“Our mission is to build a vibrant community that empowers connection, champions innovation, and works with leading industry participants to add a builder-focused voice to forward-thinking policies.”
DC DAO and ETHDC are at the forefront of a transformative movement
in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. As a steward of the DC DAO and a pivotal figure in ETHDC, Shailee Adinolfi is driving a mission to unite the area’s fragmented blockchain and crypto communities into a cohesive, vibrant hub of innovation.
“We established a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) in the DMV area because we noticed many builders in the region were not directly communicating with each other,” Shailee explains. “The DMV is rather spread out, so we needed to create a hub where people could meet, network, learn from each other, and grow together.”
Gerald Gallagher, partner at DC DAO and ETHDC, shares: “The DC DAO is a city DAO organized as a limited cooperative association. We aim to unite DC’s crypto communities, enable local builders and businesses to participate in the crypto ecosystem, and educate policymakers about the benefits of Web3. DC DAO is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and collaborative Web3-focused ecosystem in our nation’s capital.”
Building the Hub: The Birth of DC DAO
DC DAO was founded with three guiding pillars: community, innovation, and policy. These pillars are not just theoretical; they are actionable goals that shape every initiative and event. “Our mission is to build a vibrant community that empowers connection, champions innovation, and works with leading industry participants to add a builder-focused voice to forward-thinking policies,” Shailee shares. The organization uses decentralized governance to create a space where voices are heard, ideas flourish, and collective actions drive impactful change.
DC DAO’s structure as a limited cooperative association ensures that every member, from Patron Members who financially support the organization to Contributor Members who work on initiatives, has a significant say in its direction. “Participation means that all member classes will contribute to and vote on specific initiatives put forth by both the stewards and the community,” says Shailee. This democratic approach ensures that the DAO reflects its members’ diverse and dynamic needs.
There are seven DC DAO stewards, and each is driving its success. This team comprises Shailee Adinolfi, Ellis Norman, Gerald Gallagher, Monica Anshel, Mike Chan, Brenda Loya, and Tom McCarthy.
ETHDC: A Conference for Builders by Builders
One of DC DAO’s standout initiatives is ETHDC, a conference designed to spotlight and support crypto and blockchain developers in the DMV area. “The idea of ETHDC originated because we wanted to create an event for ourselves that wasn’t centered around policy,” Shailee recalls. “We’ve discussed topics like scaling, roll-ups, token standards, and abstraction – all the aspects we need to focus on to scale, grow, succeed in this space, and collaborate with one another.”
ETHDC draws inspiration from other successful ETH conferences like ETH Denver and ECC in Paris. However, it has a unique focus tailored to the needs of the DMV community. “I wanted to bring some of that to D.C., recognizing that while the community here is smaller, there is a genuine interest in having those types of conversations,” Shailee explains. The inaugural ETHDC event was a resounding success, attracting hundreds of participants and setting the stage for future growth.
Innovating Together: The Power of Collaboration
At the heart of DC DAO and ETHDC is a commitment to collaboration. This is about building individual projects and creating a thriving ecosystem where participants can learn, grow, and innovate together. “We’re deep experts in the crypto space,” says Shailee. “Many of us in the DC DAO community are operators. We are working for crypto companies or deploying capital into crypto companies, and we want to partner and grow together.”
This collaborative ethos extends to the events and initiatives that DC DAO organizes. Every event is designed to foster connections and spark new ideas, from happy hours and breakfasts to co-working sessions and panel discussions. “Join us, grow your community with us, and develop your application or protocol with us,” Shailee urges. “We want to learn from you and provide resources for you, leveraging our community to test and use your protocol or application.”
A Future-Focused Vision
Shailee envisions DC DAO becoming a leading innovation hub on the East Coast. “The larger vision is to grow this community to thousands of builders in the crypto ecosystem based in this area and make it a hub,” she shares. With the DMV’s unique combination of educated technologists, significant technology service providers, and proximity to global policy hubs, the region has all the foundational elements needed to become a major player in the blockchain and crypto world.
DC DAO is also launching an initial collection of 1,776 NFT memberships, symbolizing crypto’s bold progress and offering members a significant say in the cooperative’s strategic direction. “Joining DC DAO provides membership in a cooperative that will build the future of crypto in D.C.,” Shailee says. Members can attend exclusive events, participate in on-chain voting, and contribute to community-driven projects, ensuring that the DAO remains responsive to its members’ evolving needs.
Conclusion: Join the Revolution
DC DAO and ETHDC are more than just organizations; they are movements that embody the spirit of innovation, community, and decentralized governance. They offer builders, technologists, and crypto enthusiasts a unique opportunity to come together, learn from each other, and drive meaningful change in the Web3 space. “We are not just talking about innovation; we are living it,” Shailee concludes. “We invite everyone to join us on this incredible journey to build a brighter future for the crypto community in the DMV and beyond.”
The future of blockchain and crypto in the nation’s capital is bright, and with leaders like Shailee Adinolfi at the helm, DC DAO and ETHDC are poised to lead the charge.
