Episode 159 - Richard Carthon, Host of @_cryptocur

You're listening to the only place on the internet that offers the perfect blend of high quality premium cigars and cryptocurrency news and commentary. Welcome to cigars and crypto. Now here's your host, Invest Noir. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this episode of cigars and crypto. You know who it is. You should point to where I let me tell you. I'm so happy to have this

brother on my show. I spoke to him about a week or two ago. And he is doing super big things in this space. His name is Richard Carthon. And he is the host of crypto current brother. How are you today? Man, I'm doing exceptional. Glad we were able to connect again. I'm looking forward to seeing you. I'm going to go forward to conversation with you today.

That sounds good, man. So I like to jump right into my conversations with folks. So tell me about yourself, my friend. How did you get into crypto? Absolutely. So back in 2018, I was working at this artificial intelligence company. First day on the job, my boss says, Hey, what do you know about Bitcoin? I was like, what's that said? Well, trust me. You want to look

into it. You also might want to look at a thing called Ethereum. So I did just that immediately went down the rabbit hole of crypto and a couple of things. Well, you know, but where is crypto concept from? Bitcoin? Where is crypto? Where's this prototype? Where is that future? So I come by it and now we are working with the crypto extraction company. I'm going to

win through that journey. So through that process, crypto current was was born, which is a podcast that's bridging the gap between people who know nothing about cryptocurrency and blockchain with thought leaders in the space. Now that is interesting. I want to take a second to break that up because you you said two things that really resonated with me. The first thing you talked about was your

time working for an AI company and the second piece I want to break up is how you how you develop the insight to realize that this space needs to be presented to folks in a different way. So let's take the first topic first AI. What did you do with an AI company? Yeah. So I was working at a company that essentially used artificial intelligence to create

newsletters based on tendencies and bringing in different articles from different places. We actually use it at crypto current. So if you sign up for our newsletter, we actually you know, we have a lot of different slides of the company is called rassa to create these newsletters that go out and are distributed weekly. And so I was on the sales team. And so I was helping to

get this out in front of more people and to build out our initial pipeline. Got you. Now that's cool, man. You know, a lot of people in this space assume that you have to be a full stack development engineer or a solidity expert to get into crypto. But there is room in this space for everyone in this space. And there are skill sets and talents that

are needed that have nothing to do with development or coding or anything like that. So it makes me happy to hear that you were able to use your background, your education, your skill sets to participate in the crypto community. And the way that was unique and beneficial for you. So let's go to the second part. No, no, go ahead. Really quick on that. There's the thing.

There's something I want to add to it, which I think you brought up, which I don't want to overlook. And that is effective communication. So if you think about sales and everything that goes on even marketing, some of the greatest projects and products that I've ever created you've never heard of in his simply because people didn't know how to effectively communicate. Why you should either be

buying this thing from us or creating a marketing campaign to present in front of the right people who would even be looking to use those services. So in a no effective communication extends past all types of industries. If you're effective communicator and can really bridge that gap for people, you will always have a place in this world. Yeah, I totally agree. I was having a conversation

a couple months ago with someone. And I mentioned to them that I wish there were people on the original Bitcoin team who had an expertise in marketing. Because when Bitcoin initially rolled out, the talking points that I observed on Reddit and Bitcoin talk all discussed block height, block time, mutable transactions and public ledgers. And honestly, these things don't mean anything to the layman. Right. Don't mean

anything to regular people. It's not to you explain to them the ways that Bitcoin can benefit people that they identify. It can benefit them. And so being an effective communicator is so crucial, especially because we all aspire to onboard the world to Bitcoin. And to do that, you need someone who can create and shape a narrative. And I don't think those people are full stack dev

engineers or blockchain engineers. And just as you said, man, effective communication is so important, so important. For sure, man. And just like you alluded with all of that, if sometimes you need to hear something three different ways before something connects. And so you have to have different angles to the approach. The same way that you talk to your mom about something is the same way you're

going to talk to your best friend about something is the same way you're going to talk to a potential client about something. There's a different narrative and a different approach. You're going to have to take for whatever you're trying to communicate to resonate with. And having the ability to figure out what those storylines look like and how to make those connections for those various audiences is

incredibly powerful. But I think you really can't even develop that skill into you foundationally understand it yourself. And so you have someone foundationally explain it to you to where it finally clicks and makes sense. And then effectively finding ways to continue to distribute that information out to whoever's receiving it. And that's a great segue into my name. Next question, a fundamental and foundational understanding. When you

fell down the Bitcoin and Ethereum rabbit holes, where did you go to find the information that you needed to learn about the space so that you could effectively communicate to other people so that you could bridge the gap, so to say, so that the layman would understand what it is, how it works and why it's important to them. So the first places I went were, you

know, just really just doing like Google searches, right? And then trying to find content creators who could say the narrative in a way that made sense to me. So I found some different people on YouTube. I found some people on podcasts, but would really did it for me. And I think you even mentioned this in our interview on crypto current was crypto Twitter crypto Twitter is

as I asked questions truly break it down and give me the initials that I need and point me in the right directions and give me the resources so I can keep growing on my own. And it was really, I think, amazing to find people who are so passionate about paying affordable and just helping being a resource. I agree, man, I, you know, I've been in this

space for a little while, but I didn't find crypto Twitter until I want to say March of 2016 or 2017. Prior to that, I spent the majority of my time on my Bitcoin and cryptocurrency journey on Reddit. And someone posted a tweet on Reddit that forced me to look at Twitter. And when I realized that there was a such thing as a crypto Twitter, the very

first person that I bumped into who responded to me was Mansa, Godson. So shout out to Mansa, thinking about your brother and I appreciate you. He was like, yo, check out these resources. I know you've been in this space for a while, but if you really want to learn how to trade because at the time I wanted to learn how to trade, he said, you need

to go and check out these resources and he sent me about 10 links, man, where I could go and look up. You know, different, you know, different information for myself and really learn about this space. So that's actually a great segue into my next question. You know, thinking about learning about this space. Tell me about crypto current. You alluded to what it is, but I want

the full story from you. What is crypto current? How did you come up with the concept and where can people find it? Absolutely. So crypto current is bridging the gap between people who know nothing about cryptocurrency and blockchain with thought leaders in the space. So I'm going to ask you guys, what's the most important thing to do? What we do is provide interviews, multiple times during

the week, typically on Mondays and Thursdays, where we talk to various, either owners, CEOs, marketing, whomever on various teams on various crypto and blockchain projects, who both explain what it is that they're working on while also talking about fundamentals of different like crypto topics, like non-fungible tokens, aka NFTs, also talking about blockchain, you also talk about Bitcoin foundation, we also talk about DeFi, all kinds of

various topics, but presented in different ways in different angles at which companies are taking an approach to present their idea to the world. Additionally, we create resources where you can either watch videos, you can listen to our podcast, you can also watch us on YouTube to consume content that's in a digestible way. Like my whole point with creating crypto current was create digestible news that would

empower you to go and take action. Because knowledge is power, but if you can learn and know a thing and hear about it, but until it's said and quite a way that makes you now want to go do something, that's essentially what we're trying to elicit is action. And so we are creating that crypto and blockchain content so that you can go and take action. And

the last piece of it was if you want to find us, you can go to crypto-current.co. And we're on all of our social channels. If you just look up crypto current, you'll definitely be able to find out what we're doing. We're really big on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and also we're on TikTok. Amazing. So I'm going to pivot a little bit here and let's have a conversation,

podcast, or to podcast. I find from time to time, it difficult to find projects that are willing to speak with me. I can find individuals all day. Right. But it's projects that I want to speak to some time that I want to expose people to what methods do you use to reach out to folks and ask them to talk to you. Do you do your research

on a project beforehand? Or are you scrolling some social media site? You see something that's interesting. And then you just reach out to them and say, Hey, let's talk. Yeah, it really depends. So a lot of it has to do with just like more mint rows. So working with one project and they're like, Hey, have you heard of it? I've heard of XYZ. I'm like, no,

actually, I haven't. So I didn't go look them up. And they're like, yeah, well, if you like what you see and you want to introduction, happy to do it. So that's one way where it's just organic and warm intros to one another. Another is if I'm looking through projects, I'm also very pretty involved on telegram and a couple of the different groups that I'm and sometimes

we'll just name drop a random project. I've never heard of. So then I'll go do research. And then if I like what they're working on, I'll either try to contact the person who brought them up to see if they had a connection to one of the people on the team or just cold outreach. I have like a whole like like a spiel that I give and

say like, Hey, we've, this is what we're doing. Here's some different people that we brought on the show previously. Here's why it makes sense for you to potentially come on our show. This is something you're interested in. And then just take the conversation from there. We have like a, you know, like a full PR funnel, if you will. So we have different people that we're reaching

out to making sure we're following up and just see if we can start to get some of these various people on our show. Hey, are you looking to invest in Bitcoin? Coin Flip is the easiest way to buy. Coin Flip ATMs let you trade cash directly for crypto. And you can get started with as little as $5. You heard that right? $5. Use discount code, Newar29

in OIR29 for 10% off any transaction at a coin Flip ATM. Find a coin Flip ATM location near you at coin Flip dot tech that's COINFLIP.TECH coin Flip dot tech. Don't forget. Use that discount code. And part of that is because when I first started this show, man, and I think I've admitted this a couple of times, this show is very selfish for me. While I

do have listeners that listen to me, when I ask people to come on my show, it's because I want to learn something. And it's easy. I think I said this to you. The easiest way to learn something is just ask someone a question. And when I reach out to people and I say, hey, your project looked really, really interesting. Would you be willing to talk to

me about it? A lot of the times they ignore you. But if I say to them, hey, your project looks really, really interesting. Would you be willing to come on my show for 30 minutes to talk about it? Next thing, you know, I'm getting all kinds of DMs and emails. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. You know what I mean? And so I like to ask questions

and I like to learn things cold. But I think what I need to do is start adopting the method that you're using because I think warm intros would help me to get some of my people that I'm really interested in. I am not really looking for big projects. I don't want to talk to a Charles Hoskins or to a Vitaleck. I don't want to talk to

them. I don't, not that I don't like them, but I just don't have any conversation for them. I want to talk to that obscure developer who's working on a new layer to innovation for Bitcoin. I want to talk to a dev or some other member of the team that I'm going to talk to. That's working on a new iteration of Avalanche or of Ethereum or some

weird obscure project because I like to learn about new things and new topics. But, you know, don't be surprised if I start reaching out to you for warm intros, man, because my method is really scatterbrain, bro. Gotcha. Yeah, man, it's not a problem. It's, it's definitely an art. And as you continue to like reach out and find different strategies that work, you kind of just like

double down and like make new iterations. And it's, it's a great thing to do. I like what you said with like, you know, we at Cryptocurrent, we have had some, you know, larger names on the show, one of the most recent being a BitBoy, a bit Armstrong. That's like one of the largest YouTube audiences in the space. But as we are kind of reaching out, we

really just enjoy having those conversations with projects that have a lot of merit. Who it has a lot of potential to be here in the next five to 10 years. So like I am very bullish on companies who are building to last. They're here to create something. That is foundationally trying to help improve the world or change the world, but who are also like not trying

to like become get rich quick. I'ma be the richest company in the next two years. They're like, no, I'm trying to, I'm trying to be around for the next decade. I like that because I, they see the vision of where the crypto and blockchain space are going. And I want to be surrounded by those kinds of of minds and thinkers because they see the bigger picture

here. And I think too many people have just the laser focus of how much money can I make right now in the short amount of time instead of looking at where is this going in the next decade. And that's where I like to focus some of our energy. Yeah, man, that sounds good. So let me ask you an off the cuff question. If there was any

individual or a top five group of people that you would want to have when you show who would they be. Man, that's a great question. So I mean, a lot of them, so we do have a kind of a different approach in a sense of like, yes, we will talk to any company, but we are starting to go up there. You know, some of the heavier

hit hitters that are out there, you know, wouldn't mind having a pop coming on the show. A sailor coming on the show. I like speaking with, with potential, I don't want to say like super controversial, but like, people, I think I'm going to be able to do something like that. Who are stirring the pot in the space because there's a lot to be said about people

who are bringing more attention and making people have conversations, right. And the wink of osse I wouldn't mind having them either, but like the reason I say that and of course, like, yes, these are larger people that a lot of people know in the space. But what's interesting is I think every time that they like go and do interviews. People are focused on, they don't necessarily

ask the questions that others are asking that I particularly want to ask. I would be coming for more of a place of curiosity, a more of a place of, you know, how do we not just plan for this moment, but like, how do we keep planning for what's to come in the in the future. And how is what you have like talked about over the last

decade when you saw this this vision. How have you created a plan in like how accurately has that plan come true. And how are you making adjustments to now adjust to where things are now headed. And because I want to give people the ability to prepare a lot of newbies in the space always think, well, I can't afford a $60,000 Bitcoin. I can't afford necessarily a

$2,000 Ethereum. Well, you don't have to you, you can spend $5, you can spend $10, you can dollar cost average, you can start doing smaller increments that will ultimately build up to having a nice stack potentially in the next five to 10 years. If that's the outlook that you want to be in this space. So I think everyone feels like when you're taking knowledge and initially,

when you come into this space, it's like, drink from water hose like, oh my gosh, there's so much information. I don't know what to do. There's always these new things coming up. Don't try to do everything at once. Like, find a couple of key things that are nuggets that you think people should be paying attention to and learning about initially and then grow from there. So

like, I would be trying to pick their brains on, hey, here's the brand new person. Give me the first three steps on like what they can actually do right now to just start. Yeah. And that makes perfect sense man. Makes perfect sense. I, you know, I asked that question, but now that I think about it, I don't know who I would pick. There's a list out

there that an older copy of this list is in the back of the book, Bitcoin and Black America by Isaiah Jackson. And it is the blacks and blockchain list. And I would love to get every person on that updated list. On my show. I think, I think brothers and sisters are not as visible in this space as we could or should be. And whether they are

core devs, I think the brother's name is Jamar James or Big Mar, you know, or, and some other capacity is like CEO or CTO. I would love to give. People who are really impacting this space who do not have visibility visibility. So I'm looking for those types of folks. And I think the first person I will probably, the first group I will probably start with would

be that list. But, you know, who I really want to get on my show man. This is like so left field bro. The guy, he always says bro bro or Twitter red. Kim Bozak, yo, I love to have Kim Bozak. Oh, I saw bro. I've met him one time in Philly. And he is such a character, man. And he seems like such a cool dude. When

I met him in person, he was absolutely hilarious, but extremely knowledgeable about this space. So shout out to Kim Bozak. You're cool, dude, bro. Got to have you on my show one day, man. You'll get a man. Hope for yourself. You know, it's fun. So, you know, you brought up something that's a great segue into my last question. Where do you see the future of Bitcoin

cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in the next three to five years? So in the next three to five years, we will probably have finished this current bill cycle and be headed towards the next one. So we will have had another one four years of have another Bitcoin happening. And you know, that always intrinsically makes the price. Bitcoin increase also as we look at adoption from a global

standpoint, you already started to see CBDC centralized banking digital currencies. And I think we're going to see that really start to take form and countries really starting to adopt digital currencies. Blockchain is here to stay. And there is a lot of great use cases on why it's going to be continued to use. And it's going to extend outside of just cryptocurrency. It's going to go into

the medical field. It's going to go into all kinds of of different verticals, even when you look at logistics, like a Walmart, putting stuff out there. So that's going to continue to develop and be utilized. But cryptocurrency, I think, is in the next three to five years going to create a next wave of generational wealth that this world has not seen in decades. And I think

as that power dynamic shifts. And I started to see a lot of younger people who are getting heavily involved in the crypto blockchain space and have made some wealth. They're going to start getting seats at the end of the day. And then the different companies, seats at the table and having a louder voice in the room so they can start leading some different initiatives that will

continue to shape and form the next five years after that. I think that NFTs are going to continue to be utilized and are going to be the new age of value that is stored digitally. So when we were out of care, we were in a state of, you know, for the last 100 years or so of cards like trading cards, whether it's like baseball cards or

Pokemon or what have you like a lot of that had merit and and we'll see this quote unquote valuable, but NFTs I believe we'll be taking over that space and a lot of money and opportunity in that's going to shift over into the non-frontible token space. So like, you know, Ethereum's though the polka dots, the cardanos, we're going to see a lot more of those really

start to pick up steam because I think if you look at a there's always like a a similarity that you can draw to. The early dot com time and when that was happening, you had all of these companies come out of nowhere and they were getting, you know, throw millions of dollars and XYZ and most of them failed. Right. Let's call it a new. 90% of

them felt 10% that made it though life changing like dominating the Amazon's the Googles the you know, even the a well at the time they didn't ultimately make it but during that time they did just fine, but just made some bad decisions that ultimately, you know, crushed them as a company, but still during that timeline. So much opportunity was there and I think in this next

three to five years we're going to see more crypto platforms that will really take steam and we'll start to separate themselves from the pack and I think we'll continue to see more crypto projects continue into the space, but I really think the platforms are going to really, really start to you're going to start picking which platform you want to build on top of and that's when

we're going to start seeing even more like the crypto ecosystem start to pick up and we'll see which ones are being more effective than others. But I appreciate your insight. And I appreciate you joining me on my show. So tell my listeners one more time where we can find you online all of your socials as well as your URLs. For sure. So you can check us

out at crypto dash current dot CEO on Twitter. It is underscore crypto current underscore Instagram. It is crypto current with an underscore at the end. And then me personally, you can just look up a richer car. On on Twitter, I'm just richer car. On Instagram, I'm Richard underscore car. And definitely look forward to connecting. We also have some clubhouse sessions that we do every Wednesday. So

if you're on that listening to that and want to participate in active conversations, please join us there and happy to connect and meet with you. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Richard Carathon host of crypto current brother, thank you so much for your time today. I really do appreciate you. Thanks for having me.