T3 Podcast | Sadullah Uzun - The World's Ledger: Blockchain

In the T3 Podcast episode titled "The World’s Ledger: Blockchain," we examine the insights provided by Sadullah Uzun, Deputy President of TÜBİTAK BİLGEM on blockchain and the metaverse from the perspective of the National Technology Initiative.

Sadullah Uzun uses the analogy of a "ledger" to explain blockchain in simple terms. Unlike traditional data, which is entrusted to a single central authority such as a bank or government institution, blockchain operates as a system where this ledger is maintained by every trustworthy member of the community. This decentralized structure enhances security by eliminating the need to rely on a central authority. Uzun describes blockchain as a technology that "redefines the concept of trust" and views Bitcoin as one of its outcomes. He also notes that blockchain is used in many fields beyond cryptocurrencies, including notarization, logistics tracking, and secure storage of health data.

According to Uzun, while blockchain technology itself is secure, risks to user safety typically arise from intermediary platforms that provide access to these systems. Therefore, users must pay attention to the following points:

• Choose reliable platforms and avoid jumping on every trend.
• Never store private keys in digital environments such as email or cloud storage.
• Use cold wallets or traditional methods such as writing keys on paper to protect private keys.

Uzun views the metaverse as the next evolution of the internet and defines it as "the internet embodied in flesh and bone." Unlike the current two-dimensional internet experience, in the metaverse users will interact with virtual worlds through 3D avatars, transitioning from passive consumers to active participants within the digital environment. An example he gives is purchasing shoes by walking through a virtual shopping mall with an avatar, illustrating this new experience. While Uzun sees this development as a natural technological progression, he acknowledges that commercial interests are also accelerating it.

While Uzun recognizes blockchain and the metaverse as universal concepts, he emphasizes that Türkiye must become an actor that sets the rules and builds its own ecosystems in these fields. He defines the risk of "living in exile within our own homeland" as relying on digital ecosystems dominated by foreign cultures. Therefore, he calls on young people to become not merely consumers but producers in these new worlds. He highlights that numerous professions—from programmers and designers to architects, lawyers, and philosophers—have significant opportunities within the metaverse.