Hello Polkadot Community!
My name is Henrique Centieiro, and I’m applying to join Decentralized Voices Cohort 4.
As you might notice, this is my very first post on the forum, but I’m not new to the Polkadot ecosystem, and some of you know me from the Hong Kong crypto community (including from joining the Polkadot meetups) or from the VC space or from my educational content.
Despite this, I think I can bring a fresh perspective to Decentralized Voices, so here’s my candidacy.
Delegation Addresses
Polkadot: 12EcAWb8Ah7okRAgcgcdjra7kLmTEzrqGRZKNJnYy93urh89
Kusama: DovgVfvwGsG4XycRkNgVf6y3K43MN7seJfabg59trEtR8kQ
Who Am I:
With 20 years in tech, finance, and entrepreneurship, I’ve dedicated the last 8 years to advancing blockchain adoption, including helping with various Polkadot projects.
Originally from Portugal, I have a background in finance and started my career in banking. When I was 25, I started a consulting business that helped hundreds of entrepreneurs build their business plans, market studies, and pitch decks, apply for government grants, and raise capital from VCs and investors.
In the meantime, 8 years ago, I switched entirely to the crypto space.
- In 2017/18, I joined a couple of crypto startups that went belly up.
- From 2019 to 2021, I worked as a global Blockchain Project Manager for HSBC’s Commercial Banking and implemented blockchain applications for the bank.
- In late 2021, I joined HashKey Capital as a Senior Research Manager and part of the investment team. Here’s where I had the opportunity to meet, do deep research, or invest in Polkadot projects such as Moonbeam, Astar, Phala, Stella, Tapio, and peaq (with who I keep close relationships). In 2024, I joined the Polkadot Academy in Hong Kong as a mentor.
I left HashKey Capital in April 2024 to pursue personal projects that include creating educational content (I have over 60,000 online students), teaching, providing direct support to projects, and doing other things that give me pleasure, such as writing for my blog (>50k monthly readers) and reading books - I’m an avid reader and last year read 37 books - and this is why I can’t have a full-time job 
Jokes aside, I have the time and ambition to be an active voice contributing to Polkadot’s DV Cohort 4.
I’ve authored a few books, including:
- Unblockchain: A Brain-Friendly Guide for Blockchain, from Bitcoin to Ethereum Deep-Dive (2021)
- The Non-Fungible Booklet: The History and Technologies Behind NFT and how they are changing the art world (2021)
- Sixty-Eight Days: Finding Love In The Age Of Brain Implants And Metaverse (2022)
- Digital Asset Valuation Framework (2024)
In no way I’m trying to advertise or show off my books, I’m just trying to show my diverse background.
My Philosophy and Activism
I think it’s obvious that I’m new and an outsider to Polkadot’s OpenGov, but that’s precisely the strength that I bring a fresh voice unbiased by entrenched perspectives. I can approach governance with a clear-eyed curiosity, asking questions and offering insights that existing participants might overlook.
As a long-term user of many different crypto ecosystems and involved in different communities, I believe I can bring the best practices in the market and a broader view.
My voice is the voice of retail, the voice of user experience, and the voice of everyday community members who often feel unheard of or underserved by technical complexity.
As an experienced project manager, I want to bridge the gap between technical innovation and everyday use and make governance contributions that translate into tangible value for the broader community.
I’m a natural advocate for simplifying processes and boosting accessibility to encourage broader community participation (which is so much needed in the Polkadot ecosystem).
Conflicts of Interests
I do have some DOT, know some Polkadot projects, and have invested in a few Polkadot ecosystem projects. If any conflicts of interest arise, I will be transparent about them and abstain from any related voting.
If you want to get to know me better, here are my socials:
https://x.com/henriquecentiei
Google search my name to find courses, books, blogs, etc.
See you soon! 