Dayvan at Web3 Summit: Optimising Your Digital Mindset
I’m thrilled to be running a nodespace at the Web3 Summit, happening from 19-21 August in Berlin. “Dayvan: Optimising Your Digital Mindset.” Come say hi.
The last time this event took place was in 2019. It had a profound influence on my life.
Back then I was an urban planning graduate working in education, and blockchain was a fun topic to explore after seeing Andreas Antonopoulos two years earlier. I was living across the world from my partner and this event was the perfect midway point for us to meet. He co-founded a wholesome thing, Flex Dapps. It was all exciting.
The power of good curation
I was fascinated by the website design of the event; minimal, mysterious, with no sponsors or loud messages — an underground vibe that stood in stark contrast to the colourful and formal conference world I was familiar with from the World Innovation Summit for Education.
I spent ages preparing beforehand, watching all the talks from the previous year. Honestly, much of it was beyond my grasp but it was thrilling. I remember thinking: I’m so grateful to be alive at the same time as these people. My two favourite talks (this one and this one) stuck with me; their perspectives mapped onto my urban planner brain. Following them shaped how I navigated Web3.
The event was memorable: the DAO vs DAO chess game, Ed Snowden, Harry Halpin announcing Nym, Michael Zargham on BlockScience, and learning about the Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace thanks to Jillian York.
Although I was too shy to talk to anyone, I furiously took notes. For what? I had no idea. I was just eager and grateful to absorb this new information; it was new surface area for my mind to explore. The cypherpunk vibes and heartfelt passion of everyone there added an intensity to the experience that still resonates with me.
I did end up making two new friends, Kris and Jeff. Wow, truly wonderful beings who introduced me to the world of token engineering and ReFi. People who I met or watched at this event influenced the mix of accounts and groups I followed and which topics my attention went to. Privacy became another vital part for me, and what emerged over five years was a balance of solarpunk and lunarpunk.
The power of good curation at the Web3 Summit cannot be understated here. This was a nice mix for me; I like to scaffold my world with multiple disciplines, perspectives, and cultures. Always lurking in the intersections. Always traversing.
A new kind of resilience
What fascinates me most is the people in this space, it’s humbling to witness human journeys. Working so hard. The loneliness. The intensity. Personal losses. It takes a special kind of resilience and character to stay in this space long-term. At least that’s how I see it.
Personally, the biggest challenge has been my imagination. I can create beautiful new worlds, but sometimes that imagination turns into paranoia. Navigating cybersecurity with a creative mind is tricky, especially when you’re nomadic and solo.
This intensity has led me to where I am now; focusing on my mental space and connection with people. After all this time, growth, side quests, sacrifices, and failures, I want to channel a deeply creative and loving energy. Drawing from science-fiction worlds and embodied practices, I’m crafting something unique.
Creative therapy made just for Web3
This is why I started Dayvan. I see everyone in Web3 as deeply creative, especially the software engineers and all the complexity nerds. To me, what you do is art. Your well-being matters, because what you create is an extension of who you are and what you’re experiencing.
I believe it’s essential to optimise how we interact with the technology we create.
This isn’t a typical workshop — it’s a creative practice for digital psychology. Imagine a space to upgrade your mental OS, exploring the intersection of digital and emotional intelligence. I’ll guide meditations and embodiment activities, like designing a personal UI that reflects your aesthetic and emotional patterns, helping you navigate your physical and digital worlds.
I’m returning to this event as a different person, still eager and a little shy, but with an offering that feels both exciting and authentic.
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Join me at Nodespace 5, to play and create a web that’s as user-friendly for our minds as it is for our networks: 2-4PM, 19-21 Aug, Web3 Summit, Funkhaus, Berlin.
Also follow on instagram @dayvan.xyz