Chapter 1:

The New Wave of Entrepreneurship

Blockchain’s Early Days

When blockchain first showed up, no one really took it seriously. People mostly thought it was just a place for scams, or something that would get you in trouble—like the Silk Road days.

A Glimpse of Opportunity

But if you look at it from a different angle, especially in countries like Iran where access to big capital markets like the U.S. or China is pretty much impossible, blockchain was like a breath of fresh air. It wasn’t just about tech—it felt like a real chance for people to be part of something bigger.

The Struggles of Working Internationally

I run a tech company here in Iran, and let me tell you, working internationally is tough. We’re constantly hitting walls, whether it’s from the local government or huge corporations blocking us out. And don’t even get me started on the fact that so many people here don’t even have passports or are stuck in mandatory military service. It’s like being stuck in limbo.

The Problem with Relocation

I’ve seen so many friends and colleagues leave for the U.S., chasing better pay and a more secure life. But honestly, I don’t think relocation is the best solution—not for the person moving, and not even for the country they’re going to. Sure, the pay difference is huge. A job that pays me $1,000 here might pay $20,000 in California, but it’s not that simple. The cost of living there is sky-high, and newcomers often face a ton of hidden expenses—housing, healthcare, and the general financial strain of adjusting to a new life. In the end, many people end up struggling just as much as they did before, just with more bills. It’s a system that doesn’t feel fair to anyone involved.

A New Approach at Wish Work

At Wish Work, we started off just trying to build a way to make it easier to work with international partners. We wanted to show that we could collaborate without all the political stuff getting in the way. But with all the rules and payment systems like Stripe and PayPal basically shutting us down, it felt like we were banging our heads against a wall. That’s when we decided—enough’s enough. How can we do business globally, get paid fairly, and skip the unfair restrictions? The answer: decentralization.

Why I’m Writing This Book

So, here I am, writing this book. Writing helps me sort out my thoughts, but I also hope it sparks something in others, especially for those of us who feel like we don’t fit into the traditional systems. The world is changing, and it’s time we all get in on it.