“I find crypto interesting both because it’s like a massive multiplayer online money game, and because it’s full of fun culture and narratives and storytelling.”

With both parents working as entrepreneurs in the technical area and a background of his own in politics, international trade, and human rights, Ben’s approach to crypto was bound to have a humanitarian element to it. After dabbling in 2019, in mid-2020, he pivoted from his full-time day job towards crypto at a professional level.

“I find crypto interesting both because it’s like a massive multiplayer online money game, and because it’s full of fun culture and narratives and storytelling.”

He began working on DeFi protocols, learning how everything worked in crypto, continuing to collect NFTs, and speculating here and there. Later, he connected with Claire Silver, an AI artist, and together they created Accelerate Art, a whole bunch of curated 3D art shows. The shows include live artist walk-throughs with artists explaining their work. Accelerate Art now has a new momentum as a decentralized community of creatives, collectors, and builders focused on supporting emerging artists.

Alongside Accelerate Art, Ben began Good Minds, an indie art collection whose intention is accessibility and education and trying to push the space forward. It is a non-profit that also supports emerging artists.

Of his relationship with artists, Ben says, “I collect stuff because I like it. I treasure the things I collect because I’ve interacted with the human behind them. What I like about NFT culture specifically is you’re able to build relationships with artists so easily, and that makes the industry special in my opinion.”

For Ben, it’s a privilege to work in an area in which he is fundamentally interested and committed. He also believes that crypto and AI will be the two themes that shape humanity over the next decade, and we hope he remains a big part of it.