Episode 108: A PJ Conversation

A PJ Conversation

Welcome back to the People's Guild. In this episode, we welcome PJ, Splinterlands CTO, to the show.

In one of his only public Praetorian appearances thus far, we get to know PJ as we make our way through a whole slew of topics; including Wes Anderson, validators, Hive, the SPSDAO and much more.

Here's to the first of many!

Enjoy the show.

PJ's Experiences and Jupiter Proposal

The main topic of the discussion was the Jupiter proposal to involve PJ and his team in the completion of the validator project. PJ also shared his role as the CTO of Splinterlands and his appreciation for the community. Additionally, PJ and Hepthorn had a fond discussion about their appreciation for the films of Wes Anderson, particularly "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," "Rushmore," and "Moonrise Kingdom."

PJ's Journey and Crypto Insights

PJ shared his journey from a college dropout to a successful entrepreneur in the crypto world, highlighting his experience in finance, programming, and high-frequency trading. He discussed his role in building the world's largest influencer marketplace and the impact of social media on people's daily lives. PJ also expressed his interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, sharing his insights into identifying and capitalizing on influential actors in the finance market.

PJ's Ecosystem Challenges and Future Improvements

PJ discussed the ongoing challenges and future improvements in the current ecosystem, including the technical debt accumulated from long-term projects and the shift towards agile project management. He shared his decision to step back from direct involvement in the crypto aspect of the business to focus on engineering and infrastructure, and his appointment as CTO at the end of 2022. PJ also highlighted the potential for growth and improvement, the impact of proposals on the ecosystem, and the need for community buy-in for any changes. He discussed the challenges of transitioning from a startup to a billion-dollar entity, the importance of focusing on one proven concept, and the decision to develop validators for the Splinterlands token. Lastly, he clarified the structure of the team and his role as a virtual CTO.

Decentralized Networks and Splinterlands Strategy

PJ discussed the importance of having decentralized networks and multiple contingency plans. He proposed creating a new independent entity led by a trusted individual to manage a potential DAO grant, avoiding conflicts with external control. PJ defended the decision to have a smaller, trained community work on the project, while considering decentralizing development with non-Splinterlands employees. He acknowledged potential conflicts of interest with key individuals and emphasized open communication and involving original builders. PJ highlighted plans to open source the project, address liability concerns, and prioritize openness. He clarified a misunderstanding regarding a Peak Monsters proposal and reiterated his non-involvement policy. PJ discussed Splinterlands' focus on supporting the ecosystem through open APIs, enabling market value preservation. He mentioned a proposal to reinvest into the ecosystem and questioned ways to further help the community. PJ and Bjangles discussed expanding markets across EVM chains, facilitating liquidity and reducing volatility, while criticizing centralized exchange models. PJ suggested community reinvestment, opening markets, and exploring alternatives to centralized exchanges. He discussed proposals for Hive and expanding team exposure, while committing to staying on Hive. PJ outlined strategies for launching wrapped tokens, attracting liquidity providers on other chains, and ensuring contract security. He mentioned the potential of moving into decentralized finance games and the ease of creating ERC-20 tokens. PJ and Hepthorn discussed building a supportive community through education and questioned the decision to list on centralized exchanges. PJ and Bjangles explored improving token interoperability between Hive and Splinterlands, evaluating cost-benefit analyses and potential mutual benefits with payment providers.

Improving Platform, Enhancing Engagement, and Onboarding

The team discussed the importance of understanding their communication and operations, with a focus on improving their platform and keeping the conversation alive. They highlighted the significant contributions of team members, particularly Clay, and the need for his contract extension. The team also emphasized the importance of community support, education, and transparency for the success of their projects, and the need for improved onboarding and access to attract more players. PJ proposed monthly appearances on the 'DAOnhall' and the creation of a focus group to address the difficulties new members face. Both agreed on the need for strategic thinking, financial considerations, and open communication to create a more engaging and valuable experience for the community within the game.

Splinterlands Project and Crypto Optimism

PJ expressed his appreciation for the team at Splinterlands, particularly highlighting the contributions of Investygator, the Vice President of Engineering. He also praised Matt and Aggy for their unique talents and intelligence. The discussion focused on the challenges and future vision for their crypto project, Splinterlands, with PJ emphasizing the importance of aligning incentives with the project's original goals and remaining focused on long-term success. PJ also discussed the potential of cryptocurrency and its appeal to younger generations, predicting the formation of decentralized guilds as people invest in things that improve their lives. He expressed optimism about the future and the potential for scaling down infrastructure, validators, tokens, and payment providers.

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