Sunny Aggarwal, Co-Founder of Osmosis Labs at Cosmoverse 2024

Summary

In this video from The Cosmoverse Dubai 2024, I share my journey into the world of cryptocurrency, starting from my days as a student at UC Berkeley in 2015, where I fell in love with Bitcoin and eventually dropped out to work full-time in the Cosmos ecosystem. I discuss Osmosis, the decentralized exchange I co-founded, emphasizing its focus on privacy and the absence of KYC requirements, allowing users to trade securely without exposing their strategies. We dive into the significance of Cosmoverse, a community-driven conference that originated from an idea by CryptoCito, celebrating its fourth iteration in Dubai after successful events in Lisbon, Medellin, and Istanbul. Finally, I highlight our recent product launch, Polaris, and invite viewers to connect with me on Twitter and explore Osmosis further.

Key Takeaways

Sunny Agarwal is a co-founder of Osmosis and has been involved in the Cosmos ecosystem since its inception, having dropped out of university to pursue his passion for crypto.
Osmosis is a decentralized exchange (DEX) that emphasizes privacy, allowing users to trade without revealing their personal data or trading strategies.
Cosmoverse is a community-driven conference for the Cosmos ecosystem, initiated by YouTuber CryptoCito to fill the gap of having a dedicated conference for the Cosmos community.
The conference has evolved over the years, moving from Lisbon to Medellin, Istanbul, and now Dubai, showcasing the growth and community spirit of the Cosmos ecosystem.
Sunny is promoting a new product called Polaris at the conference, aiming to engage with attendees and share its features.

Detailed Analysis

In this conversation at Cosmoverse Dubai 2024, a few key themes emerge that reflect the evolving landscape of the crypto ecosystem. First and foremost, the discussion centers around the importance of community-driven initiatives in the blockchain space, exemplified by the Cosmoverse conference itself. This event is not just another crypto gathering; it represents a grassroots effort to bring together enthusiasts, developers, and thought leaders from the Cosmos ecosystem. The narrative that a single YouTuber, CryptoCito, could spark such a significant movement underscores a broader trend in tech where community engagement often drives innovation and growth.

The emphasis on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) like Osmosis is also prominent. As we navigate a world increasingly concerned about privacy and data security, the ability to trade without revealing personal information resonates deeply with emerging user demands. This aligns with a growing skepticism toward centralized entities and the traditional financial systems they represent. In a time when privacy breaches are common, platforms that prioritize anonymity offer a compelling alternative. The mention of Osmosis’s focus on not leaking trading strategies speaks to a larger conversation about the ethical considerations of data usage in tech today.

Sunny's insights about the significance of Cosmoverse being community-organized rather than foundation-led highlight an essential shift in how such ecosystems are structured. This community-centric approach not only fosters collaboration but also enhances trust among participants, which is crucial in a space often marred by skepticism toward centralized authority. The idea that a conference can evolve organically, based on community needs, reflects a larger trend of decentralization that many in the crypto space are striving for. The significance of this is twofold: it empowers individuals and promotes a culture of inclusivity, which is vital for the sustainable growth of the ecosystem.

However, while the enthusiasm surrounding these developments is palpable, there are limitations to consider. The reliance on community organization can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in quality and coherence compared to more structured, foundation-led events. Additionally, the challenge of scaling such community-driven initiatives without diluting the core values they represent is a delicate balance to strike. As we venture further into this decentralized future, it’s crucial to maintain the essence of community engagement while also addressing scalability and sustainability.

This video is particularly useful for crypto enthusiasts, developers, and investors who are looking to deepen their understanding of the Cosmos ecosystem and the role of community in shaping its future. It offers a glimpse into the ethos driving many projects today, highlighting the importance of privacy and decentralized solutions. For those interested in building or participating in this space, it serves as a reminder that the most impactful innovations often stem from collective efforts rather than top-down mandates. Overall, the discussion fosters a sense of optimism and urgency, encouraging us to engage actively with the evolving narrative of blockchain and crypto.

Transcript

Speakers: A, B

**A** (0:14): Hello, what's up and welcome to The Cosmoverse Dubai 2024. This is their first time in Dubai with their fourth edition. I'm Madel, the host, and today we have Sunny Agarwal, co founder at Osmosis. Sonny, how are you doing today? **B** (0:28): I'm doing great. First day of the conference. Excited. **A** (0:31): First off, I love your. Your outfit today. **B** (0:33): Thank you, thank you. **A** (0:34): The audience who may not know. Who are you impersonating? **B** (0:37): Well, we're here in the desert, so I'm a Fremen from the movie Dune. **A** (0:42): 100%. Very nice. So what brings you here today and what's your story? What's your. Tell us, tell us the audience. Who are you? **B** (0:49): Yeah, so my name is Sunny, co founder of Osmosis. I basically got my start in crypto in 2015. I was a student at UC Berkeley. Started learning about Bitcoin and helped teach a class there on Bitcoin. That's kind of how I learned you teach something, you learn it. So then fell in love. 2017. Two years later, dropped out of university to work on crypto full time and got my start in the Cosmos ecosystem. And so I've been working in Cosmos for now seven and a half years. So was part of the original core development team of Cosmos, and then three and a half years ago, left the core team to build a osmosis, which is a Dex, built on the Cosmos ecosystem. **A** (1:36): And Osmosis, you say, is a Dex, a decentralized exchange, no KYC needed. Is that right? A bit like sushiswap. Yep. Or Uniswap. Sorry. And you can, you can trade and exchange, provided that there's a. Obviously a buyer and seller, but there's no need to reveal any data about yourself, is that right? **B** (1:54): Exactly. And you know, we have a big focus on privacy as well, so we want to make it so people can trade without leaking their trading strategy or anything like that. **A** (2:04): So for the audience who may not know about Cosmoverse, especially it being the first time in Dubai, what's the story behind Cosmoverse? **B** (2:11): Yeah, so, you know, what's interesting about Cosmoverse is, you know, a lot of crypto ecosystems have their own conferences, but they're usually hosted by the foundation. Right. Breakpoint, which just happened in Singapore a couple weeks ago, hosted by the Solana Foundation. You have devcon, hosted by Ethereum Foundation. Cosmoverse is the main Cosmos conference, but it is community. Four years ago, there was this YouTuber named CryptoCito. Yes. And he's like, hey, why does Cosmos not have a Conference. I'm going to host a conference. And so Osmosis was actually their first sponsor. So we gave them some funding and they went. And that was back in Lisbon, the first one. And so he hosted this amazing conference and it was super successful. And so it kept happening. Lisbon, then Medellin, then Istanbul. Now fourth year here in Dubai. And it's just like, it's really cool to see that. It really shows a lot of what Cosmos is from its very community roots of a community organized conference. **A** (3:14): And it's crazy. Cryptocito, I met him as well. Did he solely come up with the idea of a Cosmoverse conference? **B** (3:23): It's been a while, so I don't remember the details, but I think so. I mean, I think he was just like, yeah. Why is there no Cosmos conference? There needs to be something for. It's a huge ecosystem. **A** (3:35): Well done, well done to the team and wonderful conference today. What are you looking to achieve here today in this three day conference? **B** (3:42): So we just announced a new product recently called Polaris and so just share the gospel of Polaris with everyone here and just catch up with old friends. Haven't seen in a while. **A** (3:55): What wonderful stuff for the audience who may not know about you and for them to maybe want to connect with you, what's the best way for them to reach out to you and your company? **B** (4:03): Yeah, you can follow me on Twitter Sonny A97 and then you can check out Osmosis at Osmosis Zone or go to Polaris app to sign up for the waitlist. **A** (4:16): Understood. Thank you so much, Sunny. I appreciate your time and all the best with Osmosis. **B** (4:21): Thank you so much. **A** (4:22): Thank you so much for watching. Hope you found this insightful. We'll leave all the links in the description so you can check out Sunny's profile as well as Osmosis for now. Thank you again and I'll see you next time. Cheers. Let's go.