Brian Huang - How to Actually Own Your Assets & Make More Money
1. The Importance of Merging UX in Crypto
Brian emphasized that current crypto applications predominantly feature poor user experiences, contrasting sharply with the smooth user interfaces found in traditional fintech. He argued that to broaden the audience of crypto, there needs to be a major focus on improving user experience. The goal should be to create platforms that simplify the complexities of decentralized finance (DeFi) and make it accessible for everyone.
2. Ownership and Direct Asset Management
According to Brian, one of Glider's flagship features is that users directly own the underlying assets in their ETFs. This means not only ownership but also the rights that accompany it, such as voting and earning dividends. He believes that eliminating intermediaries empowers users, allowing them to have a more direct relationship with their assets, which is a fundamental shift from traditional financial services.
3. The Game-Changing Moment for DeFi
Brian recounted his “aha” moment during the rise of Uniswap, which showcased the concept of earning yield through liquidity pools. This rallying point solidified his conviction that crypto can eliminate the need for intermediaries in financial transactions, allowing users to maximize their earnings directly. This realization has been pivotal in shaping the mission of Glider to innovate within the DeFi space.
4. The Role of Design in Building Trust
Brian highlighted that high-quality design is crucial in establishing trust with users, stating that good design can create a brand moat. He pointed out that many DeFi applications lack strong UX and design, which hinders wider adoption. By employing expert designers, his team at Glider aims to craft a visually appealing and user-friendly platform that advocates for better user experiences in the crypto space.
5. Revenue is Key to Long-term Success
Brian conveyed a significant insight regarding the importance of revenue generation for the sustainability of DeFi projects. He claimed that without generating real revenue from activities, projects might attract attention but will not be able to survive in the long run. Brian states that managing a crypto application should be treated as a business that requires consistent revenue, which fundamentally changes how tokens are positioned within these applications.
6. The Limitations of Traditional Finance
Having worked at a major bank, Brian shared that traditional finance often imposes layers of inefficiencies and middlemen that crypto could eliminate. He argued that crypto's decentralized nature allows for the creation of direct, peer-to-peer financial systems that are quicker and more efficient, which can ultimately empower users more than traditional banks ever could.
