05-27, 16:30–16:55 (CET), Root
In a multipolar world, we need money that doesn’t entrench early movers or central powers. Circles introduces dynamic, user-based issuance — where everyone can mint currency under transparent rules. It’s a regenerative model that scales trust and fairness, turning money into a system for inclusion, not exclusion.
In a world no longer dominated by a single economic superpower, our monetary systems still reflect outdated hierarchies — favoring early adopters, central authorities, or entrenched networks. But what if money itself could be reimagined to fit a multipolar world — one where trust is distributed, power is decentralized, and new entrants aren't forever disadvantaged?
This talk introduces Circles, a bold experiment in monetary design. Instead of fixed supply or top-down control, Circles is built on dynamic, user-based issuance — where everyone can mint currency under transparent, predictable rules. It’s a system where joining late doesn’t mean arriving last, and where value grows from relationships, not rent-seeking.
We’ll explore how Circles turns issuance from a zero-sum game into a regenerative force — and why that shift is critical if we want money that’s fair, scalable, and native to the 21st century.
Friederike Ernst is a cofounder of Gnosis as well as a host of the Epicenter podcast. A physics Ph.D. by training, Friederike holds a pivotal role as a leading contributor at the GnosisDAO. The DAO has created numerous essential infrastructure solutions for the Ethereum blockchain, including the widely utilized Safe Multisig wallet, Gnosis Chain, and the largest dex aggregator, CoW swap. Moo!
Friederike's current objective is to build applications that are usable and useful for normies -- including Circles, Gnosis Pay, and metri.