Depth Dialogue: Ethereum Co-founder Gavin Wood Talks About Technological Innovation and Life

Gavin Wood is a co-founder of Ethereum, the creator of Polkadot, and one of the main advocates of Web3. In a deep interview lasting 3 hours, he shared his insights on the future of blockchain technology, as well as his personal growth experiences.

Starting from Japanese Culture

Gavin expressed that he really likes Japanese culture, especially appreciating the service spirit and attention to detail in Japan. He has a house in Japan, and although he cannot speak Japanese, he can manage some basic phrases. He believes that Japanese culture is very unique and living there is quite interesting.

When talking about British culture, Gavin said that as a Brit, he appreciates some of the traditions in the UK, such as English Indian curry, traditional pubs, and Sunday roasts. He also mentioned that the UK is one of the countries that values etiquette more in the world.

When discussing a sense of humor, Gavin believes that humor is a great way of communication, often containing deeper meanings. He analyzes that humor is usually based on the unique resonance between both parties in the conversation, a resonance that others cannot partake in.

The Impact of Childhood Experiences

Gavin mentioned that he grew up in a single-parent family, and his childhood was not easy. His mother had a violent husband, and this experience left a deep impression on him, mainly a sense of abandonment. He said: "I don't know if this can be considered some kind of trauma, but it has given me a particularly deep appreciation for a 'safe environment'."

Sources of Innovative Thinking

When asked how major ideas like the Ethereum Virtual Machine come about, Gavin stated that these thoughts often arise naturally. He mentioned that he does not start from a goal or plan, but rather, as he contemplates the issues, the "puzzle" of these ideas gradually comes together.

Gavin emphasized that a good idea must be constrained by practical feasibility. He said: "A real 'idea' is that you have a path, you have a way to achieve something. Maybe you don't know the exact details, but you know it is positive, potentially useful, and may help the world."

Challenges That Are Too Ahead of Their Time

As an inventor who often stands at the forefront of the times, Gavin admits that he may have experienced misunderstanding and setbacks because his ideas were too ahead of their time. He said: "If you want to build something that can create value for the world immediately, then you must explain it in a way that the world already understands."

He cited that the Internet was initially used to send emails because people could understand mail, so they could accept this improvement. Gavin believes that sometimes building something is much easier than figuring out its specific use.

Deeply Understanding the Promotion of Major Breakthroughs

Gavin emphasized that starting with "I have this problem, and I want to find a solution" is not enough for larger issues. He suggested that one should begin by analyzing the existing "components," which can include different branches of mathematics and engineering, human understanding of the world, existing goods and services, etc.

He said: "By combining these components, along with some novelty or creativity in knowledge, useful things can be built, which may be used to solve one or more problems. I believe this is the essence of creation."

Gavin believes that there is a spectrum between things that are immediately practical and those that seem purely theoretical. He himself is in the middle of this spectrum, trying to propose new engineering understandings, hoping that these understandings can be part of the next generation of systems and bring about significant improvements.

He concluded: "A better understanding of knowledge itself can lead to great results, and not just one great result, but it may give rise to multiple significant outcomes."