William Mougayar's Blog

The digital landscape is once again grappling with a concept crucial to its equitable and open functioning. Just as the debate around “net neutrality” defined the guiding principles of an open internet, a new imperative is emerging within the burgeoning world of blockchain technology that we should pay attention to: “chain neutrality.” However, unlike its predecessor, chain neutrality delves deeper, reaching into the very foundational ethos and operational mechanics of decentralized systems. ...

ETHEREUM EXECUTIVE PRIMER - Ethereum is the core infrastructure of Web3, transcending the definition of a mere blockchain. This primer highlights its unique strengths: an infinitely scalable architecture through a modular Layer 2 ecosystem, a decentralized and robust governance model fostering continuous innovation, and growing institutional trust evidenced by its adoption in digital finance and tokenized assets. The platform benefits from the largest and most engaged developer ...

I'm not the only one asking this question: Why hasn’t Ethereum’s financial performance reflected the scale of its adoption and innovation? After spending considerable time thinking about it, I believe the answer lies in a combination of messaging, market perception, and ecosystem dynamics.1. Ethereum Has a Messaging ProblemAt its core, Ethereum suffers from a fundamental communication gap. Competitors have been relentless in spreading fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD)—often without a factual...

I asked Grok-2 to simply write a post based on my tweets of the last 10 days. The following is an unabridged version. I was quite impressed, and decided to turn it into a post. The subject was dominated by feedback given to the Ethereum Foundation and the Ethereum ecosystem in general. Based on your recent tweets and replies over the last 10 days, it's evident that you, William, have a keen interest in the Ethereum ecosystem, particularly around the dynamics between Layer 1 (L1) and Layer 2 (...

In 2003, when Information Technology (IT) was commonly perceived to provide a definitive competitive advantage to large enterprises, Nicholas G. Carr, editor-at-large of the Harvard Business Review penned a bombshell seminal essay, “IT Doesn't Matter.” He challenged IT’s value and argued: “as information technology’s power and ubiquity have grown, its strategic importance has diminished." Carr advised companies to approach IT investment and management differently. That was a watershed moment ...

If I had a 1:1 with Vitalik Buterin today like we used to, regularly in 2014-2016, I would tell him this. No, this is how the game is played. You created Ethereum, now the largest development-driven ecosystem in the blockchain space. It grew and grew and grew I’m sure beyond your initial imagination. So, you have a responsibility to grow with it. The community is not asking the Ethereum Foundation to change its mission or what it fundamentally does. We are asking it to do better than it did 6...

There is a precedent for the upcoming White House-led heavy hand in technology direction and influence. In 1997, President Clinton recognized the importance of Internet commerce as an emerging arena and appointed Ira Magaziner as the e-commerce czar. Magaziner drafted the famous manifesto, The Framework for Global Electronic Commerce which set the wheels in motion for a swift adoption of e-commerce and the ensuing US global leadership in the era of Internet Commerce. The notable tenets of thi...

This post is on the relationship between blockchain user adoption and the need for interoperability to get us there.User experience and m...

“Technical people don’t ask the right questions.” - Henry Kissinger (1923-2023)In blockchain technology, a heated debate...