When Carlos Betancourt joined MeWe’s board as an advisor over a year ago, the social platform had already carved out a niche as a privacy-first alternative in a world dominated by data-hungry tech giants. But Betancourt saw a sleeping giant poised to redefine the very architecture of digital interaction using SocialFi, the combination of our time spent on social media networks with decentralized finance.
Now, as MeWe’s newly appointed CEO, Betancourt isn’t just being handed the reins. He’s being handed the keys to Web3’s social economy frontier and he’s ready to drive.
“As I prepare to step into the role of CEO, I want to take a moment to express how honored and excited I am to lead this extraordinary company into its next chapter. We aim to give everyone a voice on MeWe. You are free to express yourself. MeWe stands at a unique and powerful crossroads, one where technology, purpose, and people come together to create something truly transformative,” says Betancourt.
A Platform on the Edge of a New Internet
Founded as an antidote to surveillance capitalism, MeWe has long offered a social experience without ads, algorithms, or data mining. But in a tech landscape that’s rapidly evolving toward decentralized networks, digital wallets, and creator-owned economies, Betancourt believes MeWe’s core principles are uniquely positioned to scale.
Under Betancourt, MeWe’s vision is undergoing a transformation from a privacy-centric social network to a fully-fledged Web3 social economy.
“We are building MeWe into the leading Web3 social media platform in the world, a place where users don’t just connect but also get rewarded, think opt-in ads, maybe even opt in data, you get paid. It is time to give back to the end users,” says Betancourt.
Web3 Without the Buzzwords
To some, “Web3” still sounds like a speculative experiment. But for Betancourt, whose background includes stints at fintech startups and digital asset ventures, the value proposition is tangible.
“We’re talking about giving users digital property rights. Your content, your data, your network, that’s your capital,” he explains. “We’re building a system where people get paid for attention, rewarded for participation, and can move freely across digital spaces without being boxed into corporate silos.”
And Betancourt is keenly aware that execution will determine whether this bold vision becomes reality.
“Now, it’s time to simplify, focus, and execute,” he says. “Together, we will redesign MeWe into a platform that is intuitive, inspiring, and impactful, starting with a simplified user experience and streamlined onboarding that welcomes everyone in.”
From Platform to Ecosystem
Beyond decentralization, Betancourt sees an even bigger opportunity: enabling an entirely new kind of digital economy.
“From play-to-earn gaming to staking, NFT minting, and digital commerce, we are laying the foundation for a social experience unlike anything that exists today,” he says.
To support that foundation, MeWe is piloting tokenized tools to empower creators, facilitate peer-to-peer value exchange, and let users fully own their online lives. But even as it builds toward this future, MeWe is keeping its original DNA intact.
“And we’re doing it all with a commitment to privacy, transparency, and decentralization at the core,” Betancourt emphasizes.
The Road Ahead
Betancourt isn’t shy about the scale of MeWe’s ambition or the urgency of its moment.
“This is our moment. A time to move faster, think bigger, and build smarter together,” he says. “Let’s make MeWe a platform that not only leads the industry, but redefines it.”
With Web3 at its back and a clear-eyed leader at the helm, MeWe is staking its claim, not just in the future of social media, but in the future of digital economies altogether.