Here we are at the end of a memorable year.

I'm in the process of leaving my job of nine years, I’ve just returned from Mexico (see photos below!), and…. it's been a year since I began writing Living In Beta! 🎉🎉

It's been an exciting year, and there's much to cover. From the rise of the generative AI category to crypto supporting developing countries, a large word count has racked up.

I'm going to pick five things I've written about for the final newsletter of the year. I'll also include some notable mentions of things I didn't write about, and share a sneak peek into my 2023 plans for this newsletter. Let's get to it!

5 Defining Moments of 2022

1. Crypto 🤝 Ukraine

In March of this year, the Ukraine-Russia War of 2022 began, a conflict that many feared would be a long, drawn-out conflict with no winners.

However, what many people don't know is the role that crypto has played in supporting Ukraine over the past year.

Crypto platforms have enabled Ukrainians to make donations to the government, which has helped to fund the war effort and help keep the country afloat. Crypto also allowed Ukrainians to buy goods and services from companies outside the country, helping to keep the economy afloat during the conflict.

UkraineDAO was also set up (by Pussy Riot?) and helped raise over $6m by selling NFT’s of the Ukrainian flag.

The use of crypto in Ukraine has been a defining moment for the country, and it's a reminder of the power of digital currencies in times of crisis.

Key stats:

• $6.7m raised through an NFT sale of the Ukraine flag

• $63.8m raised in crypto donations

• 120,000 cryptoassets donated

2. Starbucks Enters the Metaverse Game

I’m not enough of a coffee drinker to be an expert on coffee loyalty programs, but something tells me this could be a coffee aficionado’s dream.

The program allows customers to explore and interact with the metaverse and web3 through a series of virtual experiences.

They’re offering customers a unique way to explore the possibilities of the metaverse, whether it’s playing a game, attending an event or even participating in an augmented reality experience.

Starbuck’s Odyssey program has been a defining moment for the metaverse and web3, showing that large companies are starting to take notice of the potential of these platforms.

When I wrote about this in August, I said I could foresee ways to combine exclusivity, scarcity, and unique experiences to excite their fan base. Let's see what brand takes this route in 2023 and how this will play out.

3. The breakout year for Generative AI

Generative AI has been a hot topic in the tech world for the past few years, but in 2022 we started to see the technology gain mainstream adoption.

Generative AI is an AI technology that is able to generate new content based on input data. This can be used to generate images, text, video and audio, and it’s been used for everything from creating art to generating music.

This was the year we started to see the technology being used for more practical applications, from generating personalized product recommendations to creating marketing campaigns.

Some of the standout applications I highlighted:

• DALL-E 2

• Lex

• Runway ML

This breakthrough has been a defining moment for generative AI, and it's a sign that the technology is ready for mainstream adoption.

4. Crypto’s Influence in Afghanistan

In 2022, crypto has been a major game-changer in Afghanistan.

It has enabled people to access foreign currencies, to send and receive money, and to make and receive payments in a secure and efficient manner.

This has been a major boon for Afghans, who have previously had limited access to the global financial system due to the country's lack of infrastructure and financial institutions.

Crypto has also allowed Afghans to access foreign investments, which has enabled them to start businesses, invest in property, and access much-needed capital.

One of the biggest crypto use cases that have come to light this year - stablecoins.

Being able to engage with decentralized currencies while also benefiting from currency stability enables more institutions to participate in the crypto economy.

The use of crypto in Afghanistan has been a defining moment for the country, and it's a reminder of the power of digital currencies in giving people access to the global financial system.

5. I turned 30!

An entirely selfish one, but…. I turned the big 3-0!

This year has certainly been a defining moment for me - it's a milestone that has made me reflect on the past, but also to look ahead to the future.

It's made me think about the things I want to do and the goals I want to achieve. It's made me more aware of the importance of spending my time on rich & joyful experiences, and doing things that give me purpose - like writing.

Turning 30 has been a defining moment for me, and it's a reminder of how precious life is and how quickly it can pass.

And the Honorable Mentions...

There were so many other defining moments in 2022 - here are just a few that I didn’t get to cover:

• FTX: The $32bn implosion: One of the biggest stories of the year - the collapse of the FTX exchange sent shockwaves through the crypto industry and raised questions about the security of cryptocurrency exchanges.

• The Ethereum Merge happened - one of the most monumental technical achievements in crypto history in transitioning Ethereum from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake.

• The LUNA crash - this has been a wild year for speculative crashes - not just Terra/Luna crashing by 99.9% (at the time, one of the breakout success stories from a decentralized stablecoin project), but others like Voyager, Three Arrows Capital, Celsius and more. We’re officially in the Crypto Ice Age.

2023 Plans

2022 has been a wild ride, and I’m looking forward to taking this newsletter to the next level in 2023.

I‘m planning to dedicate a lot more time to researching each week’s post, growing my audience and exploring new ways to deliver even better content to all of you.

I'm eager to see what 2023 will bring and where we'll be in a year.

That's all for now.

Thank you for being part of the Living In Beta community, I can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store.

Happy New Year! 🎉🎉

Until next time

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition - I'd love it if you shared it with a friend or two.

This will be my last issue in 2022 - I’m looking forward to a couple of weeks off before coming back, batteries recharged, to take on 2023.

I'm excited to see what new topics, stories and perspectives can be uncovered in the year to come. I'm also looking forward to expanding the Living In Beta community and exploring new ways to deliver even better content to all of you.

Got feedback? Reply to this email or tweet at me and let’s chat.

Fahim

P.S. A few from my Mexico trip below - I was out there as a guest of the Sandbox Network - a community of artists, entrepreneurs, spiritualists and many others all developing their authentic selves to lead more fulfilling lives. Check ‘em out!