Written by Romina Sejas - November 5, 2024
Interview with Mercedes Rodriguez
Exponent of Latin America in the Next Billion Fellowship program
By Romina Sejas
In this interview, Mercedes, a Venezuelan activist and collaborator in the Ethereum ecosystem, shares her experience in the Next Billion Fellowship Program by the Ethereum Foundation. She discusses her journey, her research project on crypto adoption in Venezuela, and the impact Ethereum has had on her life and community. Through her story, we learn about the importance of Latin American representation in this space and her dedication to inspiring others to build in their communities.
Romina Sejas: —Where are you from?
Mercedes: —I'm from Venezuela, from Maracay, a small city two hours from Caracas.
R.S.: —How did you come across Ethereum?
Mercedes: —At the start of the pandemic, I was working with NGOs and political parties in Venezuela. I began studying technological applications in the humanitarian field, which is how I discovered the crypto ecosystem. My first real contact was with Ethereum, due to its focus on solutions beyond financial applications. A few months later, I had the opportunity to work on a web3 project and dedicate myself fully to the ecosystem. Since then, I haven’t looked back.
R.S.: —What is the Next Billion Program?
Mercedes: —The Next Billion Fellowship Program by the Ethereum Foundation is a program dedicated to highlighting the stories of people who are building with Ethereum in their communities. The projects are diverse, ranging from products and community projects to research and visibility work, like mine.
Mercedes was selected as a fellow of the program in 2024.
R.S.: —Why did you decide to apply?
Mercedes: —During Devconnect, I met fellows from the third cohort of the program and fell in love with the focus on personal stories. After several conversations with other fellows and reading the guidelines, I decided to apply.
R.S.: —You were selected among over 180 applicants worldwide. Why do you think you were chosen?
Mercedes: —Honestly, I still can’t believe it! The fellowship focuses not only on the quality of the project but also on the fellows’ personal stories. Coming from a country under dictatorship, with a background in human rights, I think my story resonated with the program’s intentions. I also think there’s low representation from Latin America; many people I spoke to during the application process didn’t apply due to language barriers or imposter syndrome. I believe that Latin American fellows can encourage more people to take advantage of these opportunities.
R.S.: —What is your project in the program? How did the idea come about?
Mercedes: —I’m drafting a research paper on the impact of crypto adoption in Venezuela, focusing on small communities and grassroots organizations. The idea is to show how the web3 ecosystem has transformed lives and how community projects have the opportunity to participate in funding rounds or receive crypto donations. This is crucial in Venezuela, where all NGOs and civil organizations are illegalized and have few options to access resources without risking their safety.
R.S.: —How was your experience in the selection process? What did you learn?
Mercedes: —The selection process was one of the most demanding experiences I’ve had. It included multiple interviews, building a measurable and clear project, and providing personal references. Initially, I wanted to work on onboarding for community leaders and activists. However, given the political situation in Venezuela, the Foundation expressed concern for my safety. After discussions with the Next Billion team, the idea for the research project emerged. I learned that taking the first step is crucial; the rest is consistency and vision.
R.S.: —Why should people participate in this program?
Mercedes: —One of the big myths in Latin America is that to grow in the ecosystem, you have to move to another country. Latin American representation in initiatives like this helps bring visibility to those who choose to build within their communities, even in challenging contexts. This helps shift the narrative that success in the ecosystem can only be found in “developed” countries.
R.S.: —Would you like to add anything else?
Mercedes: —One of my guiding principles is to give back to the community as much as I receive. Soon, I’ll be collaborating with the "Mercedes Pulido School of Government" on a free project to educate community leaders and activists on blockchain. We’ll start with a pilot for Venezuelan activists, but we aim to expand it in 2025. If anyone would like to contribute as a mentor or teach a specific topic, please reach out!
You can follow Mercedes on social media at:
In this interview, Mercedes, a Venezuelan activist and collaborator in the Ethereum ecosystem, shares her experience in the Next Billion Fellowship Program by the Ethereum Foundation. She discusses her journey, her research project on crypto adoption in Venezuela, and the impact Ethereum has had on her life and community. Through her story, we learn about the importance of Latin American representation in this space and her dedication to inspiring others to build in their communities.
Romina Sejas: —Where are you from?
Mercedes: —I'm from Venezuela, from Maracay, a small city two hours from Caracas.
R.S.: —How did you come across Ethereum?
Mercedes: —At the start of the pandemic, I was working with NGOs and political parties in Venezuela. I began studying technological applications in the humanitarian field, which is how I discovered the crypto ecosystem. My first real contact was with Ethereum, due to its focus on solutions beyond financial applications. A few months later, I had the opportunity to work on a web3 project and dedicate myself fully to the ecosystem. Since then, I haven’t looked back.
R.S.: —What is the Next Billion Program?
Mercedes: —The Next Billion Fellowship Program by the Ethereum Foundation is a program dedicated to highlighting the stories of people who are building with Ethereum in their communities. The projects are diverse, ranging from products and community projects to research and visibility work, like mine.
Mercedes was selected as a fellow of the program in 2024.
R.S.: —Why did you decide to apply?
Mercedes: —During Devconnect, I met fellows from the third cohort of the program and fell in love with the focus on personal stories. After several conversations with other fellows and reading the guidelines, I decided to apply.
R.S.: —You were selected among over 180 applicants worldwide. Why do you think you were chosen?
Mercedes: —Honestly, I still can’t believe it! The fellowship focuses not only on the quality of the project but also on the fellows’ personal stories. Coming from a country under dictatorship, with a background in human rights, I think my story resonated with the program’s intentions. I also think there’s low representation from Latin America; many people I spoke to during the application process didn’t apply due to language barriers or imposter syndrome. I believe that Latin American fellows can encourage more people to take advantage of these opportunities.
R.S.: —What is your project in the program? How did the idea come about?
Mercedes: —I’m drafting a research paper on the impact of crypto adoption in Venezuela, focusing on small communities and grassroots organizations. The idea is to show how the web3 ecosystem has transformed lives and how community projects have the opportunity to participate in funding rounds or receive crypto donations. This is crucial in Venezuela, where all NGOs and civil organizations are illegalized and have few options to access resources without risking their safety.
R.S.: —How was your experience in the selection process? What did you learn?
Mercedes: —The selection process was one of the most demanding experiences I’ve had. It included multiple interviews, building a measurable and clear project, and providing personal references. Initially, I wanted to work on onboarding for community leaders and activists. However, given the political situation in Venezuela, the Foundation expressed concern for my safety. After discussions with the Next Billion team, the idea for the research project emerged. I learned that taking the first step is crucial; the rest is consistency and vision.
R.S.: —Why should people participate in this program?
Mercedes: —One of the big myths in Latin America is that to grow in the ecosystem, you have to move to another country. Latin American representation in initiatives like this helps bring visibility to those who choose to build within their communities, even in challenging contexts. This helps shift the narrative that success in the ecosystem can only be found in “developed” countries.
R.S.: —Would you like to add anything else?
Mercedes: —One of my guiding principles is to give back to the community as much as I receive. Soon, I’ll be collaborating with the "Mercedes Pulido School of Government" on a free project to educate community leaders and activists on blockchain. We’ll start with a pilot for Venezuelan activists, but we aim to expand it in 2025. If anyone would like to contribute as a mentor or teach a specific topic, please reach out!
You can follow Mercedes on social media at:
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