Blowfish.xyz – Namecheap customer – (Switzerland)
Security-focused web3 developers are building their online homes on .xyz domains as they explore the possibilities of blockchain technology. Web3 platform Disco.xyz is designed to foster a secure metaverse experience with enhanced privacy features. Ethereum-based cryptocurrency wallet Argent.xyz combines a simple interface with security features in an effort to offer a better overall experience for crypto traders. Auditing platform Sherlock.xyz is aimed at keeping your smart contracts bug-free. In this week’s #BlockchainThursday, we’ll introduce you to an innovative security solution geared towards proactive defense for crypto wallets: Blowfish.xyz.
Blowfish.xyz is the online home of Blowfish, a firewall technology designed to provide protection to web3 users by detecting and identifying malicious transactions in real-time. Blowfish features an API designed to be user-friendly. The API is geared at helping crypto wallets, such as Solana-based wallet Phantom, protect users from phishing attempts and other fraudulent activities. It provides users with timely alerts and concise information regarding their transactions, aiming to enhance security and increase comprehension of the web3 environment. Blowfish announced a partnership with crypto wallet TimelessWallet.xyz aimed at enhancing user security and simplifying interactions in the web3 and crypto space. The partnership is intended to integrate Blowfish’s security measures into Timeless Wallet, helping to ensure proactive protection for users during transactions with digital assets. In September 2022, the company shared that they had raised $11.8M in funding. Backed by investment firms including Dragonfly.xyz and Paradigm.xyz, the company stated they’d be using the funding to expand their services, with a focus on hiring a team committed to eliminating scams and hacks from web3.
On a February 2023 podcast , Blowfish co-founder Fabio Berger explained their security solution in his own words. He stated, “So at its core, what we are building is a suite of APIs for wallets like Phantom where whenever a user of a wallet is visiting a site and it’s asking them to sign something, so it could be a transaction or a message, that wallet can first send it to us and be like, “Hey, is this kosher? Is this doing anything strange, or is this just a vanilla transaction?” And what we are doing under the hood is we’re scanning and simulating that transaction and we are looking to see if there are any patterns that we can recognize from previous scams.”1
Blowfish Protect is a browser extension intended to bolster transaction security for users connecting their crypto wallets to websites. Unlike the Blowfish API, which is designed for wallet companies to integrate into their platforms, this extension is tailored for users without wallets featuring Blowfish technology. It’s compatible with Chrome,2 Brave, Arc, and other Chromium-based browsers. Designed to be swift and user-friendly, the extension boasts features like proactive warnings about potential visits to malicious websites, alerts for potentially risky transactions or messages before signing, and transparent explanations of transaction impacts on wallets. Prior to the extension’s launch, Blowfish’s security was accessible solely through partner wallets integrating it. Blowfish Protect helps users leverage Blowfish’s security technology without necessitating a wallet switch, catering to those wanting enhanced transaction security while retaining their current wallet.
The team behind Blowfish brings experience in blockchain and cybersecurity. Co-founder Oskar Paolini previously served as a DevOps Engineer for the exchange infrastructure provider 0x Labs. Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder Kim Persson previously held the position of Senior Software Engineer at 0x Labs. CEO and co-founder Fabio Berger also comes from 0x Labs, where he served as Senior Engineer and Engineering Manager for the Developer Experience team. We are happy to have Blowfish in the .xyz community of innovative and security-focused developers and look forward to more advancements. You can learn more by following @blowfishxyz on Twitter and LinkedIn, and by visiting Blowfish.xyz.
1. https://podcast.phantom.app/episodes/fabio-berger-founder-blowfishxyz-ep-19
2. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/blowfish-wallet-protect-v/kbjhmlgclljgdhmhffjofbobmficicjp
StartupHustle.xyz – GoDaddy customer – (United States)
The .xyz community is home to media platforms dedicated to fostering community engagement and the sharing of authentic stories. Photographer, entrepreneur, and social activist Misan Harriman’s media platform Culture3.xyz explores the contributions of web3 to culture, commerce, and society. Media platform LensMag.xyz shares engaging creator-focused stories designed to help fellow creatives. Digital lifestyle platform TheCulture.xyz produces forward-thinking content to reach the BIPOC community. In this week’s #WebsiteWednesday, we’ll introduce you to the online hub of an entrepreneurship podcast aimed at sharing the stories of founders and leaders: StartupHustle.xyz.
StartupHustle.xyz is the online hub of the Startup Hustle podcast, an entrepreneurship podcast devoted to sharing the stories of startup founders and leaders. With over 1,125 episodes and over 5,000,000 downloads (as stated on StartupHustle.xyz), the podcast appears to be gaining popularity among entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts. The podcast serves as a platform where interview founders and leaders from different industries can share knowledge and insight with listeners.
Startup Hustle is founded by Kansas City-based entrepreneurs Matt DeCoursey and Matt Watson. Matt and Matt are also the co-founders of Full Scale, a company geared at helping businesses quickly and affordably build teams of programmers, testers, project managers, and designers. Matt Watson holds the role of CTO at IT management company Netreo. Matt DeCoursey is the founder of cloud-based appointment booking platform Gigabook.He also is the author of business-focused books including Million Dollar Bedroom1 and Balance Me.2
Matt and Matt share podcast hosting duties with two other entrepreneurs. Co-host Lauren Conaway is the founder and CEO of leadership community InnovateHER KC. Her podcast episodes center around conversations with female entrepreneurs, influencers, and leaders, providing valuable insights into their journeys. Andrew Morgans, the fourth co-host, is the founder of Marknology, an Amazon Brand Accelerator. His weekly podcast episodes are dedicated to exploring e-commerce and Amazon-related topics, catering to listeners interested in online business ventures.
StartupHustle.xyz serves as an online hub for their growing community, providing a centralized platform for accessing various resources and information. The website features pages dedicated to different aspects of the Startup Hustle ecosystem, including an insightful blog containing posts related to each podcast episode, a sponsorship page offering opportunities for businesses to connect with their target audience, and a landing page for Startup Hustle TV, the podcast’s supplemental web series.
With over 1,125 episodes, the Startup Hustle podcast offers an array of interviews with founders and leaders. Each episode features unique perspectives on entrepreneurship, which can bring listeners closer to the world of startups and business innovation. The podcast explores a range of topics, including challenges faced by entrepreneurs, secrets to scaling businesses, and the art of effective leadership. By visiting the Blog page, you can explore posts dedicated to each podcast episode, providing detailed information about the hosts, guests, synopsis, highlights, key quotes, and transcripts of the podcasts. This comprehensive approach allows listeners to quickly find and review their favorite episodes.
Check out Ep. #1169 – The Power of AI, an exploration of the power of AI and its impact on various industries. In this episode, Matt Watson and guest Ross Borden (CEO and founder of media brand Matador Network) discuss Matador’s new AI-powered travel assistant, GuideGeek, which aims to revolutionize the travel industry. The conversation also explores how AI is shaping social media platforms and the importance of branding for innovation. You can also check out Ep. #1171 – The Power of the Pivot, where Matt DeCoursey and guest AJ Asgari (CEO and founder of e-commerce solution drugstore2door), discuss the significance of pivoting for businesses and its role in determining success. With new episodes posted daily, listeners can tune in using platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
As stated on the Startup Hustle TV landing page, “Startup Hustle TV is a web series for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs with the mission of telling the real story of startups and entrepreneurship.” The series offers insights on real-life experiences faced by entrepreneurs in the business world. In addition to podcast promotion, StartupHustle.xyz is also a pivotal tool for elevating the brand’s YouTube presence. Boasting over 5k subscribers (as of August 16, 2023), Startup Hustle leverages its website as a gateway to their YouTube community. This strategy centralizes all their content under one digital roof and funnels dedicated podcast listeners towards their video offerings, fostering multi-platform engagement.
Startup Hustle offers sponsorship opportunities for businesses aiming to reach a targeted audience consisting of entrepreneurs, small business owners, aspiring founders, and individuals interested in startups and entrepreneurship. StartupHustle.xyz states that by partnering with Startup Hustle, sponsors can “gain brand impressions where they matter most.” You can visit the sponsorship page to review various sponsorship plans designed to suit different businesses and their specific needs.
An online hub like StartupHustle.xyz can be an invaluable tool for podcast awareness. With just one memorable domain name, you can promote your podcast to listeners of many different platforms worldwide. By leveraging your website like StartupHustle.xyz did, you can invite all customers to one single online home that you control, where you can provide direct links to each streaming platform where listeners can find it. A dedicated website can also help bolster awareness and engagement by providing a place where existing or r potential audiences can delve into everything you offer about your podcast, and any other services you want to introduce.
We are inspired by the Startup Hustle podcast and their interest in sharing the insights of startup culture. You can learn more by following the platform on Twitter @startupsxyz, Facebook @startuphustlexyz, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram, and by visiting StartupHustle.xyz.
1. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35464077-million-dollar-bedroom
2. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34102812-balance-me
AI.xyz – Gen.xyz customer – (United States)
The .xyz community is home to forward-thinking developers exploring the power of AI technology. Tech startup Spice.xyz is aimed at leveraging AI technology to make it easy to access and leverage web3 data. In this week’s #AIMonday, we’ll introduce you to a platform designed to help you create your own personalized AI assistant: AI.xyz.
AI.xyz is an innovative platform focused on helping users create personalized AI assistants designed to support them with personal and professional tasks. On June 30, 2023, The AI Foundation, an organization dedicated to furthering artificial intelligence, introduced the new platform and welcomed interested users to join the waitlist to be among the first to create a personalized AI assistant.1 As stated on their website, the San Francisco-based AI Foundation is “a dual commercial and non-profit organization with a single vision: To bring the potential of AI to everyone in the world so we can all participate fully in the future.”2
AI.xyz aims to differentiate itself from other AI assistants by staying unique to each individual. The platform’s AI assistants are designed to understand their user’s values, goals, and preferences to provide personalized assistance. A primary goal of AI.xyz is to promote a healthier work-life balance by helping users offload daily tasks to their personal AI assistants.
On the Features page, AI.xyz states that “Your AI can do anything from A to XYZ.” Specifically, the platform hopes to empower users to create AI assistants that cater to their specific needs. These personal AI assistants are designed to perform various tasks, including note-taking, email writing, brainstorming, and offering personalized advice and perspectives.3
As detailed in a June 30, 2023 feature in VentureBeat, “Creators can expand their AI’s knowledge through document sharing, linking to websites like LinkedIn and noting personal memories for future reference. Creators can also decide what their AI will look and sound like by either cloning their own face and voice or choosing options from the AI.xyz library.” AI.xyz states that you can design your personalized AI assistant in three steps:
Ask your AI to help you with ideas and support throughout your day. Eventually it will be able to proactively support you.
AI Foundation was established in 2017, with investors including Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, Founders Fund, OVO, Endeavor, The Brandtech Group, Alpha Edison, and Correlation Ventures. Initially, the foundation started as a nonprofit and has retained its nonprofit status while also operating as a commercial entity. Their previous works included creating smart AI for video game characters, and later branched out into the development of personal AI.
AI.xyz is currently in beta, providing users with an option for designing an AI assistance geared towards simplifying their work and life. You can learn more by joining the Discord and by visiting AI.xyz.
1. https://aifoundation.com/news/p/ai-xyz-go-be-human/
2. https://aifoundation.com/about/
3. https://venturebeat.com/ai/ai-foundation-launches-ai-xyz-to-give-people-their-own-ai-assistants/
OnchainSummer.xyz – Google Domains customer – (United States)
Blockchain developers working to help ensure the widespread adoption and accessibility of web3 are building their online homes on .xyz domains. Web3 platform Disco.xyz is designed to foster a secure metaverse experience with enhanced privacy features. Decentralized crypto custodian Entropy.xyz aims to revolutionize the way crypto is stored. Generative art platform Tonic.xyz strives to make web3 technology more accessible. In this week’s #BlockchainThursday, we’ll introduce you to a blockchain-focused event designed to make cryptocurrency more accessible, fun, and useful: OnchainSummer.xyz.
OnchainSummer.xyz is the online home of Onchain Summer, a multi-week event organized by leading cryptocurrency platform Coinbase to celebrate the launch of its new DeFi project, Base, a secure, low-cost, builder-friendly Ethereum Layer2 (L2). An L2 is a network that enhances speed and reduces cost for transactions on chain. Happening throughout the month of August 2023, Onchain Summer is geared towards uniting over 50 leading brands, platforms, artists, and creators in the cryptocurrency space. In addition to leading web3 platforms like OpenSea, the event boasts the participation of global brands like Coca-Cola and Atari. Onchain Summer is designed to showcase on-chain art, culture, music, gaming, and more.
Coinbase’s ongoing efforts to build an accessible and user-friendly on-chain ecosystem result in the launch of Base mainnet. Base is a tool designed for the Ethereum blockchain. It operates as an “optimistic rollup,” which is a mechanism that bundles multiple transactions together. This method helps transactions to be represented as one, which increases efficiency on the Ethereum network. An important feature of Base is its compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This means that developers who have projects on Ethereum, or platforms similar to it, can transition their work onto Base without major modifications.1 Beginning with the Onchain Summer launch on August 9, 2023, ETH can be transferred to Base.
The innovative art, culture, music, and gaming projects dropping with Onchain Summer’s platform are all built on Coinbase’s Base platform. The virtual activation provides an opportunity for users to engage with these developers and creators by minting unique NFT releases, learning about their journey into the web3 space, and even interacting with creators through messaging on Coinbase Wallet.
One of the primary objectives of Onchain Summer is to make cryptocurrency “more accessible, fun, and useful than ever before.”2 Coinbase has organized a series of activities and events that cater to a wide range of users. Events include:
Coinbase Wallet has rolled out support for Base in time for Onchain Summer. Improvements are designed to help users create wallets faster and quickly participate in the event’s minting opportunities. The wallet is also introducing free-to-claim cb.id usernames powered by Ethereum Name Service (ENS). These usernames simplify crypto transactions and interactions within the on-chain community. Similar to how you can create a .eth username for your wallet, Base is providing the same opportunity with cb.id, registered under the ENS protocol. For example, users can now change the name of their wallet to username.cb.id instead of a long wallet hash like 0x6fB9401002640741fEc58faffbd41e3F583D86f1. Users can also use Coinbase or the Eth.xyz project to easily view their cb.id profile. To see a cb.id profile on Coinbase, the URL is: profile.coinbase.com/yourname.cb.id (i.e. https://profile.coinbase.com/manifold.cb.id.) To see a cb.id profile on Eth.xyz, the URL is eth.xyz/yourname.cb.id (https://eth.xyz/manifold.cb.id.)
As the world of blockchain technology continues to evolve, Coinbase’s Onchain Summer is aimed at innovation, accessibility, and inclusivity. You can learn more and view the full list of events by visiting OnchainSummer.xyz.
1. https://www.techopedia.com/what-is-base-coinbase-l2-chain
2. https://www.coinbase.com/blog/celebrate-onchain-summer-with-coinbase
CoreyMcC.xyz – Squarespace customer – (United States)
The .xyz community is home to skilled creative professionals using .xyz to highlight their work. Book designer LisaWhite.xyz showcases her eye-catching covers for authors like Ben Folds and Jodi Picoult. Creative director EricLane.xyz shares his engaging campaigns for brands like Under Armour and Verizon. Multimedia designer, illustrator, and animator ChrisMaher.xyz highlights his array of creative projects. In this week’s #WebsiteWednesday, we’ll introduce you to a skilled design director who displays his assortment of creative work on his own personal website: CoreyMcC.xyz.
CoreyMcC.xyz is the personal website of Corey McClelland, a New York-based design director with a design philosophy centered around humanistic problem-solving. As Corey shares on CoreyMcC.xyz, he has honed his design and leadership skills over the span of 10+ years working in both agency and in-house roles. As of August 2023, Corey is volunteering as Director of Flight Operations for AstroAccess, a project dedicated to promoting disability inclusion in space exploration. For AstroAccess, Corey crafts microgravity objects and environments for individuals with disabilities. In May 2023, Corey accepted a new position as the Associate Director of Interaction Design for a creative agency based in New York, called Kettle.
Corey uses CoreyMcC.xyz to showcase his work in an easy-to-navigate manner. On the Work page, you can check out Corey’s unique projects from his time as a Design Lead for Walt Disney Imagineering, including the immersive Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser project. The immersive experience, in which guests are passengers aboard the luxury starcruiser, the Halcyon, emulates the ship’s original voyage from Chandrila to Batuu from Star Wars lore. You can also explore imagery of the Avengers Campus project, a Marvel Cinematic Universe–themed area at Disney California Adventure. Corey shares on this page that his “specialty and true passion is leading small design teams.” He also shares his commitment to “delivering high-quality work and having fun throughout the process.”
There is great benefit in a domain like CoreyMcC.xyz for your personal website. Website visitors have the chance to experience a sampling of Corey’s projects all in one place. The simplified navigation makes it easy for visitors to get a strong sense of his skills and help them consider him for collaboration opportunities. In addition to his experience at Walt Disney Imagineering, Corey has actively served as an Associate Design Director for creative consultancy Frog, an Experience Designer for Marvel Entertainment, and an Environmental Designer for Urban Outfitters. We are glad to have Corey among the thriving .xyz community of skilled creatives. You can learn more about Corey by following him on Instagram and LinkedIn, and by visiting CoreyMcC.xyz.
