In the end, it all comes down to connection. When I touched down in Austin this year to represent the Push ecosystem, I didn't know what to expect, except that I would be speaking multiple times and spreading knowledge on the future of comms. As I started hitting side events on the ground, I felt a certain energy, beginning with the Berachain BBQ and continuing with the Cookie3 meetup.

In both cases, everyone was building something.

Everyone was shipping and talking shop about shipping.

From the validation that the Beras really do have something great on a technical level, to the knowledge that Cookie3 aims to evolve into something more over time and has the team do so, the week began as a call-back to the #BUIDL culture that has always made us great.

Following Cookie3's event, I headed off to Forbes' first major party where I ran into the wonderful Chelsea Chung of World of Women fame and we connected on the future of coordination, or "the future town squares."

After that first night, it got better and better.

From participating in a panel with Tednotlasso, 0xMawuko, and Ryan Li, to speaking with Rally Mobile and the attendees of their summit on the future of mobile and grants programs, to supporting Unstoppable Domain's brunch and panel as an ally with Sandy Carter, Nyla Beth Gawel, Lisa Loud, Katz from Takeover, and Ashley Duncan, to meeting scores of builders on the ground, I came to three key conclusions.

First, we're back and so are DAOs because the future of all communities is synonymous with the term.

Second, interoperability at the base layer and beyond is bigger than ever. People have never been more willing and able to make more connections both at the technical level and otherwise.

Finally, we're on the right track with Push. Everyone I met buys into the vision for a base layer and connectivity tissue for comms. Everyone I met agrees it should include UX that always improves and strives to be on par with that which we're used to in our favorite apps and services.

We’re at the chasm and we’ll cross it

The time for user owned-owned comms is now and our upcoming partnerships, technical updates, and mainnet will illuminate that even further. If you believe in a future where we build forward together, for better communications and town squares, sign up at the forum, introduce yourself, and join us at Push DAO.

While you’re at it make sure to follow us on Twitter for every update and all of our takes on the industry :).

Push DAO is the community that governs drives and shapes the future of Push protocol through grants, community building and ecosystem development to expand the open communication layer that allows any crypto wallet/frontend to tap into the Push network and get any communication across. The Push DAO Council addresses and executes the vision of the DAO, introducing multiple programs for contributors and builders to participate in paddling together toward greater progressive decentralization.