Together, CoinEx Indonesia and HeLa Space are working to introduce Web3 across Southeast Asia. Great! More access, more innovation, more decentralization. Let's be real – decentralization, in its purest form, is a myth if it doesn't reach everyone. "Everyone" in Southeast Asia is a complex, multi-layered fabric embroidered with strands of different privilege, access and opportunity. So, before we throw up confetti and open the champagne, let’s ask the hard questions. The necessary questions.

Inclusive Education For Whom Exactly?

Educational programs are the foundation of this partnership, which is awesome. Bootcamps, webinars, workshops – sounds promising. Whose priorities are these programs intended to serve? Will they be available to the types of consumers who have never used a smartphone, much less know what blockchain terms mean?

Consider the rice-producing smallholder in rural Vietnam whose existence hangs in the balance. Or the factory worker in Bangladesh, working 16-hour days for less than half her country’s minimum wage. Are they really going to benefit from a "Web3 for Dummies" webinar if it's only offered in English and requires a stable internet connection they can't afford?

  • Question 1: How will CoinEx and HeLa Space ensure their educational programs are genuinely accessible to individuals with limited digital literacy and language barriers? Will there be multilingual support, offline resources, and community-based training programs tailored to the specific needs of underserved communities? What about funding scholarships specifically for underrepresented groups?
  • Question 2: Let's talk about the gender gap. Tech, in general, is a sausage fest. Web3? Even more so. What specific steps will be taken to actively empower women in the Web3 space, breaking down existing biases and creating pathways for them to thrive as developers, entrepreneurs, and investors? Will there be mentorship programs, targeted funding initiatives, and efforts to promote female role models in the industry?

Innovation is exciting. New technologies are exciting. If innovation is done for innovation’s sake, that’s simply… buzz. Will this new partnership actually address the region’s most urgent social and environmental needs? Or will it simply create more speculative crypto ventures that benefit only a handful of players as they enrich themselves again?

Web3 Solutions For Real Problems?

Picture blockchain technology helping to monitor deforestation and stop illegal logging in Indonesia’s rainforests. Or giving marginalized fishing communities in the Philippines access to transparent supply chain management systems. That's the kind of innovation we need.

It's easy to get caught up in the hype, but we can't afford to ignore the potential pitfalls. Innocent purposes result in fatal impacts. If the Web3 revolution doesn’t include the most vulnerable, then it’s not a revolution at all.

  • Question 3: How will the partnership actively support Web3 projects that tackle social and environmental issues specific to Southeast Asia? Will there be dedicated funding streams for impact-driven initiatives, mentorship programs for social entrepreneurs, and partnerships with local NGOs working on the ground?
  • Question 4: What measures will be implemented to prevent this partnership from inadvertently exacerbating existing inequalities? Will there be safeguards in place to protect vulnerable communities from scams and predatory lending practices in the DeFi space? How will the partnership ensure that the benefits of Web3 are distributed fairly and equitably, rather than concentrated in the hands of a few?

Partnerships are great, but transparency is essential. We want to see a better, clearer roadmap. This needs to indicate the ways CoinEx and HeLa Space intend to make good on their stated missions of inclusivity and democratization. By understanding the outcomes we want from them, we need to establish measurable metrics that track their progress and hold them accountable.

Accountability Demands Transparency Now!

It’s not enough to simply check a box or send out a press release. This isn’t just about seizing economic opportunities, but about establishing a really equitable and sustainable Web3 ecosystem that extends all of SEA. We need to ensure that this time, decentralization isn’t just lip service. Now let’s make it a concrete reality for all, regardless of their race, income, or zip code.

Now CoinEx and HeLa Space need to show that they can go further by responding to these questions in the public comments. It’s on us, the advocates and the public, to hold their feet to the fire. Let’s call for transparency and hold up the assumptions to scrutiny. Collaboratively, we can advocate for a Web3 that realizes its idealistic promises—a Web3 for all. Retweet this article, mention @coinex and @HeLaSpace and let’s get the conversation going. The future of Web3 in Southeast Asia rests on it.

It's time for CoinEx and HeLa Space to step up and answer these questions. And it's up to us, the community, to hold them accountable. Let's demand transparency, challenge assumptions, and push for a Web3 that truly lives up to its potential – a Web3 for all. Share this article, tag CoinEx and HeLa Space, and let's start a conversation. The future of Web3 in Southeast Asia depends on it.