Bringing laughter to the crypto space

In the often dry and technical world of crypto and web3, one comedian is on a mission to bring laughter and accessibility to the space. Mona Shaikh, a seasoned stand-up comic with more than 15 years of experience, has found her calling in bridging the gap between the crypto community and the general public through the power of comedy.

Shaikh's journey into the world of web3 began in 2020 when a neighbor introduced her to Bitcoin. Fascinated by the technology and its potential to disrupt traditional finance, Mona dove headfirst into learning about blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and the challenges facing creators and artists in the digital age. "I never tiptoe into things," Shaikh said. "I just jump in."

That leap of faith led Shaikh to launch Web3 Is A Joke in 2022, a comedy platform dedicated to roasting the various aspects of the crypto industry. From finance bros to NFT enthusiasts, no one is safe from Shaikh's sharp-witted jabs. "The nerds deserve to be roasted too," she said with a laugh. "They're no longer just fantasies; they actually get to meet real-life women at these conferences."

Bridging the gap with laughter and learning

Shaikh's approach to engaging the crypto community is two-fold: entertainment and education. By creating a neutral space where people can come to laugh and learn, she aims to break down the intimidating jargon and technical barriers that often deter the average person from exploring the world of web3.

She remains hopeful that Donald Trump administration's efforts to appoint a crypto czar and develop a Bitcoin strategy will help the US become a global hub for the industry.

Empowering comedians with web3

Beyond her comedy shows, Shaikh is also working on a decentralized AI platform called Truly Comedy, which aims to empower comedians by giving them direct control over their content and fan bases. "The true gatekeepers are the people who pay to come and see your content," she said. "They're the ones we want to get to."

Shaikh's passion for the crypto space extends beyond her own ventures. She's particularly excited about the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize the real estate industry, especially in countries like Pakistan, where illegal property takeovers are a persistent problem. "Blockchain is such an answer to that issue," she said. "You get caught up in these court dates and these legal battles for years upon years that cost you so much time and money."

As Shaikh prepares to take her comedy show to global crypto conferences, including Consensus 2025 in Hong Kong, she remains steadfast in her mission to drive mass adoption through laughter and education. "I think it's more of a casual conversation," she said. "It's not thrusting things down people's throats. It's making it more understandable, more bite-size."

When it comes to encouraging more women to get involved in crypto and web3, Shaikh's advice is simple: "Just jump in. I never went and looked for a job in web3. I created my own companies, so I don't know what that's like, and perhaps that has its own set of challenges that I'm perhaps ignorant to, but I'm just speaking from a business owner perspective, as a woman who just went in and dove in and just decided to learn and make things happen."

 

Listen to the whole interview on The Crypto Radio's live player or in The Pulse podcast.