{"id":"smokey-the-bera","title":"Smokey the Bera","content":"**Smokey the Bera** is a pseudonymous co-founder of [Berachain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/berachain), a [Layer 1](https://iq.wiki/wiki/layer-1) [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) network built to be [EVM](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-virtual-machine-evm)-compatible and based on a [Proof of Liquidity](https://iq.wiki/wiki/pol-proof-of-liquidity) consensus model. [Berachain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/berachain) secured $100 million in Series B funding in April.  [[1]](#cite-id-leTbchVDQN) [[2]](#cite-id-Mw9Fg1DTLM)\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](S87risI6aws)$$\n\n## Overview\n\nSmokey holds an engineering degree from the University of Waterloo and has a background in healthcare entrepreneurship and venture capital. He has been involved in [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) since 2015 and remains active as an angel investor in [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) infrastructure, [decentralized finance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi), and user experience-focused startups. He also serves as a venture partner at [Hack VC](https://iq.wiki/wiki/hack-vc).  [[2]](#cite-id-Mw9Fg1DTLM)\n\n## Entering the Crypto World\n\nIn the mid-2010's Smokey the Bera's increasing interest in cryptocurrency was driven from being among his peers in the Bay Area and prompted him to begin exploring the space. During this period, he and others started engaging with digital assets such as [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) and [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum), with initial activity beginning around 2015. This early involvement laid the foundation for deeper participation in the blockchain sector, eventually leading to the formation of [Berachain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/berachain).","summary":"Smokey the Bera is a pseudonymous co-founder of Berachain, a Layer 1 blockchain network built to be [EVM](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-virtual-machine-evm...","images":[{"id":"QmRky3sff1nayFeDWujenHHDHyVagVfDfYwiTzgjKZsrDb","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"People in crypto"}],"tags":[{"id":"Founders"},{"id":"Blockchains"}],"media":[{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S87risI6aws","size":null,"name":"S87risI6aws","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"}],"metadata":[{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/SmokeyTheBera"},{"id":"references","value":"[{\"url\":\"https://www.theblock.co/post/310233/the-scoop-berachain\",\"description\":\"The Block: Meet Berachain: a new Layer 1 born from a community built around bear NFTs\\n\",\"id\":\"leTbchVDQN\",\"timestamp\":1743899324331},{\"url\":\"https://blockworks.co/speaker/smokey-the-bera\",\"description\":\"Blockworks, Smokey the Bera\",\"id\":\"Mw9Fg1DTLM\",\"timestamp\":1743899348624}]"},{"id":"commit-message","value":""},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmeAZ6pQpqt3BH8aP7ScW26fsfT6qDNStFHG9UehJBQKr1"}],"events":[],"user":{"id":"0x3Ab775982E68255d90A2A0F7a5919A30c55F550d"},"author":{"id":"0x3Ab775982E68255d90A2A0F7a5919A30c55F550d"},"language":"en","version":1,"linkedWikis":{"blockchains":[],"founders":["berachain"],"speakers":[]}}