your big prediction for the tech landscape in 2024?

Crypto to the moon! Seriously, it’s going to be a mad year for crypto. There are so many catalysts that will unlock enormous growth this year. Not to mention it’s already one of the fastest growing industries! It also tends to move in cycles, and we’re firmly in the ‘up’ part of this one, in my opinion. By the end of the year, the crypto revolution and all its craziness will be front-page news.

Considering your involvement in Silicon Brighton and community-building, what does the concept of ‘community’ mean to you personally? How important is it in the tech industry?

Community is a win-win! When we collaborate with others, we can each play to our strengths and others can fill in for our weaknesses, creating a thing that is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s a wonderful thing! And in the age of the internet, it’s crucial to counter the negative side-effects of being in front of our screens all day too.

Meeting people IRL also bypasses the internet algorithms that only show us extremes, keep us in an echo chamber, and hook us on their platforms. The real world is so beautifully diverse, kind, welcoming, and normal – we just need to get out there and join in!

How do you balance staying updated with the latest industry trends while ensuring continuous personal and professional growth? Any specific resources or practices you find particularly valuable?

I subscribe to a billion newsletters and podcasts, and immerse myself in a constant stream of chatter such that I become hopelessly overwhelmed. 90% of it is useless. But 10% sparks my curiosity, and I can follow it down a road that I enjoy going down. Some roads don’t go anywhere, but they always end up connecting with ones that do!

My favourite resource for big-brained forward-thinking crypto stuff is Vitalik Buterin’s blog.

As someone who has contributed significantly to the community, how do you see mentorship playing a role in the development of the next generation of tech professionals?

I think there’s a lot of wisdom that comes from experience, which isn’t easy to learn from books or the internet. And in new technology, where timeless wisdom hasn’t had any time to rise up from the momentary buzz, it’s hard to separate signal from noise! Learning from others is incredibly important, and incredibly rewarding.

Is there any additional wisdom, experience, or anecdotes you’d like to share with our audience?

If you’re thinking about investing in crypto, don’t put in more than you can afford to lose, and don’t get swept away by hype. Watch out for scams, because they’re everywhere, and the steep learning curve of crypto will make it hard to discern fact from fiction! It’s still a wild west.

But most of all, learn! Blockchain isn’t going away. It’s an innovation that will be as impactful as the internet, and our usage of web platforms is about to be revolutionised. It’s far better to learn about it now than later. And if you think you already learned about it years ago, you should update your knowledge because the industry moves so quickly!

Anything else you would like to promote to our community?

Come to Brighton Blockchain! You can find our meetup page here.
Follow us on X/Twitter here.
You can also check out my personal website.

Want to hear more from Milo? Watch his previous talk on our YouTube channel!