From Pizza to Passion, Web3 is Fostering Community Building and Collective Progress
Article by Boluwatife | Edited by Trewkat and Kornekt | Cover Art by Tonytad
What is a community? Is it a group of people living in the same geographical zone, sharing the same interests and values? Or is it something more than that? According to early thinkers on the concept of community, such as Ferdinand Tönnies, Robert Park, and Emile Durkheim, a community is not just a collection of individuals, but a social entity that has its own identity, values, norms, and culture.
These three sociologists contributed to the development of the concept of community by highlighting its distinctive features and functions in modern society. For Tönnies, community (or Gemeinschaft) is based on natural will, organic solidarity, and affective bonds among members who share a common way of life. For Park, community is a form of human association that emerged from collective action and communication in the urban environment, while Durkheim suggested that community (or collective effervescence) is a result of ritual participation and moral integration that generated a sense of belonging and social cohesion.
While it might mean different things to each individual, it’s obvious that the essence of community goes beyond merely having something in common. Great communities share a profound sense of connection, support, and mutual understanding, creating an environment of happiness and fulfillment.
Community Building in Web3
While not perfect, web3 is helping to build communities that are more inclusive, diverse, democratic, and resilient. As long as there is a passion for a certain idea, a community has been — or can be — created for it. Web3 communities have access to a global pool of contributors with fresh ideas and the ability to source funds to achieve their goals.
Many people have the passion to innovate and bring solutions to real-world problems but lack the opportunity to make their dreams a reality. Web3 communities are helping to turn the tide in several ways, for example:
Bankless Academy is a thriving web3 community dedicated to providing comprehensive education on decentralized finance (DeFi) and web3 technologies.
VitaDAO funds longevity research and aims to extend the human lifespan. It has its own token (VITA) that allows holders to vote on which research projects to fund and engage in other governance activities within the DAO.
HerStory DAO funds and supports projects by Black women and non-binary artists. HerStory DAO has its own token (HER) that allows holders to access exclusive content, events, and opportunities from the artists.
Friends with Benefits DAO is an exclusive social club for crypto enthusiasts. It has its own token (FWB) that allows holders to join the community, access curated content and events, and network with other members.
Whether you are passionate about art, gaming, social impact, or anything else, there is a community for you in web3. The shared interest is the foundation for a sense of belonging, where an individual feels safe and is open-minded enough to grow.
Joining communities in web3 can help you learn new skills, discover new opportunities, network with peers and mentors, and contribute to the collective growth and innovation of the decentralized web. Communities in web3 are not just passive consumers of content but active creators and participants who shape the future of the internet.
The Crypto Bootcamp Community Celebrates Bitcoin Pizza Day
The Crypto Bootcamp Community (CBC) is a group of enthusiasts who want to learn more about the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. The community offers online courses, workshops, and events covering topics such as how to trade crypto, how to create and manage a digital wallet, how to use smart contracts and decentralized applications, and how to secure your assets. The community also provides platforms for networking, mentoring, and collaboration among its members, who come from different backgrounds and levels of experience. The community aims to empower people with the knowledge and skills they need to participate in the emerging crypto economy and to benefit from the opportunities it offers.
The CBC has been around for almost five years and is open to anyone interested in learning more about crypto, whether they are beginners or experts, hobbyists or professionals, investors or developers. The shared belief is that crypto is not only a technology, but also a movement that can transform how we exchange value, create wealth, and build a more inclusive and sustainable society.
Bitcoin is more than just a cryptocurrency. It is a social movement that has inspired millions of people around the world to join the web3 community: a decentralized and open network of innovators, creators, and visionaries. One of the notable Bitcoin events in the web3 community is Bitcoin Pizza Day, which commemorates the first documented purchase of goods using bitcoin. On May 22, 2010, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 bitcoins for two pizzas to be delivered by a fellow Bitcoiner.
According to Binance, “It is regarded as the beginning of the commercialisation of cryptocurrency in the real world. Crypto fans decide (sic) to commemorate the day, calling it May 22 Bitcoin Pizza Day.”
At that time, Hanyecz’s 10,000 bitcoins were worth a total of around $40, and not many people could envision the incredible future in store for enthusiasts. When Hanyecz was interviewed by 60 Minutes in 2019, he commented:
I honestly thought it would be really cool if I could say, ‘Hey, I just traded this, you know, open-source internet money for a real-world good.
Today, Bitcoin Pizza Day is celebrated by Bitcoiners around the world as a way of honoring this pioneer of the Bitcoin movement and celebrating the growth and development of the web3 community. Many people order pizza using bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, following in the footsteps of Laszlo Hanyecz. Binance celebrated Bitcoin Pizza Day by using their coin to sponsor pizzas and hand them out to different communities:
https://twitter.com/BinanceAngels/status/1667788137244835841
Also, on this historic day, people donate to charities that accept bitcoin, like GiveDirectly or BitGive Foundation. Some even create their own pizza-themed NFTs (non-fungible tokens) or memes to express their creativity and humor.
Bitcoin Pizza Day has also become a day to sit with the ‘what if’ scenarios that inevitably come to mind when thinking about those two pizzas. The bitcoins Laszlo Hanyecz traded would now be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. What if he had kept them? What if he had invested them in other blockchain projects? What if he had become one of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world? While he may not be a household name quite yet, every year there is a little more mainstream media coverage of Bitcoin and Laszlo’s role in its adoption.
While he prefers not to dwell on the current market value, if Hanyecz had not spent those bitcoins on pizza 13 years ago, it’s possible bitcoin may not have become one of the most significant digital currencies we have today. Bonding over pizza while celebrating the birth of an alternative financial system is a pretty good way to learn more about web3.
While not perfect, web3 is helping to build communities that are more inclusive, diverse, democratic, and resilient. As long as there is a passion for a certain idea, a community has been — or can be — created for it.
The Crypto Bootcamp Community’s aim and vision is to promote the adoption of crypto and web3 among African youths. This year, they continued their ritual of holding the Bitcoin Pizza Day celebration as a hangout where they meet up with various crypto gurus and also educate those new to the space. The community made sure networking was paramount and talked about past and recent developments in the web3 space like shitcoins, AI, and interoperability in the blockchain ecosystem.
Crypto enthusiast eating pizza on Bitcoin Pizza Day. Image credit: CBC
The event almost did not happen though; the community planned to provide a lot of pizzas for the event and had sourced sponsors to cover these. On the event day, the sponsors were a no-show. The organizers of the event then took it upon themselves to provide the funds to get the symbol of celebration for that day (the pizzas!). Every individual in the community pushed for the event to become a success because of the love and passion they all had for Bitcoin and web3.
Organizers of the Bitcoin Pizza Day Hangout 2023. Image credit: CBC
We had a good time, talking about web3 over pizza and laughing at mistakes made throughout the years such as losing funds during the crypto ban in 2021 or investing in coins that did not take hold. Right now, the community is thriving and this is all because of the beautiful contributors who are actively working in their own way to make web3 a better place.
During the hangout, members reminded themselves that bitcoin is not just about money, but about freedom, innovation, and collaboration. They celebrated not only the past but also the present and the future of Bitcoin and web3. Listening to people in web3 talk about their interests is truly intriguing. This is why individuals need to join communities, to experience what it means to build connections and explore.
Bitcoin lovers bonding over pizza. Image credit: CBC
Mother Theresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across waters to create many ripples”. There is always work to be done to make yourself happier and to make the web3 space a better place. Join or build a community today, and we’ll see you for more pizza on May 22 next year!
Author Bio
Boluwatife is a young and forward-thinking writer, researcher, and project manager. She writes on topics centered around web3 and the tech space.
Editor Bios
Trewkat is a writer, editor, and designer at BanklessDAO. She’s interested in learning about crypto and NFTs, with a particular focus on how best to communicate this knowledge to others.
Kornekt is a writer and editor at BanklessDAO. He is very passionate about crypto and blockchain technology and is strongly enthusiastic about the world web3 creates.
Designer Bio
Tonytad is a graphic designer who has worked locally and internationally with organisations and firms on over 200 projects, which includes branding, logos, flyers, cards, and covers.
BanklessDAO is an education and media engine dedicated to helping individuals achieve financial independence.
This post does not contain financial advice, only educational information. By reading this article, you agree and affirm the above, as well as that you are not being solicited to make a financial decision, and that you in no way are receiving any fiduciary projection, promise, or tacit inference of your ability to achieve financial gains.
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