Episode 260 - From PPE to Patient Access: How Crypto Philanthropy Is Supporting Frontline Health Workers

For episode 260 of the Crypto Altruists podcast, we're excited to welcome Sharonda D., a registered nurse with 20 years at the bedside, a tech builder, and a member of the crypto community. She's helping launch the Crypto Community Fund for Healthcare Access in partnership with Sostento, a nonprofit dedicated to helping uninsured Americans reach the care they need.

I want to take you back to 2021. PPE had run out. Everywhere. And nurses and health workers showed up to their shifts anyway, putting themselves at risk because that's what the job asked of them. In the middle of all that, something remarkable happened. Sostento mobilized the crypto community, raised 25 ETH in a matter of weeks, and got real protective equipment into the hands of thousands of frontline workers.

Sharonda was a nurse on the floor during that shortage. And now, years later, she's helping mobilize that same community for what comes next.

Her story doesn't start with crypto. It starts on the floor. She became a nurse during the transition from paper charts to electronic health records, and she watched experienced nurses walk away from the profession because the technology simply wasn't built with them in mind. That stuck with her, and it's shaped everything she's done since. Today she's a division director with the Global Nursing AI Alliance, a builder of practical tools for nurses, and someone who has spent her career refusing to accept that technology should be something done to health workers rather than with them.

In today’s discussion you’ll learn:

🏥 The challenges facing healthcare in 2026, and the reality for the frontline workers holding the system together

🤝 What a full-time nurse, tech builder, and crypto enthusiast has learned about building technology alongside the people who need it most

🌍 An intro to the Crypto Community Fund for Healthcare Access, and how it's channeling this community's energy toward health equity

💚 The 2021 moment that showed what the web3 community can do for health workers, and why our guest today believes we can do it again

‍--Key Takeaways--

💚 “Crypto can, and crypto will.”: From disaster relief to urgent appeals for PPE during the height of COVID, the crypto community has proven again and again that when there's a real need, it responds. In 2021, Sostento mobilized this community to raise 25 ETH in a matter of weeks and get protective equipment into the hands of thousands of frontline health workers who had none. That wasn't a one-off. It's a pattern. And it's a reminder that behind all the noise and speculation, there's a community that shows up when it matters most.

🤝 Build with nurses, not for them: Sharonda became a nurse during the shift from paper charts to electronic health records, and she watched experienced colleagues walk away from the profession because the technology wasn't built with them in mind. That experience shaped everything since. Too often, tools are designed for health workers by people who have never done the job, and the result is added burden rather than relief. The alternative is simple but requires humility: bring the people who will actually use a tool into the process of designing it. If technology adds confusion, risk, or extra burden, it doesn't belong in healthcare.

🔗 Crypto builders need frontline expertise, and frontline workers need a seat at the table: The most valuable perspective in this space isn't purely technical. It belongs to people like Sharonda, who understand both the technology and the reality on the ground. Builders in crypto and AI need that insight, because you cannot solve a problem you've never lived. And frontline workers need to be in these rooms, shaping what gets built rather than receiving it after the fact.

--CTAs from the Episode--

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--Full shownotes with links--
www.cryptoaltruists.com/blog/crypto-altruists-episode-260-from-ppe-to-patient-access-how-crypto-philanthropy-is-supporting-frontline-health-workers

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--DISCLAIMER--
While we may discuss specific web3 projects or cryptocurrencies on this podcast, do not take any of this as investment advice and make sure to do your own research on potential investment opportunities, or any opportunity, before making an investment. We host a variety of guests on this podcast with the sole purpose of highlighting the social impact use cases of this technology. That being said, Crypto Altruism does not endorse any of these projects, and we recognize that, since this is an emerging sector, some may be operating in regulatory grey areas, and as such, we cannot confirm their legality in the jurisdictions in which they operate, especially as it pertains to decentralized finance protocols. So, before getting involved with any project, it’s important that you do your own research and confirm the legality of the project. More info at cryptoaltruists.com/disclaimer

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Today you'll discover the challenges facing healthcare in 2026 and the reality for the frontline workers holding the system together. What a full-time nurse, tech builder, and crypto enthusiast has learned about building technology alongside the people who need it most. An introduction to the Crypto Community Fund for Healthcare Access, and how it's channeling this community's energy towards health equity, and the 2021 moment that showed what the Web3 community can do for health workers, and why our guest today believes we can do it again. Welcome to Crypto Altras, where we explore the intersections of Web3 and social good to the stories of impact-driven builders and offer actual insights to empower your journey into the world of blockchain for good. I'm your host, Drew Simon. Now, before we dive in, please remember that this is not financial or legal advice, and always do your own research on any of the projects or investment opportunities that we discuss. Welcome back to the Crypto Altrist Podcast, and thank you so much for joining us today. I'm really looking forward to this one. Um it's a very powerful story, and to start I want to take you back to 2021. PPE had run out everywhere, and nurses and health workers showed up to their shifts anyway, putting themselves at risk because that's what the job asked of them. And in the middle of all that, something remarkable happened. Sistento, a nonprofit focused on frontline health workers and health access, mobilized the crypto community raising 25 ETH in a matter of weeks, and got real protective equipment into the hands of thousands of frontline workers. Today's guest was a nurse on the floor during that shortage. I'm joined by Sharonda, a registered nurse with twenty years' experience in progressive care and post-anesthesia units. She was one of the nurses who kept showing up in 2021 when the equipment ran out, and now, years later, she's helping mobilize that same community for what comes next. I love that arc, and I think it says something important about how this space works at its best. Because Sharonda's story doesn't start with crypto. It starts on the floor. She became a nurse during the transition from paper charts to electronic health records, and she watched experienced nurses walk away from the profession because the technology simply wasn't built with them in mind. That stuck with her, and it shaped everything she's done since. She went and earned her master's in nursing informatics, and across two decades in progressive care and post-anesthesia units, she's worked at the intersection of clinical practice and technology, helping colleagues navigate new systems on the floor and connecting the dots between tools, workflows, and people to get better outcomes for patients. And she's a builder. She's a director with the Global Nursing AI Alliance, working to keep nurses' voices central in global AI conversations and policy discussions. She's built practical tools for nurses, including Nurse Prompt Hub, which drew thousands of users within weeks of launch. She's a ShiFi alum, and she's been in the room on Capitol Hill at the congressional briefing of Woman of Color in Blockchain, where she recognized that policy is being shaped in real time and builders can't afford to be spectators. Her philosophy is simple. If technology adds confusion, risk, or extra burden, it doesn't belong in healthcare. So this is someone who has seen the problem from the inside, and who has spent her career refusing to accept that technology should be something done to health workers rather than with them. She knows what it looks like when a patient can't get to an appointment, or can't afford a prescription, or falls through the cracks entirely. It's not abstract for her, it's really just any other day. Today she's helping launch the Crypto Community Fund for Healthcare Access in partnership with Sistento, the same organization behind that 2021 campaign. Because as Sharonda points out, that same 25 ETH today could fund an enormous amount of health screenings and free rides for patients who need the most. We're going to talk about all of it. Her story, what she sees on the ground, why this community keeps showing up for health workers, what this fund could make possible, and what other communities might take from a model like this. So let's dive in. So excited to be here with Sharonda today. Uh Sharonda, you are a really cool person. Not only are you a frontline nurse who has been for like a many, many years, um, but you know, also involved in crypto. Some really cool initiatives, uh, kind of connecting the dots with those two worlds as well. And so I'm really excited to have you here today. So thank you for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to be here.

SPEAKER_01 3:38

No, thank you. I've seen your posts on egg, so I know you're super busy, and I really appreciate your time as well.

SPEAKER_00 3:45

I may be busy, but I can't imagine it's nearly as stressful as the busy of a frontline healthcare worker. So I appreciate everything you do. And, you know, I'd love to just start by learning a bit more about you and how you got into this world. So um, you know, you have a pretty unique combination of experiences, as I'd mentioned. So tell me about your journey and how kind of the worlds of crypto and being a nurse came together.

SPEAKER_01 4:07

Thank you, and thanks for the opportunity. Uh, in 2021, um, with just like most other people in healthcare, I was completely burned out by COVID, looking for a way out, a new career. Uh, I have three boys. They're 15, 14, and 13. And my youngest son is a remarkable artist. He introduced me to NFTs during that time in search for something else. I started studying NFTs and fell down the rabbit hole. Uh, you know how the story goes, up all night in Discords. Started posting on um crypto Twitter. I was very blessed by a women's group in Miami where I'm originally from called Web3 Equity, led by Michelle Abs at the time. And um, she gave me the opportunity to start teaching other women about Discord and NFTs and Web3 and onboarding to MetaMask. And it just lit a fire in me. It gave me a new passion. Um, I was fascinated by the idea of decentralized health care. Although I've since learned, you know, regulations uh aren't really ready for decentralized healthcare. I was very motivated, motivated by that dream and the people I've met along the way across different timelines and area codes. It's just been um it's been wonderful. I'm I like to call myself a diamond hand. Um the name NFT Nurse comes from my passion for NFTs. And I know a lot of people say they're dead, but I don't think they'll ever die. I just think they'll always recreate themselves. But um, yeah, that's kind of how it started with the passion for NFTs and learning and teaching others.

SPEAKER_00 5:43

That's interesting. Yeah, very cool. No, that's great. And it's uh yeah, really cool that you were helping onboard others into the space as well, which is always great. You know, on this podcast, we don't talk as much about kind of like the the stories and experiences of the people, but I would like to in this conversation because um, you know, you have very unique experience, obviously, as a healthcare nurse who's been on the front line, you know, for a long time and um 20 plus years, I think I I remember it was from our last chat. And so um, you know, as a nurse, you have a unique perspective here. What does healthcare access look like on the ground to you? Because we're gonna be talking a lot about healthcare access today and how crypto can help us, you know, improve healthcare access and equity. Um, and so what do you see day-to-day that most people never do? And how would you really kind of like explain what healthcare access looks like on the ground in the realities that currently exist?

SPEAKER_01 6:35

There was a time when I when I first started nursing, and you're correct, it has been 20 years. The this March was exactly 20 years. I started March of 2020, um, 2006. But I think that um during my time, I've seen things like the Affordable Care Act, right? Which gave almost everyone access to health care in some way or another, and that um overwhelmed systems in one way. And then now, um, since some of those things have been rolled back, and many Americans have already lost insurance, rather health insurance, whether it be by losing their job or their job changing the health insurance things, now you see that limited health insurance also bombarding in a different way through the ER. That's what I think we we all kind of live in these silos and feel like this isn't my problem, but it could easily become your problem because people that don't have adequate health care insurance often overburden um emergency rooms and emergency services. And that limits access to others in the neighborhood that may need that may have a real emergency, and you have someone that is legitimately there because they have a fever and they don't have a primary care physician. So I think that is one of the greatest impacts of limited healthcare access that I see. And then also one thing that I really wanted to mention is the loneliness epidemic. As a progressive care nurse, um, I spend a lot of time with patients that don't have a single family member. You know, we aren't having as many children as we have before. Many people don't have siblings, or their siblings live far away, or even their adult children live far away. And that's something that I'm really seeing a lot too. Um, our aging population being left to navigate their health care alone. So those are the two things that I see that are the heaviest that weigh on me the heaviest right now.

SPEAKER_00 8:39

Yeah, totally. I'm located in Canada. Uh, you're based out of Atlanta, if I remember correctly.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

And yes.

SPEAKER_00 8:45

Um, you know, so we have different experiences around healthcare, obviously. And so it's great kind of hearing that perspective and seeing that because it's not something that I'm, you know, super in the know about. And that many of our listeners, um, you know, with only about 50%, I think, being North American-based, you know, one of the realities is across the country, uh, safety net providers are caring uh for those that are uninsured, underinsured, vulnerable every single day, and and it's really kind of stretching them thin. So I think about safety net providers, I think about you know, ERs, nonprofits that are kind of stepping in to fill in gaps. So, what's it like for the people doing that work and and what do they need the most right now from the community in terms of support?

SPEAKER_01 9:21

Understanding patience. There's a major exodus in every discipline away from healthcare due to burnout. And a lot of that burnout comes from, I believe, the community and those that we serve being misinformed about what our roles are. Um, it's amazing how, you know, I speak to so many people who um think nurses are, you know, the help. You know, they don't understand that this is a profession that we have a unique skill set that allows us to manage time and acuity and care all within 12 hours. We don't work eight-hour shifts, we work 12-hour shifts that uh oftentimes don't allow you to be with your family. And this isn't just for nurses. I think this goes for most people in healthcare. You're working very long shifts and it's taking a toll on your mind, your body, and your soul. Being on your feet alone has such an impact on, you know, your spine and the rest of your body. And I don't think that it's understood enough, especially now with social media and the videos that come out of people's, you know, negative experience with hospitals and healthcare teams, and it becomes like they're lazy, they're this, they're that. And at the end of the day, they're overworked. There's a staffing shortage. They may not have even had an opportunity to use the restroom or to eat meals. I've worked several 12-hour shifts where, you know, if I didn't have a protein bar in my pocket, I may have had gone without eating for hours. And I think that not just understanding for the healthcare workers, but healthcare workers, we have to understand our patients and where they're coming from when they are underinsured or uninsured. And I think overall, it's just the whole world. We have to try to understand each other better. You know, no matter where we're from or what our background is, we have to give each other a bit more grace. And so uh that's I think that people don't understand just how hard we work. When you say we're short staffed, people take that as a I don't care. You said, well, physically, I can't be in your room and in the other patient's room. And my skill set has caused me to um prioritize according to acuity. So I'm sorry that I didn't come right back with that blanket for your mom. You know what I'm saying? I was over there in a coat blue. So I think that it's just the lack of understanding of what a day looks like for healthcare professionals, especially with the rise of social media influencers and um others that have experience in healthcare, but may not be showing their real day-to-day because we can't, you know?

SPEAKER_00 12:12

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's really interesting. Um, yeah, no, that's that's great thoughts. And yeah, it's interesting. And I recently had experiences with a family member here in Canada, you know, being in hospital and in a very serious situation. And I remember that how, like here we have a crisis too, just of understaffing and funding. And I just remember how stretched thin everyone was, but just how nice they were and and and were trying their best. And yeah, so I appreciate so much everything you do. It's uh not an easy job. And you know, I'm curious now how you kind of cross paths with Sistento, because we're really going to dive into uh the Crypto Community Fund for Healthcare Access, chat a little bit about that, um, the kind of mission to raise funds uh to advance healthcare equity, um, and just kind of like you know, lessons learned and kind of a broader discussion as well on the power of crypto philanthropy in these sorts of situations. Um and Sistento really kind of lays at the center of that. They're the ones behind this fund, and they have some great experience uh with crypto philanthropy as well, and have been kind of a leader in that field for many years. And so before we dive into that, for listeners who aren't as familiar, can you just introduce kind of Sistento, the work they do with the case?

SPEAKER_01 13:19

Sure. Um, I actually met a good friend, Grace Navas, who's very well known in the DC crypto area, and she told me that Sistento um was raising this crypto community fund for healthcare access. And since 2021, I've been um trying to either build or um get involved with any healthcare project linked to crypto. And Sistinto, I think, has managed, you know, to actually use crypto in a way that has benefited healthcare already. Um, I know you, a member of the crypto advisory board, you know that during COVID, Sistinto, a 501c3, that is um their goal is to help decrease the barriers to healthcare access around the world. They um were very instrumental, instrumental in helping frontline workers access uh PPE or protective uh equipment. You know, there was a huge shortage. Sistinto was able to raise uh thousands of dollars via crypto and really activate and help us get that equipment that we needed right away. So um hearing that about Sistento kind of drew me to the cause. After that, I was able to meet Joe Agoda, the soup CEO of Sistento. And since then I've been very excited to sort of help mobilize this crypto community fund for healthcare access. It's everything I've ever dreamed crypto could do, and seeing it actually happen is is so motivating. And Sistento is really um putting their money where their mouth is. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:54

Yeah, and I'm really excited to dive into that too. Um, the the the fund a bit more and kind of like the how it's all structured and how folks can get involved and support the mission. Um, but I wanted to first talk about one thing about the the fund is Sistento's approach more broadly that I really appreciate is that you know, it's built around kind of working alongside frontline health workers like yourself and coming up with collaborative solutions instead of just kind of saying, this is what you need, try this new tech, try this new you know, intervention, whatever it is. And, you know, I think that there's a lot of alignment there with some of the what we see in the tech sector, where oftentimes we'll see companies come in and say, hey, just use this technology without really understanding the unique context or building with local communities. Um, so what do you think it's so important about this approach around working alongside healthcare workers, um, making sure that they're part of the equation?

SPEAKER_01 15:42

I think it's an amazing approach. When I, the very first time that I met Joe in Parson, we met at a clinic here in Atlanta, the Good Samaritan Clinic, which is a part of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. And to know how much and how many clinics around the country Cisento supports, and then to know that their crypto, these crypto donations will ultimately support these clinics, I was blown away. Um, I saw the clinic that we met at had free dental care. They had cardiologists on board, pediatricians, uh, even uh surgeons. And it was it was so amazing to me because until then I didn't know they existed. And it's heartbreaking when you for me to care for someone for two weeks with uh a heart, a new onset of a heart disease, and then they're discharged from the hospital and a month later they're back, and you're like, well, what happened? I ran out of the medication, I didn't have money to get it, I couldn't get to a cardiologist, I didn't have a ride, or um, I just couldn't find a cardiologist that would see me without health insurance. And so to know that this crypto community fund is helping to close those gaps with the Uber rides, supporting these free clinics, that to me is that to me is us all when we say we're all gonna make it, that is an example of us all making it. Because to know that this could change the longevity of a person's life just by giving them a ride to the clinic or supporting a clinic that is giving out this free healthcare access, it's it's no small feat. And I'm just honestly honored to be a part of it in any way, shape, or form. But I think for me, that is the greatest. It's just the greatest thing that crypto could do is lend a helping hand to our fellow man, right? That's what we all say we're in it for outside of you know getting a bag ourselves. But I see this first hand almost every shift. You know, I I couldn't get my medicine, I couldn't get to the follow-up appointments, and those things ultimately can lead to someone's death. So, in a way, this crypto community fund is helping to save lives.

SPEAKER_00 18:07

Yeah, definitely. And we'll be right back after this brief announcement. Trying to keep up with everything happening in the world of Web3 for good? Let us make it easy. The CryptoUltras newsletter is a free monthly roundup delivering the top highlights from our platform, along with the most important news, developments, and opportunities across the ecosystem. Whether you're a builder, a change maker, or just crypto curious, it's the perfect way to stay in the loop without all the noise. All in one place, once a month. To subscribe, simply click on the link in the show notes. And now, back to the episode. This is obviously another step in uh Sasento's long history with crypto fundraising. And I mentioned earlier how they're really a leader in this space, and um, you know, it goes all the way back to 2021, uh, which is the same time really you got involved in the space. They did a lot of different fundraisers around PEE, NFT auction, um, that raised tons of money that went directly to supporting these frontline healthcare workers during COVID. In 2023, they did another campaign around health worker burnout. Um, they've been very kind of involved with the crypto community for a while, the crypto advisory board, which I've been a part of now for about six months, and then now moving into this next kind of step. But, you know, what have you learned from seeing Sistento's kind of approach and success with crypto fundraising in the past?

SPEAKER_01 19:18

I've learned that crypto can and it will. In 2019, like you said, Sistento was able to really get that PPE to us on the front line very quickly. And that's the that's one of the benefits of crypto, right? Is the lack of red tape per se, or the the um the access, the very you know, quick and and this is an urgent need right now. Um it's I one of the um one of the things that I found out through working with Cisunto is that by the end of 2026, America is expected to have like millions of people that are losing their health insurance and are are underinsured. And so their goal is that by the end of 2026 to establish this fund and have access to $375,000 to fuel these solutions that will remove the barriers to health care for the uninsured. So right now they're looking, you know, for the 250 founders of the fund from the crypto community. And I believe that we we can do it. I really do. Um, the fund is raising $1,000 or $2,000 in crypto stock or cash, and it's eligible for the new 2026 charitable taxing saves, charitable tax savings. So founders will have a role in shaping the fund as well as get a break on their taxes. So Sistento has really showed up in a major way, and this fund will help them show up in an even larger way in the future. Um, I did want to correct that that by the end of 2030, Sistento aims to help at least 10% of those without health insurance in America remove a barrier to healthcare.

SPEAKER_00 21:07

Yeah, that's really cool. Yeah, that's amazing. And so um let's dive deeper into this then. You mentioned the 250 founders, and the goal was to raise, was it 1,000 or 2,000 for each of the founders uh towards this fund?

SPEAKER_01 21:18

It is a charitable donation of $1,000 for single people and $2,000 for a married couple. And that donation can be made in crypto stock or in cash.

SPEAKER_00 21:31

Yeah, that's really cool. And so talk to me about this then. For you know, currently we're looking for 250 founders to help really launch this fund and get it off the ground. You mentioned how they won't just be donors, but really helping shape what it becomes as well and the impact that it has. So talk to me about what it means to be a founder and what kind of, I guess, like individuals or you know, community members, projects, whatever it is that you're looking to step up and join the movement.

SPEAKER_01 21:54

Well, the invitation to become a founder is very simple. You'll get the opportunity to be recognized. For supporting an initiative that really helps to prove that crypto can move quickly, generously, and meaningfully to solve a real world problem. And all the projects that we see, um, shout out to Crypto Twitter being back to what it used to be is such a great feeling. But what it does is it allows these projects or individuals to get involved that say they believe in crypto being a solution to real world problems. It gives them the opportunity to really step up and help be a part of that solution. So we're not just speaking about your project or your individual token. We're speaking about what crypto can really do in the real world. So this not only gives the founders an opportunity to shape and shape the initiative, but it also gives them sort of a proven badge of not only do I believe crypto can do this, I've actually supported in a way that shows crypto can do this. So that's um my real call to action is if you believe that crypto can have this impact on the world, this is your opportunity to step up and show that.

SPEAKER_00 23:07

Yeah, for sure. That's an awesome pitch. And where do folks go if they want to learn more and uh join as a founder or just get involved, support the movement?

SPEAKER_01 23:16

Well, Sistento has a Sistento Community Fund info page, and you can go right there and donate. And then also shout out to the Giving Block, which is sort of facilitating the donations for Sistinto, you can go to the Giving Blocks page and find Sistento's link and you can donate there as well. And I do want to make, I do want to note that that um if if you know you're not really ready to be one of the 250 founders, you can still donate to Sistento and their cause via the giving block. So you don't, you know, you don't have to feel like it's either $1,000 or nothing at all. There are still opportunities to get involved with the giving block. Um, you can always reach out to me, to um Sistentos has a very active Twitter and LinkedIn, the Crypto Advisory Board. Um, there's so many wonderful people on the crypto advisory board that are doing wonderful things in crypto that you may or may not already know. So check out that. Check out the people on the board that you may know and feel free to reach out to them as well.

SPEAKER_00 24:16

Yeah, for sure. Yeah, great advice. I mean, and one of the great things about Decento, it's a very community-focused organization. They require a lot of advocates and those in the community really kind of helping spread the word as well. So, you know, no matter what you can give or want to give, whether that's you know, time, money, the opportunity to kind of really help raise awareness of this incredible movement, anything really helps. It's really a real community movement. And, you know, to that end, this is a US-focused kind of uh initiative for right now, but our audience is really all over the world, and healthcare systems are quite unique, vary a lot from country to country. Um, but the pattern of frontline healthcare workers being stretched thin, while people who need care most fall through the cracks, is pretty universal. It's something we certainly have here in Canada, even though we have uh universal insurance. So talk to me about this and like this broader challenge that's happening around the world and what needs to be done to address this.

SPEAKER_01 25:10

I think that there needs to be laws changed about staffing regulations and maybe even a rethinking of the way healthcare is provided. One thing when you asked me early about what uh earlier about what I'm seeing, I'm seeing a real shift of healthcare outside of the hospital, especially in rural areas where there's not access to um very many hospitals and clinics. A lot of healthcare is shifting towards the home. And so when you say what needs to be done, I think that there needs to be um changes in the rules. And in healthcare, especially here in the US, we've been doing the same thing for um 50 years. Things have been the same exact way. Staffing regulations, um, all those things have been the same for so long, despite the challenges and the way that the world has changed. And so I think that those are things that uh require a lot of legislation. Uh it it's it's um lobbying for that in your own way, not you know what what communities you're in. And then at the end of the day, looking out for your fellow man. Um, like I said, the part about loneliness. If you have a neighbor that lives alone and you haven't seen them in a few days, you know, I'm not, listen, I I know we all have our own problems, but be mindful of the people around you and the fact that they may or may not need your help when it comes to navigating their health care, even if it just means helping them make a phone call or giving them a ride, you know, to to to a health clinic when they need it. But overall, I think what needs to be done exists on a legislative level. There really needs to be changes to the laws around um nurses. For example, we're considered here in the US as um a part of the a part of the the the room bill. We're considered, you know, we're not considered um a separate part of, and that's a whole nother conversation. But I think that things that need to change really lie within our legislation and understanding the strain that is being placed on the healthcare workers in this country.

SPEAKER_00 27:27

Yeah, for sure. The model is really interesting and maybe something that could be um, you know, replicated in other places, that of a community mobilizing quickly around a need that institutions themselves have been typically too slow to meet. Um, this is something that could be applied universally in many different contexts. So, what do you think other communities around the world might take from what's being built here with the healthcare access fund? And uh, you know, what could they what do you what do you hope that they that we prove about this and that they can take from this once uh we really get it going?

SPEAKER_01 27:57

I hope that it can prove that crypto can serve as a bridge to help the centralized problems that have failed us in so many different ways. I feel like that's universal when you have centralized healthcare or centralized education. I've centralized anything, I think, comes with a set of problems and issues that really don't always help the people that there the um the industries are intended to help. And so I hope that with this fund we can prove that crypto can step in and fill those gaps. I don't think it's a um all-in-one solution, but I do hope that it can prove that there is a bridge between the crypto community and the patient waiting in the ER because they didn't have health insurance. You know, I think that that is a remarkable moment for crypto. When I came in, it seemed like that was the move. There were so many funds being raised for one initiative or another. And, you know, I saw um all over the world children, animals, uh, homeless, everyone being impacted by these sort of um communities that were surrounded about around those needs and crypto crypto native. And so I really feel like this can prove that we're still there. We're still that community that seeks to help the world. We're not just scammers and um, you know, we're not just pumpers and dumpers. We're real people that got into this community because we want to make a real world impact.

SPEAKER_00 29:40

Yeah, well said, well said. You've really seen this from both sides, both as the nurse in the room with the patient and as someone who kind of is, you know, a community activator that's really kind of being a part of these solutions, helping uh, you know, and and really believes in what the community and the crypto community specifically can do. So, you know, if the crypto community really does show up for this and it's successful and you meet all your goals and you help that 10% by 2030, what would that mean to you personally? And what would you want a healthcare worker somewhere to feel because of it?

SPEAKER_01 30:09

I would want them to feel like they too could become a part of the crypto community. I think that um right now, you know, as much as we feel like OGs, I know I don't feel like an OG or an expert or anything. Um but as much as we throw those terms around whales and diamond hands and all those things, um, it can be sort of exclusive at times. And I remember um back in the day trying to educate other nurses or healthcare workers, and they were very, very um, you know, put off by just the word crypto. I've even been advised, you know, when talking about the fund not to say crypto as much. And so what I would hope is that the healthcare worker or um that that is completely oblivious to what's going on would see this impact and say, wow, you know, maybe I should take a look at this, maybe I should learn more about this, maybe this is a way that I can make a difference in the world. And, you know, I don't, it doesn't have to be um such a large scale, you know, I bought big, it doesn't have to be that. It can be a different way of being involved. And that's what brought me to the community. And I hope that fun this fund can do the same for other healthcare workers because there I don't see a lot of other healthcare workers and the ones that I do know don't lead with the fact that they're healthcare workers. And so I that's what I would hope is that it would bring in more everyday, day-to-day people into this community and help us really change the world for real.

SPEAKER_00 31:45

Yeah, totally. Well said. And that right there is a perfect note to wrap up the conversation on. Uh, it's been a really inspiring conversation. I'm so appreciative of you and the work that you do and the work that you know thousands of individuals like you do on a daily basis to help those that need it most. And so, you know, thank you to you. I appreciate you, and and thank you for taking the time to share what you've shared today. And for those listening along, we'll of course include all the links in the show notes on how you can donate, learn more about the fund, learn more about Sistento. Um, we'll make sure to include all that in the show notes. So, whatever you know your capacity is, you know, whether that's simply sharing something with someone or you know, donating to the fund, anything helps, of course. Uh so thank you so much, Sharonda, for your time today. Appreciate you and have a wonderful rest of the day.

SPEAKER_01 32:29

Thank you, Drew. I really appreciate your time as well.

SPEAKER_00 32:33

And that was Sharonda, nurse, crypto, and tech activists, an all-around badass person. What I keep coming back to is that Sharonda represents something I really admire about this community. She isn't a founder with a white paper, she's a nurse. She spends her days doing some of the hardest, most essential work there is, caring for people that they're most vulnerable, inside a system that keeps letting them down. And then, on her own time, she's here. Learning, building, organizing, and trying to bring these two worlds together so that the technology we all believe in actually reaches the people who need it. I also think her perspective is genuinely rare and needed. So much of what gets built in this space is designed by people far removed from the problems they were trying to solve. Sharonda has been in the room. She knows what a missed appointment costs someone, she knows what burnout looks like on a colleague's face. When someone with that experience says a solution will help, that carries a different kind of weight. And the history here is inspiring too. The community mobilized to fund PPE for health workers when they needed it most. It rallied around burnout when nobody else was talking about it. Now, with the Crypto Community Fund for Healthcare Access, there's a chance to build something lasting rather than reactive. Something that's ready before the crisis peaks rather than scrambling after it. So for listeners who want to become a founder, support the fund, or just learn more about Sistento's work, we've included all the relevant links in the show notes. A huge thank you to Sharonda, both for this conversation and for the work you do every single day. And to every health worker listening, wherever you are in the world, thank you. And that wraps up today's episode of Crypto Ultras. Thank you so much for tuning in. I hope you enjoyed the conversation as much as I did. If you're inspired to explore more stories at the intersection of Web3 and Social Impact, be sure to visit us at CryptoUltras.com for articles, resources, and more. And if you love what you heard, it would mean the world if you could rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. Your support is huge in helping us reach more listeners like you and keeping the platform going strong. Thanks again for joining us, and I look forward to having you back for the next episode. Until then, let's keep showing the world the good of crypto.