The CryptoSmiles Series: Jaide Barclay
This Q&A series celebrates those visionaries who were the first in the world to buy a Smile Maker at CryptoSmiles.Store and demonstrate their commitment to the future of crypto payments and mass scale adoption.
At Hong Kong Blockchain Week 2019, Jaide Barclay jumped at the chance to buy herself The Frenchman with ETH. This energetic and optimistic Aussie has thrown herself into the burgeoning world of blockchain with a 12wk challenge where she isn’t allowed to buy anything unless it’s with crypto…
Follow her adventures on Instagram (her handle is @jaideb18).
Everyone has a story about how they fell ‘down the rabbit hole’.
What’s yours?
September 2017 when China banned crypto the price drop really hit Australian news. It caught my attention, I then started watching YouTube videos and researching and a week later I had set up my first trading account and bought bitcoin. I got to ride the really fun wave for two months and got hooked.
Looking back, how do you think the blockchain space has changed? Or… What have you learned since then?
I’ve learnt more about how money has changed over centuries. Crypto has dramatically shaken the financial industry but it’s not the first time that’s happened. Credit cards were a shock, The introduction of gold certificates were a shock and leaving the gold standard for fiat was too. Crypto is the latest major change that will one day become the norm. The same changes can be looked at with the internet and how that has evolved. People are still hearing and learning about blockchain. The world discovered and learnt about the internet and now it’s a part of our everyday lives. The same will happen with blockchain technology.
What are you working on now?
I’m doing a 12 week cryptocurrency challenge. I’m traveling to 12 countries in 12 weeks and living only on crypto. No cash, no cards and documenting the everyday hurdles I face. I’m doing this to spread awareness, encourage more people to start using crypto and accepting it. I’m also doing it to educate myself, experience life being cut off from cash and cards and see if it’s possible. I’m learning so much, meeting awesome people doing it and having so much fun along the way.
What myth would you like to dispel about crypto?
That it’s a pyramid scheme, it’s dodgy and only used for illegal purchases, e.g. buying drugs on Silk Road.
What do you wish you could buy with crypto that you can’t now?
Where do l start with this one!!? Parking tickets (learnt the hard way), groceries, clothes, coffee easier, hair and beauty treatments and in general I wish it were available in more bars and restaurants.
Favourite crypto / blockchain project?
Ravencoin. It differs from others projects as it specialises only in the creation and P2P transfer of assets. There are no other intended uses for the coin, it simply focuses on what it was created for. It meets the demand for assets and securities to be tradable across borders. It’s fast, with a 1 minute block time. It’s an open-source project that’s transparent, decentralised and secure. It’s only just over a year old and is already #33 on CoinMarketCap.
Your prediction for crypto / blockchain in 2019?
I think we will see the market regulated this year which will be followed by investment banks all opening crypto trading desks, introducing new crypto investment opportunities and products and institutional money will be injected into the market.
What makes you smile?
People breaking away from convention and not being afraid making fun of themselves.
Why did you choose to support the launch of CryptoSmiles.Store?
Vodka lol. I know I probably shouldn’t say that but it’s true. I’m also very fortunate it did. I met Leah on the fourth day of my 12 week challenge. We were introduced through a mutual friend Max Geraldes at an after party for Hong Kong Blockchain Week. After meeting Leah and hearing that I could buy a vibrator with crypto, two minutes later we were sitting together navigating our way through the online checkout. It was so much fun and such a cool purchase that I’ve been able to tell people about. It was also the beginning of a new friendship which I’m very lucky to have found. I look forward to plenty more after parties with Leah, sex toy purchases and intimate.io events!
Smile Makers are designing the next model to add to their collection. If you were a Smile Maker, what would you be named and why?
The Dick Tease… Because it’s so much fun 😂
Anything else you’d like to add?
I’m eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the newest edition to the smile maker range 😉
