Starting with Small Talk

Gavin Wood is the co-founder of Ethereum, the creator of Polkadot, and a visionary advocate for Web3. In a 3-hour long interview, he shared insights about the future of blockchain technology.

Gavin said that he likes Japanese culture and has a house in Japan. He thinks that the service in Japan is great, and the details are carefully considered, which is very different from the UK. When talking about the UK, Gavin mentioned that he grew up there and really likes certain elements of British culture, such as traditional pubs, various cuisines, and etiquette.

Regarding humor, Gavin believes it is a great way to communicate. He explains that humor is often based on a special resonance formed between the two parties in the conversation, a resonance that others cannot participate in.

Gavin's Childhood Life

Gavin grew up in a single-parent family, with only his mother by his side. He recalls experiencing some difficulties during his childhood, having deep memories of that period, primarily a sense of abandonment. This has given him a special and profound gratitude for a "safe environment."

Gavin said he is a person who likes to think and analyze things, so he has also deeply considered the impact of his childhood experiences on himself. However, he stated that he has not undergone any specific psychological treatment or hypnosis.

Where do all those great ideas come from?

When it comes to the sources of his creativity, Gavin stated that these ideas often come to him naturally. He explained that his approach to innovation tends to be more incremental, seeking new combinations among things that are known and have visible effects.

Gavin believes that a true "idea" is a way you have to achieve something. You know it is positive, potentially useful, and may help the world. You also believe that no one has thought of such an invention, or that no one has tried to combine existing fundamental elements in this way to create something new.

Is being too advanced equivalent to being wrong? Was Gavin misunderstood?

Gavin admits that, as an inventor, he may often be misunderstood. However, he stated that it is difficult to determine whether others have truly misunderstood his meaning or simply because they cannot grasp these concepts.

He agrees with the viewpoint that "being too advanced is equivalent to being wrong," believing that if one wants to build something that can immediately create value in the world, it must be explained in a way that this world already understands. This is also why many disruptive inventions are often initially used for very simple use cases.

Gavin mentioned that he is often misunderstood when developing the new JAM protocol. He explained that this is because JAM is a complex protocol that operates very differently from previous ones. It's not easy to understand why it is better, as people may not truly grasp the limitations of existing technology.

A deep understanding of knowledge is key to driving major breakthroughs.

Gavin believes that starting with "I have this problem, and I want to find a solution" is not enough for larger issues. He suggests that one should start by analyzing the existing "components," which include various fields of mathematics and engineering, humanity's understanding of the world, as well as existing goods, services, and projects.

He emphasized that the essence of creation lies in combining these components with some novelty or creativity in knowledge to build something useful. Gavin stated that he is in the middle ground between practicality and pure theory, attempting to propose new engineering understandings, hoping that these understandings can become part of the next generation of systems and bring about significant improvements.

Gavin believes that a profound understanding of knowledge can lead to great results, and not just one great result, but it may also give rise to multiple significant outcomes.