Know Your Alien: Sugoi
Welcome to another edition of Know Your Alien, where we dive deep into the lives of those who shape the Zenon Network. Today, we're featuring Sugoi, a prominent contributor and one of the visionaries behind Zitadel Logz.
Discovering a Hidden Gem
Let's meet Sugoi. He's not just anyone. He's a key player in Zenon. Imagine someone always searching and paying attention. That's Sugoi.
His journey to Zenon wasn't just luck. It was curiosity and a push from a friend that got him started. Sugoi stands out. He dives into the depths of our network, looking for connections and new ideas. He's about more than just tech. He's about the people and the journey.
Q: So, Sugoi, tell us about that first moment Zenon caught your eye. How and when did you first discover Zenon? What was it about our network that grabbed your attention?
I first heard of Zenon through a friend in early 2021. At that time, I was still somewhat skeptical since $ZNN was only available on obscure exchanges (STEX, Mercatox, Bilaxy), and I could not find much information on the project beyond its impressive-looking website. Thus, I naturally thought it might just be another scam.
This was during a period when I regularly visited the /biz board on 4chan, searching for hidden gems and just trolling around. Coincidentally, I began to notice Zenon threads appearing more frequently, which eventually led me to biting the bullet. So, I went ahead and bought my first zennies on Stex just a few weeks after learning about it.
Following this, I joined the Telegram group to conduct my due diligence, and what surprised me the most was the community's deep knowledge about crypto/blockchain in general. I learned a lot about the network and gradually went deeper into the rabbit hole. Beyond the innovative technology, it was really the schizo theories that pulled me in and made me a believer.
Q: Have you always been as active in other projects as you are in Zenon? If not, what about Zenon motivated you to take an active role as a contributor?
Since I started my journey in crypto, there hasn't been another community like Zenon's. The drama and frens made over the years create a very unique group of people, which I truly appreciate.
My motivation to become more active as a contributor stems from several reasons. Firstly, I enjoy helping others, and given that NoM can be quite daunting and complex, I often find myself assisting new community members.
Secondly, since the Alphanet Inception, I've come to understand that the original team is not coming to save us. The founding team gave us Zenon, and it's up to the community to build on it. I want to see NoM succeed, and it would be incredible if we manage to do so.
Lastly, stemming from my second point, being this engaged also means that having skin in the game will be more rewarding if we're able to pull this off. It would be amazing to live off rewards, being able to continue contributing to NoM, developing and expressing my creative/spiritual mind, and just having a blast with the community. Wen $12723?!
Q: Considering the unique and leaderless nature of Zenon, often described as a self-evolving superorganism, what do you think about how Zenon started and what it's become?
I genuinely believe that when Satoshi Nakamoto envisioned Bitcoin, it wasn't meant to handle complex operations. Over the years, many layer-1 networks have emerged, with Ethereum being the most notable. The fact that it's pre-mined and not scalable at all convinces me that our founding developers are masterminds. They've created a self-sustaining network, not for profit, but for the benefit of humanity. That thought is just wild to me.
Currently, there are still numerous upgrades needed for the network, but as Mr. Kaine says, "Rome wasn't built in a day." It may take us some time, but observing the evolving crypto landscape, it's evident that Zenon has the ability to adapt. For instance, its anticipation of the Narwhal & Tusk integration reassures me of the foundation and architecture of NoM's impeccable design.
If you're reading this, my thanks to you, Professor Z.
I wasn't sure of that Mr. Kaine quote, so I had to double check. Of course, it was accurate.
Q: If there's one thing about Zenon you wish was more widely known, what would it be? Also, could you share a particularly memorable moment or a surprising lesson you've encountered while working on Zenon?
One aspect of Zenon that I truly appreciate and wish more people were aware of is how the network incentivizes all participants. Unlike other projects where a "team" might have vested supply that could potentially be dumped on the market, Zenon operates on a more equitable basis. The more you contribute to the network, the more you are rewarded, and the yields are quite attractive. Additionally, the ability to manage everything within the s y r i u s wallet, maintaining control over our assets, is incredibly empowering. I believe the incentives offered by NoM are unparalleled compared to other protocols.
A particularly memorable moment for me was when I noticed the BTC button in the s y r i u s wallet and when the bitcoin got morphed into a Sentinel in the Alphanet Big Bang clip (at the 1:16 timestamp). Witnessing this was a clear indication to me that we are on the path to revolutionizing Bitcoin, a moment that solidified my belief in Zenon's potential and its impact on the future of cryptocurrencies.
Q: What excites you most about Zenon's future developments? Why?
What excites me most about Zenon's future developments is the prospect of merge-mining going live. This feature is set to revolutionize the way we think about network security and resource utilization by allowing individuals to simultaneously mine Bitcoin and contribute hashing power to NoM. The ability to build up a Bitcoin treasury while enhancing the security and robustness of Zenon's network represents a significant innovation in the crypto space.
Moreover, the foundation it sets for future Network States is particularly intriguing. By establishing a strong, secure, and economically incentivized network, Zenon is paving the way for a new era of decentralized governance structures. These Network States, built on the principles of security, decentralization, and community participation, could significantly impact how communities organize, govern, and interact on a global scale.
Q: In an ideal world with Zenon's network fully developed, what particular infrastructure or feature would you wish to see realized tomorrow?
In an ideal world where Zenon's network is fully developed, I think it would be really cool to integrate s y r i u s into my daily life, enabling me to spend zats or zStables in a non-custodial manner seamlessly. The broader application of using the s y ri u s wallet could significantly impact developing countries by providing a secure, efficient, and accessible means of transaction.
This capability would not only revolutionize personal finance management but also empower individuals in developing regions with financial tools previously out of reach, fostering greater economic participation and independence.
Q: What part of Zenon do you wish got more attention?
I'm really hoping for more focus on the NFT Standard in Zenon. The advancements in Bitcoin integration are exciting, but creating a space for the creative talents in our community is equally important to me.
Art and the joy of collecting have always resonated with me. By putting more effort into enhancing and promoting the NFT Standard, we could open doors to a wider audience, boosting our profile and influence across the crypto landscape. It's an opportunity to not only diversify but also to enrich our ecosystem with the vibrant creativity that collecting and art bring.
I also might want to launch an NFT collection of my own the moment when we're able to. Zoon I guess... ;-)
Q: What's a common misconception about Zenon that you’d like to clarify?
A common misconception about Zenon that I'd like to address is the perception that the project appears inactive or "dead" to the external observer. This perspective primarily arises because, unless one is deeply engaged with the community, it can be challenging to keep up with all the updates and developments. This challenge is exactly why I was passionate about contributing to Z-Hub and why I've initiated Zitadel Logz—to provide the community with regular updates on everything related to the Network of Momentum (NoM).
Contrary to this misconception, Zenon is far from inactive. The community and the number of contributors are continuously growing. Even amidst rumors that the founding team might have left the project—a misconception that also needs clarification—I am confident in our ability to thrive and grow to become the biggest in the game.
Q: What's the biggest challenge you’ve faced in the Zenon ecosystem and how did you overcome it?
The most significant challenge I've encountered within the Zenon ecosystem has been the anticipation and wait for the network's developments to unfold. The project's progress can seem slow at times, occasionally feeling like an opportunity cost.
Rather than remaining idle, I've taken the initiative to acquire new skills that I've always been interested in, allowing me to contribute to Zenon in my own way. While I acknowledge that I have a long journey ahead, I find joy in the learning process and am hopeful that my efforts will eventually bring value to NoM and its participants in the future.
Q: Looking at the broader picture of the crypto world, where do you see Zenon fitting in and what role do you think it will play in the future?
In the future, I see Zenon ascending to the top-5 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. I envision it as the foundational layer for all other protocols, distinguished by its feeless transactions, a scalable network designed to serve the masses, and the robust security offered by the Zenon Token Standard.
Why would someone build on anything else, if Zenon has everything you need.
Moving Into Action: The Logz of the Zitadel
As a leading co-contributor, you've been instrumental in the creation of Zitadel Logz, a vital initiative that streamlines our communications. This project serves as a central hub for organizing news, content, and the endeavors of numerous contributors. It provides a clear, unified channel for everyone to stay informed about updates, cutting through the noise of our diverse and decentralized community.
Q: Could you kick things off by explaining what 'Zitadel Logz' is for those who might not be in the loop?
Certainly! For those who may not be familiar, Zitadel Logz is a dedicated initiative aimed at streamlining the flow of information within the Zenon community, particularly focusing on developments within the NoM ecosystem.
Zitadel Logz aims to provide updates to the broader Zenon community on everything happening within the NoM ecosystem. A problem we face is that a lot of information is scattered across countless TG community channels, which can make it difficult for community members to keep track of ongoing developments. Zitadel Logz seeks to bridge this information gap. Our goal is to document and share all significant and noteworthy updates, ensuring that community members have easy access to the latest news and developments.
As both Zashu and I have been in the community for quite some time, we've collected a lot of Zenon community channels over the years. Being close with the contributors of the project also helps with spreading the information to the general community.
'Gotta catch 'em all' is not a motto I live by when it comes to Zenon's Telegram channels. I personally thank you for both of your efforts.
Q: I understand you helped with Z-Hub, which shouldn't be confused up withZenon Hub. How does Zitadel Logz stand out from the rest, and what ignited the idea to create another hub for the network? It seems like the more options, the better.
I don't really want to delve into the specifics of what ignited the idea, as it might stir up some drama. All I can say is that Z-Hub is based, and the admins are cool.
What distinguishes Zitadel Logz is our vision of what we wish to share with the community. I believe Z-Hub leans more towards the cultural aspects of the Zenon community, emphasizing memes and comments made by community members. In contrast, Zitadel Logz strives to maintain a more organized and professional approach, focusing on the key aspects driving the network forward.
And yes, having more options is always beneficial. Especially because Zashu and I have an aligned vision of what we want to achieve with Zitadel Logz. Establishing this channel also lays the groundwork for expansion as NoM grows, with aspirations of scaling it into a larger platform that can inform and educate a growing community in our own way.
Q: If someone has some hot-off-the-press info they believe should be shared with all the aliens out there, how would they go about getting in touch with Zitadel Logz?
Everyone is welcome to contact me or Zashu on our personal accounts, as we're active on every social platform that Zenon offers. We'd be happy to collaborate!
Q: Aside from steering the ship at Zitadel Logz, you're also lending a hand with the @Zenon_Network social channels. Could you walk us through what the process looks like currently? Roughly, how many people are usually involved in the creation of a post?
The current maintenance team for the official Zenon_Network account consists of 5 people who are able to merge and review tweets in the twitter-together repository, and we receive assistance from 3 graphic designers from within the Zenon community. Since I've joined, we transitioned from the GitHub "tweet-ideas" repository, provided by coinselor, to Trello, and have now settled on Notion.
Just recently we created a dedicated workspace where the maintainers and graphic designers can collaborate on tweet ideas, which we draft on the Notion board. From there, we are able to track the process and the maintainers can provide feedback on the existing drafts. Once everyone agrees and we have the necessary media, we upload the tweets to the twitter-together repository on GitHub, enabling us to post to the official Zenon_Network account.
Q: Managing social media for a brand that's so closely tied to the principles of decentralization and the bitcoin ethos must have its hurdles. I'm under the impression that having a set of SOPs is crucial for ensuring content quality and consistency. But in the meantime, what kind of compromises do you think are fair game for boosting Zenon's social footprint?
Navigating the social media landscape for a brand grounded in decentralization and the bitcoin ethos brings its own set of challenges. Establishing standard operating procedures (SOPs) is essential to maintain content quality and consistency. Yet, enhancing Zenon's presence online sometimes requires us to adapt and make strategic compromises.
Finding a unique style that resonates with our ethos and audience is one such compromise. In recent years, an active social media presence has become indispensable for attracting new investors and retaining the interest of current ones. The original team's sporadic tweets, wrapped in an aura of mystery, always succeeded in generating excitement within the community.
Given that we are part of an open-source network, one strategic approach is to highlight all the updates and contributions from our community. While striving to maintain the professionalism and originality that characterized the previous maintainers, it's crucial to acknowledge that we are now the bearers of the torch. This approach not only ensures consistency in our messaging but also honors the collaborative spirit at the heart of Zenon, making it a fair and effective compromise in bolstering our social media presence.
Q: You just made a big guide for beginners on Zenon Network, to help new people start. What's the hardest thing for new people to understand about Zenon? What kind of guide or information would make it easier for them?
I think the hardest part for newcomers is the complexity of the network and the information scattered across different platforms. My beginner's guide doesn't dive into the technicalities but simply helps them with the onboarding process. My theory is that once newcomers are able and willing to go through the steps of bridging their wZNN, setting up Syrius, and starting to delegate or stake, they will become curious about the technical aspects of NoM.
Even to this day, I'm still learning about the network and occasionally re-read forum posts to gain a better understanding of what we're trying to achieve. In order to understand these posts, you would need to learn more about blockchains and the Bitcoin network in general. It requires a lot of self-study if you're not familiar with how blockchains and governance structures within blockchain protocols work.
At the time of writing, our network does not offer much besides network rewards, so it's not really compelling for beginners to bridge over to our network if they don't understand crypto in general. Therefore, by providing a "how to get started on NoM" guide, I hope to make it easier for beginners to start earning yield on Zenon.
Q: Seeing as you're sporting a Naruto ZNN Glyph, I've gotta ask – is Boruto worth watching? And in your opinion, what's the most overhyped thing about Naruto, whether it's a character or a feature of the anime? What deserves more love and why?
Haha, to be honest, I haven't watched Boruto myself because I feel like it will change my view on the original series. I have great memories of reading the manga and following the anime weekly. I basically grew up with the series, and I feel like watching Boruto will just kill the vibe. :P
Oh, and by the way, the avatar I'm rocking is Obito! He basically has the same characteristics as Naruto, but in the series, he went rogue whereas Naruto always fought for the good guys. I tend to relate to both characters because they are both very positive/optimistic people and always look out for the people dear to them. Oh, and I just really love ramen, hahaha.
I don't feel like Naruto is necessarily overhyped. To be fair I wouldn't really recommend it to people as there are other anime series out there, you just had to be there... But back then, I thought the series was cool as hell.
FYI, I barely watch any anime series, but I enjoy binging a series that I haven't watched yet. Just recently I started watching One Piece for the first time, and all I can say is, if you haven't watched it... And you like anime... it's really SUGOOII DESU
I'm also still looking for a new PFP, but for the time being, I will continue rocking this one, hahaha.
Looking forward to getting even more confused when you change your profile picture. I also want to emphasize the recommendation to watch One Piece, probably the best anime to start with.
Wrapping Up with Some Fun Questions
Let's shift gears to something a bit more fun and light-hearted. Here come some quick questions to end on a high note.
Q: What was your first computer or tech device, and what fond memories do you have of it?
My first tech device was a GameCube, and I remember playing Super Smash Brothers: Melee all day long with my friends. Fond memories of my computer would really be playing RuneScape, lmao.
Q: What's your favorite activity to unwind from the daily routine?
Kickboxing is my favorite activity to unwind from the daily routine. It's the first sport to which I've been able to consistently commit. I'm always learning new things, and there are so many techniques I can improve on. It's also an excellent way to release energy, especially after a long day of work. Being able to go all out feels great.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of advice I've ever received is to do what makes you happy. We all live in our own heads, and other people's opinions shouldn't matter to us. If you're not happy with what you're doing, why do it at all?
Finding yourself means ensuring your state of mind is right. If you do things against your will, how can you ever be truly happy. YOLO
Q: There's always that one movie or book that sticks with us. What's yours?
The Godfather. Even though the movie series is romanticized, I still love parts 1 & 2 and mafia movies in general. The hustling and commitment to the family speak to me. The Godfather really shows how Italians moved to New York and started a life in a new country, facing the struggles of a country they're foreign to, and being able to find strength in the community. I find that a compelling story.
Q: We all have our heroes. Is there a historical or celebrity figure who lights that spark in you? Who are they, and why do they inspire you?
My hero would be Nas. I have always been a hip-hop fanatic, mainly east-coast stuff, and what I find inspiring about Nas is that even though he came from the roughest projects of New York, Queensbridge, he made it out of poverty purely on his ability to write rhymes and storytelling, despite his surroundings and situation. His tracks always carried a meaning that speak to me.
Also, the fact that people say he fell off, or that Jay-Z is better, means nothing to me. Nas might not be as financially successful as Hova, but he still made it in his own way, and he was always true to himself in my eyes. This only shows me that you always have to be true to yourself; some people might not like you, but there are always people around you who like you for who you are.
He made it from the streets to become a successful entrepreneur. And I want to do the same. Real Street Dreamz.
Q: If you could have dinner with anyone (alive or historical), who would it be?
Seba Jun, a.k.a. Nujabes. A master at mixing jazz/soul/hip-hop beats, the godfather of Lo-fi music. He left this world way too early... In case you guys don't know him yet, check out the song "Aruarian Dance" on YouTube. That's my jam.
Q: If you could pick any superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation, simply because I hate commuting and I like to travel the world.
Q: Impossible question: ZNN or QSR?
ZNN
Q: Our series is all about voices from Zenon. Who's the next alien you think we should grab a coffee with?
I'd choose Rex. The reason why is because when I first joined the community, he was always there to help me out with my questions. And as I learned more about the network, he asked if I wanted to contribute to the Zenon Intergalactic Force (ZIF) in his group, Azeroth. I am very grateful that I was able contribute to the early Zenon marketing efforts, and I will always cherish that moment. For that reason, I'd like to nominate Rex, as I'm also curious about his story.
Q: Here's a fun one - 2 $ZNN in your pocket now, or double it for the next guest in the series?
Double it.
Q: Before we wrap up, how can our readers keep in touch with you and your work? Any final thoughts or exciting projects on the horizon you'd like to share with us?
People are more than welcome to send me a message onTwitterorTelegram. I always find it nice to get to know other aliens better, as we've been a tight group for the longest time, and since we spend a lot of time in the Telegram already, it's fun to chat personally.
And yeah, maybe not in the near future, but as I've mentioned in an earlier question, I really want to work on my creative side and be able to create value through art. So, an NFT collection is really what I want to work towards, hopefully, I'll get it done before the NFT Standard goes live on NoM. I'm really focused on getting the social media strategy down for the official Zenon_Network account with the other maintainers.
I want to thank you for the interview, and I hope we'll all stick around for Zenon's success. WAGMI, FRENS!
Thanks for chatting with us and contributing to our longest (yet) interview ever. We will be looking forward to your NoM native NFT collection!