Brought to you by the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC), Digital Currency Innovation Lab (DCIL) and Entrepreneurs Sandbox, “DCIL Presents:…” is a series of webinars and events designed to educate and raise awareness around virtual currencies.

NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are the most active, and most controversial, sector within the crypto space, regularly making headlines for celebrity endorsements, get-rich-quick schemes, and outright scams. In this session, Hawaii-based entrepreneur and digital designer Ryan Esaki will tackle the criticisms of NFTs head on, and push past the hype to reveal a better, brighter digital future.

After assessing the current public perception of NFTs — not all of it without merit — Ryan will explain what NFTs actually are, and what they could represent in heralding the next generation of the Internet. He will cover common misconceptions, Play-to-Earn (P2E) gaming, and the potential to eliminate entire middle-man industries. Often called Web3, NFTs may actually be the best gateway to move the world toward decentralized, blockchain-based transactions.

About the Speaker

Ryan Esaki is a Kauai native and a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in digital media since its early days. From building Hawaii’s first online video platform in 2006 to co-founding the popular Ukulele Underground learning network, he enjoys exploring new ideas, building new things from scratch, and finding success despite limited capital and other resources. He publishes a popular NFT podcast and is preparing to launch his own NFT project later this year.

About the Series

The Digital Currency Innovation Lab (DCIL) is a pilot program by the State of Hawaii. The program allows digital currency issuers to do business in Hawaii without obtaining a state money transmitter license. www.htdc.org/programs/#dcil-section

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) is a state agency under the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Our mission is to diversify Hawaii’s economy by developing a flourishing technology industry that provides quality, high-paying jobs for Hawaii residents. www.htdc.org

The Entrepreneurs Sandbox is a co-working facility in Kaka’ako, owned by HTDC and managed by BoxJelly. As the “front door to innovation”, our mission is to bring together change agents in Hawaii to enable transformation for a more dynamic Hawaii through technology and entrepreneurship. www.sandboxhawaii.org

Please register by Tuesday, 4/26 at 5pm HST. After registration closes, we will send a Zoom link to all registered participants. If you are unable to register, please contact us at info@htdc.org to be added to the waitlist.