Social Good and the Triple Bottom Line: People Profit and the Planet // Blockchain Futurist 2024

The original vision of blockchain/crypto focused on social good, financial inclusion and banking the unbanked, though some feel the industry has drifted from these ideals

Triple bottom line framework focuses on:

• People (social impact, inclusion)
• Profit (financial sustainability)
• Planet (environmental considerations)

Environmental concerns around crypto mining are significant:

• Bitcoin mining uses ~121 TWh annually (comparable to Netherlands)
• Innovation happening with heat recycling and grid stabilization
• Shift from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake shows environmental progress

Mass adoption is increasing through:

• ETF approvals
• Traditional finance entering the space
• Gaming/Play-to-earn adoption in developing nations
• Integration with existing financial systems

Keys to maintaining social impact:

• Focus on technology’s power to help underserved populations
• Build with communities rather than just for them
• Make blockchain invisible/seamless for end users
• Balance profit motives with social good
• Support projects aligned with social impact goals

Education and inclusion remain critical:

• Need better onboarding for non-technical users
• More focus on practical use cases vs speculation
• Supporting women and underrepresented groups in the space
• Teaching technical skills to expand access