Introducing Fern Research

Today, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of Fern Research.

We live in a time of unparalleled complexity and opportunity. Rapid advancements in science and technology have created compounding returns to knowledge. As humanity, we stand at the beginning of infinity [1]. One of the most profound outcomes of these advancements is our global interconnectedness. The world feels smaller than ever as teams are global from day one and strangers on the internet engage in cross-border commerce with ease [2].

Technology and innovation have always played pivotal roles in shaping global geopolitics, influencing national wealth, and impacting debt cycles [3]. Over the last ~15 years, cryptocurrencies [4] have emerged as groundbreaking technological applications with the potential to reshape the global order, influence culture, alter individual human behavior, and inspire new models of societal governance. The cryptocurrency space raises fascinating questions at the intersection of macroeconomics, policy, society, and technology. While these topics are explored to some extent in existing fora, we believe there remain critical questions to investigate and fresh perspectives to share.

We are launching Fern Research to expand the global body of knowledge on financial freedom, autonomy, and ownership [5]. As we build this initiative, we plan to engage in a range of activities, including:

• Producing content — writings, talks, videos, podcasts, and more— that delves into crucial questions and synthesizes complex topics

• Hosting virtual and in-person events where thought leaders can explore these subjects together

• Experimenting with ideas inspired by our research

• Collaborating with individuals and teams who are driven to explore similar questions

If you’re interested in collaborating with us, suggesting topics for exploration, or staying updated on our progress, we’d love to hear from you at hello@fernhq.com. Onwards!

References

[1] The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World by David Deutsch

[2] Cross-border payments across wholesale, B2B, and consumer markets was $190.1T in 2023, and is projected to reach $290.2T by 2030 https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2024/08/cross-border-payments-market/

[3] Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail by Ray Dalio

[4] We define cryptocurrencies as technical applications built on blockchains that represent stores of financial value. The rules governing these forms of programmable money can vary widely depending on the needs of the local (crypto)economy.

[5] Our product, Fern, has the mission of increasing financial freedom, autonomy, and ownership globally.